Chinese scientists achieve speed breeding of rice in desert
Amid the sprawling desert in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Chinese scientists are harnessing advanced greenhouse technologies to unleash the agricultural potential of the otherwise infertile land. In Yang's view, the harsh climate in the Hotan desert provides an opportunity rather than a hindrance. According to Yang, by using energy-efficient technologies in Hotan desert greenhouses, running costs were significantly reduced compared to conventional greenhouses. "Currently, the construction cost of energy-saving desert greenhouses is 350 yuan (about 48.2 U.S. dollars) per square meter, around one-third of that of Dutch glasshouses. Yang said this breakthrough in the speed breeding technology of desert greenhouse crops provides technical support for using desert greenhouses to carry out annual crop production and speed breeding in Xinjiang in the future.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 01, 2024 02:07 UTC
Resuming Pakistan-India trade
Trade between Pakistan and India has remained a casualty of political tensions and wars between the two rival neighbors. According to a report of the World Bank, bilateral trade between India and Pakistan is having potential of $37 billion. According to another study of the World Bank, India accounts for 80 percent of Pakistan’s total unrealized potential of trade. For the resumption of trade with India, Pakistan needs to look at India as a potential market for its goods and industries. For the resumption of trade with India, Pakistan needs to look at India as a potential market for its goods and industries.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 01, 2024 01:29 UTC
Chris Evans clears up rumors that he signed a bomb
Earlier this year, a photo of Chris Evans seemingly signing an item resembling a missile or bomb led to online speculation that he was writing on a missile bound for Gaza. The picture received considerable criticism online, prompting the 'Captain America' actor to respond to the rumors on social media. Similarly, a post on Facebook alleged, "Captain America actor Chris Evans signs an Israeli bomb that will kill innocent civilians in Gaza." Evans responded by sharing his explanation and a screenshot from AFP's website quoting the US Air Force. You can read the quote from the Air Force in the next story,“ read a caption from the actor’s Instagram Stories.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 31, 2024 19:07 UTC
Experts criticise coalition govt’s ‘autocratic’ approach
The experts believe that the attitude of the coalition government does not appear democratic; every institution is prioritising its ego over Pakistan. He stressed the importance of strengthening institutions in a democracy, emphasising that individuals may change, but institutional strength remains paramount. Express News Bureau Chief in Islamabad, Amir Ilyas Rana, highlighted that Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa had previously stressed that ordinances should only be issued under significant compulsion. Faisal Husain, the Karachi Bureau Chief for Express News, citing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's statement, remarked that there are corrupt individuals within all institutions. Express News Bureau Chief in Lahore, Mohammad Ilyas, stated that labelling the judiciary as "black sheep" is inappropriate.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 31, 2024 17:44 UTC
Condemning Vigilantes
We have seen countless atrocities committed by honor-bound vigilantes, and we need to see no more. The second point, the establishment of special courts, merits a much wider discussion. Laws that define mob vigilantism as a collective act, where the individual’s participation is guilt enough, are needed. Mobs cause violence through incitement and by adding critical mass to the gathering, even if an individual within that mob has not done anything illegal. Special courts, or at least specialized laws, are direly needed.
Source:The Nation
May 31, 2024 14:50 UTC
Donald Trump found guilty on all 34 counts
Donald Trump, the former president of the United States and presumptive Republican nominee, was found guilty on all counts in his New York hush money trial on Thursday, making him the first former president to become a convicted felon. After a six-week trial and 10 hours of deliberations over two days, the jury, composed of seven men and five women, unanimously determined that Mr. Trump was guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The case stems from the concealment of a $130,000 hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the waning days of the 2016 election to keep her quiet about an alleged affair. Mr. Trump then reimbursed Mr. Cohen by disguising the repayment as legal fees. Judge Juan Merchan will decide Mr. Trump’s fate in the coming weeks.
Source:The Patriot
May 31, 2024 13:07 UTC
UN refugee chief says 114 million have fled homes because nations fail to tackle causes of conflict
GENEVA: The number of people fleeing their homes because of war, violence and persecution has reached 114 million and is climbing because nations have failed to tackle the causes and combatants are refusing to comply with international law, the UN refugee chief said Thursday. On the Gaza war, the council has not called for a ceasefire because of opposition from the United States, Israel’s closest ally. He said Gaza is also “a tragic reminder of what happens when conflicts (and by extension a refugee crisis) are left unattended” for decades. Grandi said violations of international law, including forcing people to flee, are having a devastating effect on people around the world. In Ukraine, international humanitarian law is violated every day with Russian attacks on the country’s power networks, houses and other civilian infrastructure, he said.
