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As the cultivation of crops capable of adapting to climate change is becoming increasingly important, Chinese scientists have identified, in a breakthrough study, a novel approach that markedly enhances crop productivity in the face of high-temperature adversity. A two-degree Celsius increase in global temperatures is projected to significantly amplify average crop losses by 3 to 13 percent, highlighting the urgent need for more heat-resistant varieties to address future food security challenges. The researchers from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences have employed an innovative gene-editing tool to insert a heat-shock element into a…

President Xi Jinping’s visit to Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has charted the course for Macao in the practice of “One Country, Two Systems,” according to an article published on Saturday by the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and China’s State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited Macao from Wednesday to Friday for celebrations of the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, the inauguration of the sixth-term government of the…

RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has granted interim bail to Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) founder Imran Khan, in 32 cases related to the November 26 protest. ATC Special Judge Amjad Ali Shah approved her bail until January 13, allowing her temporary relief as legal proceedings continue. The cases against Bushra were registered in various police stations across Rawalpindi, Attock, and Chakwal. During the hearing, she was present in the courtroom and submitted the required surety bonds to secure her bail. After the bail was approved, Bushra left the court premises, with her next appearance…

A team of researchers from the University of Toronto has announced the discovery of “negative time,” a concept that challenges traditional understandings of time in quantum mechanics. While the findings have generated significant interest, they have also sparked scepticism among some scientific community members. In a series of experiments conducted in the university’s basement laboratory, the team, led by Daniela Angulo and Aephraim Steinberg, claims to have confirmed the existence of negative time—a phenomenon previously dismissed as an illusion caused by wave interactions with matter. The “negative time” concept emerged from the team’s investigation into the interaction between light and…

Senior Supreme Court judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah has expressed reservations over the involvement of intelligence agencies in the process of judicial appointments. In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Judicial Commission, ahead of the commission’s meeting, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah argued that a defined mechanism for appointing judges to constitutional benches must be established within the Judicial Commission’s rules. Justice Shah highlighted that the formation of constitutional benches in the Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court lacked clearly defined criteria. “The majority in the Judicial Commission already comprises members from the executive. Allowing intelligence agencies to…

The United States has withdrawn its $10 million reward for the capture of Syria’s new leader –  Ahmed al-Sharaa –  following the first high-level talks in Damascus since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad earlier this month. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf announced the decision on Friday after a meeting with al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group. The talks, hailed as “positive,” signal a shift in Washington’s approach towards Syria under its new leadership. Speaking to reporters, Leaf emphasised the discussions’ constructive nature, noting assurances…

At least two people, including a child, were killed, and 68 others injured when a car ploughed through a crowded Christmas market in the central German city of Magdeburg on Friday evening. Authorities have declared the incident an intentional attack, with the driver, a 50-year-old Saudi doctor, taken into custody at the scene. The horrific event unfolded around 7 pm local time (18:00 GMT) when the vehicle sped through the bustling market, leaving chaos in its wake. Among the injured, 15 remain in critical condition, while 37 sustained moderate injuries, and 16 were lightly hurt, according to local government updates.…

Amid inflationary pressures, the prices of ghee and cooking oil in Pakistan have witnessed a significant hike, with some branded products seeing an increase of up to Rs100 per litre. Retailers confirmed that branded cooking oil and ghee prices now stand at Rs570 per litre, following an average rise of Rs80 per kg/litre. The country, which imports 90% of its palm oil requirements from Indonesia and 10% from Malaysia, consumes approximately 5 million tons of ghee and cooking oil annually. Of this, around 3.5 million tons of palm oil are imported to meet local demand. Data from the Pakistan Bureau…

Pakistan’s former cricket captain Babar Azam broke a major record set by former Indian captain MS Dhoni during the ongoing series against South Africa, Azam scored his first half-century in the ODIs in 411 days to mark the end of a 21-innings drought. His last half-century in ODI was scored against New Zealand in a World Cup match, where he remained unbeaten on 66 runs. In Cape Town, Babar Azam played a knock of 73 runs off 95 balls, including seven boundaries. This innings helped him break MS Dhoni’s record of 38 half-centuries scored against SENA countries (South Africa, England,…

The Apex Committee meeting, chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, has completely decided to dismantle private bunkers established in Kurram completely. The meeting also focused on eliminating the trend of weaponry in the region. The committee, which has been holding continuous meetings with the Grand Jirga, emphasized the importance of maintaining law and order in Kurram. Barrister Saif provided a briefing during the session, alongside briefings from the IG Police, Chief Secretary, and military officials regarding the current law and order situation. KP chief minister stressed the need for the federal government’s cooperation in ensuring law and…