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Georgia QB Carson Beck's status for Sugar Bowl uncertain as he considers treatment options on elbow
NoneSci-fi pioneer Bae Myung-hoon wants Korea to embrace the space opera Published: 10 Dec. 2024, 07:00 LEE JIAN [email protected] [Page-turners] As translated fiction enters a more global limelight, Korean books are being discovered by a wider audience beyond its borders. With the help of the massive inventory retained by dbBooks, Korea’s oldest independent book dealer, the Korea JoongAng Daily sought out hidden gems on their shelves. In this interview series, we find them for you and talk to the creatives behind them. Author Bae Myung-hoon speaks to the Korea JoongAng Daily for an interview at Tongbang Books' office in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul. [PARK SANG-MOON] Writing was originally a hobby for author Bae Myung-hoon. He began in politics, earning both bachelor's and master's degrees in political science from Seoul National University in the early 2000s. He wasn't interested in popular science fiction, a genre in which Korean characters were few and far between at the time. Related Article Truth in tales: How illustrator Hanna Cha's dragons symbolize her Korean American experience Not just for kids: Author Lee Suzy touts benefits of picture books for all readers It wasn't until he won a university fiction contest with a short story titled “Terrorist” (2004), followed by a science fiction competition hosted by the Korea Foundation for Science and Creativity at the Dong-A Ilbo, that he realized he might have a knack for the activity — and, more importantly, that the traditionally western genre could have a place in Korean society. “In the beginning, I had no prior knowledge of the genre,” Bae told the Korea JoongAng Daily. “I just wrote about things that I knew.” The 46-year-old, now the author of more than 20 books and short stories, is considered a pioneer of Korea's modern science fiction market. His writing is known to blur the line between genre and literary fiction, touching on universal themes such as nationalism, war and resilience. Many of his works are set in Korea and feature Korean characters, a trend that was less common before he entered the scene. Still, when writing “The Proposal,” his newly translated book, Bae wasn't exactly sure how it, or he, would fit into the writing world. The book was published 11 years ago to a reaction the author describes as “lukewarm." “People, including myself, weren’t very aware of the sci-fi genre, and some even considered it a kind of low-rate,” the author said. Related Article Han Kang 'shocked' by martial law, calls it a 'return to the age of control and suppression' 'Truths will be spoken': Nobel winner Han Kang on the necessity of literature Han Kang says 1979 martial law in hometown of Gwangju still affects her Based in space ahead of an imminent war, “The Proposal” is a series of letters from a space-born protagonist to his lover in Seoul. The work reflects “on the distances that separate us—both physically and emotionally—and celebrates the resilience of the human spirit, ever striving to overcome these divides,” according to Honford Star. The space-born protagonist questions, often wittingly, humanity's tendencies, like its inherent nationalism, that draw lines in the face of a lesser-understood existence. “The most primal ethic that makes humans humans is not the taboos against cannibalism or incest but the ability to tell up from down," Bae writes in the book. Such themes tap into Korean experiences, Bae believes, in a way that sci-fi historically hasn't. “SF books require a bit of nationalistic confidence,” he said, “and Korean writers in the past didn’t have that. For example, if someone were to go to the moon, it would be odd to make that character a Korean. It would make more sense for the protagonist to be an American.” Cover of ′′The Proposal′′ by Bae Myung-hoon [HONFORD STAR] Much of sci-fi, consequently, used to be narrated by American characters, which Bae says “didn’t quite click with the readers." “It would seem obvious today that a Korean author would write in a Korean voice, but that wasn’t the case in science fiction 20 years ago.” Bae was one of the authors who paved the path for sci-fi stories with Korean protagonists, best known for “Tower” (2009) and “Launch Something!” (2022), both of which have been translated into English. “The Proposal,” translated by Stella Kim and released this fall by Honford Star, was the third of his books to be published in the language. One thing those works have in common, Bae says, is that their characters identify conflict not within themselves but rather with their surroundings. Solutions, if they exist, are also found in the environment. “There isn’t a big internal realization that happens and then changes the protagonist,” he said. “It is about how the characters interact with the world around them.” For instance, in "The Proposal," the protagonist's main dilemma with his army's corruption is a completely external problem. As he works through his conflicts, no significant mind shift or growth ensues that he comes out at the end of the novel a changed person. His love for space - his home - is left unchanged and because of that, and his sense of loyalty to his job, he is unable to travel back to his lover on Earth. They also, as is the case with some sci-fi works, don't bog readers with scientific facts and measurements. He makes heavy use of the phenomenon sci-fi critics refer to as “cognizant estrangement,” whereby a fictional setting helps the reader to better understand their empirical reality. “I’m not so interested in science and technology but how a society functions,” Bae said. “Sci-fi is how I understand the world.” He hopes that such genre-bending stories like “The Proposal” will continue to resonate in Korea's market, where he feels that, despite decades of progress, sci-fi is still considered inferior to more “traditional” works. It's a genre, after all, that chose him. “There wasn’t a specific moment that I told myself, ‘I want to be a science fiction writer,’” said Bae. “What I liked writing, it turned out, was science fiction. It was very organic in coming.” He's spent a considerable