Closer

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik during a speech at Indonesia's Parliament on Tuesday. • Modi highlighted Patnaik's daring 1947 mission as a pilot, during which he helped rescue top Indonesian leaders fighting against Dutch colonial rule. • The gesture emphasizes the historical ties between India and Indonesia, with Modi stating that Patnaik's actions brought the two nations closer.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the legacy of Biju Patnaik for his pivotal role in strengthening diplomatic ties between India and Indonesia. • In 1947, during the Indonesian National Revolution against Dutch colonial rule, Patnaik performed a daring mission to safely transport Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir and Vice President Mohammad Hatta to India. • This historic act of bravery is highlighted as a foundational moment that brought the two nations closer through shared struggles against colonialism.

• India is recalibrating its approach to the Teesta river project, asserting that development aid for Bangladesh follows a "mutually agreed roadmap." • The shift comes as India closely monitors reports that Bangladesh and China are discussing a separate river management initiative. • This geopolitical tension highlights India's concern over China's growing influence in the region and its potential impact on bilateral water-sharing agreements.

• The Los Angeles Times' "Screen Gab" column has released a curated list of nine movies and TV series recommended for viewing during the July 4 holiday weekend. • The recommendations focus on titles with American themes and recent series that explore historical perspectives to provide a closer look at the U.S. experience. • The list highlights the enduring relevance of satirical animated series, such as The Simpsons, for their ability to capture the evolution of the American middle-class dream and societal shifts.

• Scientists have created "SpudCells," synthetic, quivering spheres made using lab-designed DNA that are capable of feeding and multiplying. • The research demonstrates a "survival of the fittest" mechanism, where SpudCells with genetic growth advantages can outcompete and replace original populations. • Prof Tom Ellis of Imperial College London described the achievement as potentially the field's "biggest breakthrough in recent times."

Tiny, quivering spheres designed to feed and multiply raise prospect of artificial organisms to make drugs, food and fuelResearchers claim they are closer to creating life from scratch after building tiny, quivering blobs that use lab-made DNA to feed, grow and multiply in a dish.The synthetic cells were made from chemical compounds and are believed to be the first to demonstrate the complete cell cycle of growth, genetic replication and splitting to produce the next generation. Continue reading...

• Spain's Council of Ministers has approved a €300 million voluntary contribution to the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC). • This funding is designed to support the development of AI factories and the establishment of AI gigafactories within the region. • The move is critical for Spain's ambition to become a leading European hub for advanced computing infrastructure and artificial intelligence.