Viral Olympian Raygun ranked No. 1 breaker in the world by sport’s governing body

CNN,

Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, the Olympian widely known as B-Girl Raygun who went viral after her performance at the Paris Games, is now ranked the No. 1 breaker in the world.

The 37-year-old claimed the top spot in the latest women’s rankings released by the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) – the governing body of breaking and other dancesports.

Raygun’s performances failed to score any points across her Olympic battles against breakers from the United States, France and Lithuania in August, losing 18-0 in all three rounds.

However, she won the gold medal at the 2023 WDSF Oceania Championships, securing her 1,000 ranking points and vaulting her up to No. 1 – level on points with world No. 2 B-Girl Riko of Japan – ahead of the breakers who defeated her in the French capital. Her victory at the Oceania Championships also secured her a spot in Paris.

In an odd twist, none of the Olympic B-Girl medalists are ranked inside the top 10. Japan’s Ami, Lithuania’s Nicka and China’s 671 earned gold, silver and bronze respectively.

In a statement, the WDSF on Tuesday clarified that its rankings are updated based on each athlete’s top four performances within the past 12 months. Points earned in these competitions remain valid for 52 weeks from the date of the event.

The governing body also confirmed that the Olympic qualifying events in Shanghai and Budapest, as well as the Paris Games themselves, did not contribute to the ranking list due to limited athlete quotas. Additionally, WDSF said that events which traditionally give ranking points were not held to allow competitors to fully focus on preparation for the Games.

PlayStation 5 Pro with AI-based upscaler to be launched Nov. 7

Nikkei Asia,

PALO ALTO, California/TOKYO — Sony Interactive Entertainment announced Wednesday that on Nov. 7 it will launch the PlayStation 5 Pro, the premium version of the PlayStation 5 game console, equipped with artificial intelligence that creates higher-quality visuals to enhance the gaming experience.

“We have incorporated the most advanced technology to make the screen run as smoothly as gamers demand,” Hideaki Nishino, the chief executive officer of SIE’s platform business group, told Nikkei. In June, SIE formed a dual-headed corporate structure, led by Nishino for the PlayStation console business and another CEO for game software.

The AI-based system integrated into the PS5 Pro upscales 1080p images to resolutions equivalent to 4K based on machine learning of large numbers of gameplay images. The technology enhances the volume of images that the console’s graphics processing units (GPUs) can process per second, thus making the video smoother.

The GPU itself is also more powerful than the PS5, increasing the rendering speed by 45%. The speed of ray tracing, the technique for modeling light reflections and refractions, has doubled or even tripled in some circumstances, enabling more realistic 3D images to be produced, said the company.

The data storage capacity has been doubled to 2 terabytes, twice the capacity of the existing model.

The price will be $699.99 in the U.S., excluding tax, and 799.99 euros ($883) in Europe and 119,980 yen ($838) in Japan, including tax.

In November, the PS5 will mark four years since its launch and will enter the second half of the product cycle, which is considered to be a six- to seven-year cycle. Shipments peaked at 20.8 million units in the fiscal year that ended last March and are expected to decline to around 18 million this year.

The introduction of the PS5 Pro at this time may be aimed at competing with the growing presence of PC games in the industry.

Nishino said, “Game computers are difficult to assemble and set up. PlayStation allows you to enjoy the contents without difficulties as soon as you turn it on.” Another feature of game consoles is the ability to create a virtual experience through the hardware, such as by vibrating the controller and changing the button presses, he added.

According to the gaming analytics company Newzoo, PC games account for 23% of the total game market, close to 28% for console games, and the rest run on mobile devices. The number of game software titles that can be played on multiple hardware platforms is increasing, intensifying competition among hardware makers.

India now part of US global chip alliance, to boost semiconductor ecosystem

Hindustan Time্‌

The US and India are partnering to expand semiconductor ecosystem, backed by the CHIPS Act, to enhance supply chains and for joint technological initiatives.

The US Department of State has partnered with India’s Semiconductor Mission, under the ministry of electronics and IT, to explore opportunities for expanding and diversifying the global semiconductor ecosystem, ANI reported.

‘This collaboration, supported by the CHIPS Act’s International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund, aims to build a more secure and resilient global semiconductor supply chain.

Kurt Campbell, US deputy secetary of state, said that both nations are more aligned than ever, working together in sectors such as semiconductors, space, and artificial intelligence. Campbell added that the INDUS-X initiative will be a cornerstone of the US-India Critical and Emerging Technology (ICET) partnership, which accelerates cooperation in cutting-edge technologies.

“Expanding our partnership with India is one of the most strategically important efforts we have taken in the Biden-Harris administration… As we said during Prime Minister Modi’s official state visit last year, from the stars to the sea, no corner of human enterprise is untouched by the cutting edge work we are doing together. Successive administrations in Washington and New Delhi have invested time and political capital to bring this partnership to greater and greater heights,” he said.

How will India benefit from this partnership?

The partnership aims to strengthen defence innovation and increase operational coordination, technology sharing, and industrial cooperation between the two nations. Both governments have committed USD 1.2 million in funding for US and Indian companies under the INDUS-X initiative.

The initial phase will include an assessment of India’s semiconductor ecosystem, identifying infrastructure and workforce needs, with potential future joint initiatives to enhance the sector.

This collaboration between the US and India is crucial for maintaining a robust semiconductor supply chain, essential for industries such as automotive and medical devices.

The CHIPS Act, signed by US president Joe Biden in August 2022, allocated funding to boost semiconductor manufacturing and research in the US while strengthening partnerships with allies like India.

Iran security chief attends BRICS meeting in Russia

Tehran Times,

Ali Akbar Ahmadian’s journey commenced on Tuesday, as he headed to St. Petersburg for discussions among senior representatives from BRICS nations regarding security concerns, scheduled for September 10-12.

During his visit, the prominent official will engage with senior Russian authorities to deliberate on significant regional developments.

Ahmadian is anticipated to share insights with the Russian delegation on various political, security, and economic topics.

Notably, on August 5, Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of the Russian Security Council, visited Tehran for discussions with Iranian officials.

The BRICS organization conducts annual summits to convene the leaders of its member countries. These gatherings serve as a forum for addressing significant global economic and political challenges.

Moreover, they offer an opportunity for BRICS nations to enhance bilateral collaborations in areas such as finance, energy, agriculture, and technology.

As of January 1, 2024, Russia has taken on the presidency of BRICS and will maintain this role throughout the year. Iran officially joined the BRICS international group at the start of 2024.