amount of time thinking about space and studying it, but it isn't a place where he would rather be. “Space is a great place for my mind to travel to limitlessly, but I like Earth,” he said, and more jokingly added, “I wouldn't be able to handle space's zero-gravity.” BY LEE JIAN [ [email protected] ]UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — Israel’s yearlong crackdown against Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza is prompting many to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society, while some still find ways to dissent — carefully. Ahmed Khalefa’s life turned upside down after he was charged with inciting terrorism for chanting in solidarity with Gaza at an anti-war protest in October 2023. The lawyer and city counselor from central Israel says he spent three difficult months in jail followed by six months detained in an apartment. It’s unclear when he’ll get a final verdict on his guilt or innocence. Until then, he’s forbidden from leaving his home from dusk to dawn. Khalefa is one of more than 400 Palestinian citizens of Israel who, since the start of the war in Gaza, have been investigated by police for “incitement to terrorism” or “incitement to violence,” according to Adalah, a legal rights group for minorities. More than half of those investigated were also criminally charged or detained, Adalah said. “Israel made it clear they see us more as enemies than as citizens,” Khalefa said in an interview at a cafe in his hometown of Umm al-Fahm, Israel’s second-largest Palestinian city. Israel has roughly 2 million Palestinian citizens, whose families remained within the borders of what became Israel in 1948. Among them are Muslims and Christians, and they maintain family and cultural ties to Gaza and the West Bank, which Israel captured in 1967. Israel says its Palestinian citizens enjoy equal rights , including the right to vote, and they are well-represented in many professions. However, Palestinians are widely discriminated against in areas like housing and the job market. Israeli authorities have opened more incitement cases against Palestinian citizens during the war in Gaza than in the previous five years combined, Adalah’s records show. Israeli authorities have not said how many cases ended in convictions and imprisonment. The Justice Ministry said it did not have statistics on those convictions. Just being charged with incitement to terrorism or identifying with a terrorist group can land a suspect in detention until they’re sentenced, under the terms of a 2016 law. In addition to being charged as criminals, Palestinians citizens of Israel — who make up around 20% of the country’s population — have lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations posting online or demonstrating, activists and rights watchdogs say. It’s had a chilling effect. “Anyone who tries to speak out about the war will be imprisoned and harassed in his work and education,” said Oumaya Jabareen, whose son was jailed for eight months after an anti-war protest. “People here are all afraid, afraid to say no to this war.” Jabareen was among hundreds of Palestinians who filled the streets of Umm al-Fahm earlier this month carrying signs and chanting political slogans. It appeared to be the largest anti-war demonstration in Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack . But turnout was low, and Palestinian flags and other national symbols were conspicuously absent. In the years before the war , some protests could draw tens of thousands of Palestinians in Israel. Authorities tolerated the recent protest march, keeping it under heavily armed supervision. Helicopters flew overhead as police with rifles and tear gas jogged alongside the crowd, which dispersed without incident after two hours. Khalefa said he chose not to attend. Shortly after the Oct. 7 attack, Israel’s far-right government moved quickly to invigorate a task force that has charged Palestinian citizens of Israel with “supporting terrorism” for posts online or protesting against the war. At around the same time, lawmakers amended a security bill to increase surveillance of online activity by Palestinians in Israel, said Nadim Nashif, director of the digital rights group 7amleh. These moves gave authorities more power to restrict freedom of expression and intensify their arrest campaigns, Nashif said. The task force is led by Itamar Ben-Gvir , a hard-line national security minister who oversees the police. His office said the task force has monitored thousands of posts allegedly expressing support for terror organizations and that police arrested “hundreds of terror supporters,” including public opinion leaders, social media influencers, religious figures, teachers and others. “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite ... which harms public safety and our security,” his office said in a statement. But activists and rights groups say the government has expanded its definition of incitement much too far, targeting legitimate opinions that are at the core of freedom of expression. Myssana Morany, a human rights attorney at Adalah, said Palestinian citizens have been charged for seemingly innocuous things like sending a meme of a captured Israeli tank in Gaza in a private WhatsApp group chat. Another person was charged for posting a collage of children’s photos, captioned in Arabic and English: “Where were the people calling for humanity when we were killed?” The feminist activist group Kayan said over 600 women called its hotline because of blowback in the workplace for speaking out against the war or just mentioning it unfavorably. Over the summer, around two dozen anti-war protesters in the port city of Haifa were only allowed to finish three chants before police forcefully scattered the gathering into the night. Yet Jewish Israelis demanding a hostage release deal protest regularly — and the largest drew hundreds of thousands to the streets of Tel Aviv. Khalefa, the city counselor, is not convinced the crackdown on speech will end, even if the war eventually does. He said Israeli prosecutors took issue with slogans that broadly praised resistance and urged Gaza to be strong, but which didn’t mention violence or any militant groups. For that, he said, the government is trying to