Source:The Nation
May 31, 2024 12:25 UTC
The Crushing Coil
The national debt has already risen to Rs78.9tr, including Rs43.4tr in domestic debt and Rs32.9tr in external loans. This is not surprising given that the government has been running an unsustainablely high budget deficit that averaged 7.3pc of the economic output over the previous five years. The study reveals that in the six months leading up to December, the country’s debt payments increased by over 64 percent to Rs 4.2 trillion. The study claims that over the course of the six-month period, debt servicing costs significantly exceeded increases in tax collections. According to the study, the ministry attributes our mounting problems with debt servicing to higher domestic interest rates.
Source:The Patriot
May 31, 2024 09:42 UTC
Two TTP terrorists killed in Lakki Marwat operation
PESHAWAR - The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Thursday killed two terrorists affiliated with the banned outfit Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) during an operation in Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to a CTD spokesperson, the law enforcement personnel conducted an intelligence-based operation in Lakki Marwat during which the terrorists opened fire. In the prompt retaliatory fire, two terrorists were shot dead while others managed to escape. The dead terrorists were affiliated with Tipu Gul group of TTP. During the operation, the CTD personnel recovered grenades, arms, and ammunition from the killed terrorists.
Source:The Nation
May 31, 2024 04:21 UTC
DPM Dar felicitates nation on successful launching of PakSat-MM1
ISLAMABAD, May 30 (APP): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday extended his heartfelt congratulations to the nation on the successful launching of Pakistan Multi Mission Communication Satellite (PakSat-MM1). This historic achievement marks a milestone in our National Space Program, made possible with the invaluable support of our great friend and partner, China. This project exemplifies our strong technological collaboration and enduring friendship with China, the deputy prime minister said in a message. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people of Pakistan and commend the entire team at Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) for their tireless efforts, ” he said. May our journey into the stars be ever prosperous and peaceful,” the deputy prime minister added.
Source:The Nation
May 31, 2024 04:12 UTC
IPP seeks two ministries in Punjab
The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) has demanded two ministries from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) in Punjab. According to sources, IPP wants ministries for MPAs Shoaib Siddiqui and Ghazanfar Abbas Chhena but the PML-N is reluctant to accommodate both the lawmakers in the provincial cabinet. The final decision to give ministries to IPP will be made soon, said the sources. IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan is on an official visit to a foreign country and final decision will be made upon his arrival. It merits mention here that the IPP has currently six MPAs in Punjab Assembly.
Source:The Nation
May 31, 2024 01:39 UTC
Olympiacos 1-0 Fiorentina AET: Player grades and 3 things we learned
Player gradesPietro Terracciano—8: Made 3 fantastic saves (2 on Daniel Podence and 1 on Stevan Jovetić) to keep Fiorentina in the game. Cristiano Biraghi—5: Really whiffed a couple crosses and didn’t impact the game as much in the final third as we might’ve hoped. Wasted a couple good opportunities with truly woeful attempts to shoot, failing to test Tzolakis a single time, and contrived to complete 5 of his 11 passes. Going long made perfect sense, especially since Olympiacos’ best attacking method was winning the ball in midfield and breaking. That reliance on the initial tactic eventually doomed his side, as Fiorentina launched ball after ball forward, ceding control against an opponent that had already proven its competence defending that style.
Source:The Nation
May 31, 2024 00:57 UTC
Govt forms new cabinet committee in Faizabad sit-in case
The federal government has formed a new cabinet committee in the Faizabad sit-in case. Sources say the committee will recommend whether the case should be reinvestigated or not. In case the committee recommends the case should be reinvestigated, it will first prepare terms of reference (TORs). The PM will chair the committee while Attorney General and secretary will be the members of the law committee. It is pertinent to mention here that in the Faizabad sit-in review case the Supreme Court had objected to the commission report.
Source:The Nation
May 30, 2024 22:48 UTC
Acting President congratulates nation on launching communication satellite
ISLAMABAD, May 30 (APP): Acting President Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani on Thursday congratulated the nation on the successful launch of second Pak MM1 communication satellite. The satellite, launched earlier today, will provide improved communication links and services to the country, the acting president said in a statement. He also applauded the efforts of scientists and engineers involved in the project, saying that this achievement marked a significant milestone in Pakistan’s space program. The acting president said Pakistan would benefit from the better communication and connectivity with the launch of this satellite. “This is our second space achievement that will continue in future as well,” the president remarked.
Source:The Nation
May 30, 2024 19:03 UTC
Erdogan’s Call
The massacre started on October 7 and the otherwise fast-moving world paced too slow in preventing a genocide. It was only recently that Turkey announced halting all trade with Israel but better late than never. How much will Erdogan’s call influence countries like Egypt, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and others in the Gulf region to abandon Israel? Seeing the comfort these countries have acquired over the years, it seems less likely that they break out of trade relations with Israel. Qatar plays a mediator between Israel and Hamas and has displayed no signs that we can term close to condemnation.
Source:The Nation
May 30, 2024 15:18 UTC