disbar him, and he faces up to eight years in prison. “They wanted to show us the price of speaking out,” Khalefa said. ___ Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel, Ibrahim Hazboun in Jerusalem, Mahmoud Illean in Umm al-Fahm, and Drew Callister in New York, contributed to this report. Related From Our PartnerDynamis Capital PTE Ltd. has recently completed the acquisition of several ship financing transactions from Fleetscape Capital Ltd. (“Fleetscape”), a company owned by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (“Oaktree”), for an undisclosed sum. As part of the transaction, Fredrik Ulstein and Kaizad Doctor, previously with Oaktree, have transitioned to lead Dynamis Management PTE Ltd.. Fleetscape was founded in 2017 by Oaktree as a provider of alternative capital solutions to the maritime industry. Dynamis Capital PTE Ltd. is a Singapore-based company, with subsidiaries that currently own more than 20 vessels across various segments. The company is committed to the ongoing leasing of commercial maritime vessels, with a particular focus on supporting ship operators who are actively engaged in the industry’s energy transition. Dynamis Capital is part of the Quantum Pacific Group, an international group of businesses that includes significant interests in a broad range of industries globally. Companies associated with the group hold significant interests in, among other holdings, international shipping, chemicals, power generation and sports. DNB Markets and Crédit Agricole served as advisors to Oaktree on the transaction.” Quantum Pacific has extensive experience in the ship leasing sector, which is a key component of its broader investment strategy. The company has been considering the creation of a standalone ship leasing platform for some time, and this initiative aligns perfectly with Oaktree’s sale process of Fleetscape We are eager to leverage the investment team’s expertise in maritime finance and its systematic investment processes, with a strong focus on analytics and downside protection Dynamis Capital’s strategy is closely aligned with that of Quantum Pacific and Eastern Pacific Shipping, particularly in actively contributing to the decarbonization of the maritime industry and addressing the growing demand for modern vessels equipped with green propulsion technology. “We are excited to embark on this new venture with Dynamis Capital and believe that Quantum Pacific is the perfect partner for this journey. By combining Fleetscape’s expertise in structuring bespoke financing solutions with Quantum Pacific’s proven track record in forging successful partnerships, we are confident that Dynamis Capital is well-positioned for success. Combining the acquired Fleetscape transactions with the existing leasing portfolio contributed by Quantum Pacific is a key step in scaling our operations, which is vital in our industry,” commented Fredrik Ulstein. “Dynamis Capital is an asset backed private credit platform offering superior risk adjusted returns with the added advantage of being de-correlated from the liquid investable segments. Dynamis Capital will operate as an independent entity under Quantum Pacific, but we see tremendous synergies across the broader platform. We plan to leverage their expertise and network to further strengthen the platform. Our ultimate goal is to become a leading, long-term provider of alternative financing solutions for the maritime industry,” added Kaizad Doctor. Guillaume Bayol, Managing Director at Oaktree, said: “Dynamis has acquired a leading platform led by an experienced team together with a high-quality loan portfolio with reputable customers. We wish Fredrik, Kaizad and the rest of the team the best as they embark on this new chapter.” Oaktree was advised by DNB Markets and Crédit Agricole in relation to the transaction. Source: Dynamis Capital PTE Ltd.
Toll Brothers Reports FY 2024 Results
Geoff Molson is in Palm Beach, Florida for the NHL governors’ meeting. It was a good opportunity to ask him what he thinks of his club’s start to the season... And let’s just say that Molson was rather modest in his comments. Speaking at the BOG meetings in Palm Beach, owner Geoff Molson on the performance so far: “we went through a bump in the road and had some difficult games in November but we have a plan, we’re following the plan and have every intention of following the plan” – Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) It proves one thing: there’s no panic in the organization right now. It would be easy to advise Kent Hughes to move to improve his club to also advance the rebuilding process, but that would be illogical. That said, there’s another sentence that came out of Molson’s mouth that made me react. owner Geoff Molson on play so far this season: “the talent is there and we’re going to get there; those things happen. I’m encouraged by the recent weeks of performance and think we’re just getting better and we’re going to follow the plan.” – Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) The Canadiens have won four of their last nine games, but it’s not just the result that’s important. For the past two and a half weeks, the Habs have been able to pick up points because they’ve been playing the right way most of the time. It’s far from perfect, and we’ll all agree on that. But it’s by continuing to play this way that the team will move forward, and that’s what’s important in the end. So it’s only natural that Geoff Molson is satisfied with his club’s performance, because it should only get better. – I like the style. You know him, you love him: Jacob Fowler – /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) – Good point. When you compare, you take solace. Unlike the Ducks, the Canadiens are led by young players! – BPM Sports (@BPMSportsRadio) – Oh yes! Hockey on a Monday? Yes please! Here for Monday – Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL)Swiss National Bank Sells 700 Shares of MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTSI)
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Watch Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's best throws from his 317-yard, 4-touchdown game vs. the New England Patriots during Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season.
Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed an agreement on integrating their businesses on Monday. Smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors agreed to join the talks. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month. Japanese automakers face a strong challenge from their Chinese rivals and Tesla as they make inroads into markets at home and abroad. What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industry BANGKOK (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan will attempt to merge and create the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Honda will initially lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company. Following is a quick look at what a combined Honda and Nissan would mean for the companies, and for the auto industry. Nordstrom to be acquired by Nordstrom family and a Mexican retail group in $6.25 billion deal Century-old department store Nordstrom has agreed to be acquired and taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. Nordstrom shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of Nordstrom common stock, representing a 42% premium on the company’s stock as of March 18. Nordstrom’s board of directors unanimously approved the the proposed transaction, while Erik and Pete Nordstrom — part of the Nordstrom family taking over the company — recused themselves from voting. Following the close of the transaction, the Nordstrom Family will have a majority ownership stake in the company. An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump won a return to the White House in part by promising big changes in economic policy — more tax cuts, huge tariffs on imports, mass deportations of immigrants working in the United States illegally. In some ways, his victory marked a repudiation of President Joe Biden’s economic stewardship and a protest against inflation. It came despite low unemployment and steady growth under the Biden administration. What lies ahead for the economy under Trump? Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics spoke recently to The Associated Press. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. American consumers feeling less confident in December, Conference Board says American consumers are feeling less confident in December, a business research group says. The Conference Board said Monday that its consumer confidence index fell back in December to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Consumers had been feeling increasingly confident in recent months. The consumer confidence index measures both Americans’ assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. The measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for income, business and the job market tumbled more than a dozen points to 81.1. The Conference Board says a reading under 80 can signal a potential recession in the near future. Stock market today: Wall Street rises at the start of a holiday-shortened week Stock indexes are rising in afternoon trading on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 29 points, or 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.8%. Japanese automakers Honda Motor and Nissan Motor said they are talking about combining in a deal that might also include Mitsubishi Motors. Eli Lilly rose after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The internet is rife with fake reviews. Will AI make it worse? Researchers and watchdog groups say the emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools that allow people to efficiently produce detailed and novel online reviews has put merchants, service providers and consumers in uncharted territory. Phony reviews have long plagued many popular consumer websites, such as Amazon and Yelp. But AI-infused text generation tools enable fraudsters to produce reviews faster and in greater volume, according to tech industry experts. The deceptive practice is illegal in the U.S. and becomes a bigger problem for consumers during the holiday shopping season, when many people rely on reviews to buy gifts. A tech company and watchdog group that uses software to detect fake reviews says AI-generated reviews have multiplied. Romanian lawmakers narrowly approve new pro-European coalition during period of political turmoil BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanian lawmakers have voted narrowly in favor of a new pro-European coalition government led by incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The move on Monday could usher in an end to a protracted political crisis in the European Union country following the annulment of a presidential election. Parliament approved the new administration in a 240-143 vote in the 466-seat legislature. The new coalition is made up of the leftist Social Democratic Party, the center-right National Liberal Party, the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party and national minorities. President Klaus Iohannis swore in the new government on Monday night. Government regulators close investigation into Ford Focus recalls Government safety regulators are closing an investigation into two previous recalls of the Ford Focus after determining that Ford Motor Co. has satisfied its concerns. Ford recalled around 1.5 million Ford Focus sedans from the 2012-2018 model years in 2018 because they could lose power. The issue was a malfunctioning canister purge valve and software that didn’t adequately detect when it was stuck open. Ford fixed the software in two separate recalls, but after cars continued to stall, the government opened an inquiry last year. Earlier this fall, Ford offered to replace the canister purge valve on all of the vehicles, satisfying regulators' concerns. AI will eavesdrop on world's wildest places to track and help protect endangered wildlife PUERTO JIMÉNEZ, Costa Rica (AP) — A biologist hid 350 audio monitors across Costa Rica’s tropical rainforests to spy on endangered spider monkeys in order to help protect them. But she had to go back to collect the data and feed those sounds into artificial intelligence systems that can recognize monkey calls. Now tech giant Microsoft's philanthropic arm is hoping to supercharge AI-assisted wildlife research with new solar-powered devices that can capture sounds, images and other wilderness data for a year or more without human intervention. Researchers say more AI wildlife surveillance is urgently needed to monitor the health of species at risk of extinction.
