Blaze News - Pakistan

The body of Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr has been found in rubble in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut, two security sources told Reuters on Wednesday. Israel's military announced late on Tuesday that it had killed Shukr, whom it named as Hezbollah's most senior commander and whom it blamed for an attack at the weekend that left a dozen youngsters dead in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said that two floors of a building in Haret Hreik, a suburb to the south of Beirut and a known stronghold of Hezbollah, have collapsed, and that one person was killed and others wounded. A loud blast was heard and a plume of smoke could be seen rising above the southern suburbs - a stronghold of Lebanese armed group Hezbollah - at around 7:40 pm (1640 GMT) on Tuesday. "The IDF carried out a targeted strike in Beirut, on the commander responsible for the murder of the children in Majdal Shams and the killing of numerou...

In a historic achievement, Sultana Nasab has become the third Pakistani woman to reach the summit of K2, also known as the “Savage Mountain.” Her ascent is being celebrated as a groundbreaking moment for women in Pakistan. Nasab, hailing from upper Hunza in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region, was the only female member of her expedition team, led by renowned Pakistani mountaineer, Sirbaz Khan. She reached the summit on Monday, joining the ranks of Samina Baig and Naila Kiani, the only other Pakistani women to have previously conquered the world’s second-highest mountain. “In a groundbreaking achievement, Sultana Nasab from GB Pakistan, a member of the first women’s expedition team, successfully summited K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, on early Monday morning,” according to APP. The expedition included seven other climbers who also reached the summit: Sirbaz Khan, Abdul Joshi, Ejaz Karim, Faryad, Sherzad Karim, Ali Muhammad Sarpara, and Muhammad Ali Sarpara. Stand...

At least 43 people have been killed in clashes erupted over a land dispute in tribal areas over one week, authorities and locals said on Monday. Intermittent clashes are still continuing in several parts of volatile Kurram district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders neighbouring Afghanistan, despite a ceasefire brokered by tribal elders on Sunday, Sahid Turi, a former lawmaker from the district, told Anadolu on telephone. Nearly 180 people have been injured in the clashes in last one week, Mir Hassan Jan, the medical superintendent of the Kurram District Head­quarters Hospital, told reporters. Confirming the death toll, Turi, who is also a member of the “jirga” or tribal assembly, which is trying to maintain the fragile ceasefire, said that another eight people were killed in overnight artillery duels between the rival tribes. Clashes initially erupted over a land dispute between Boshehra and Maleekhel tribes but later triggered into sectarian skirmishes in different par...

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has voiced concerns over recent protests and sit-ins in the country, highlighting that these disruptions come at a crucial time as Pakistan embarks on the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).  Speaking to the media on Sunday, Iqbal urged political parties to address national challenges collaboratively rather than engaging in protests and political rallies. He stressed that Pakistan has been presented with a rare opportunity through CPEC Phase II. "China has once again extended a hand towards us, ready to invest in employment, energy, and regional connectivity projects in Pakistan," he stated. However, he criticised certain groups for creating unrest and sabotaging these opportunities. "It is a strange coincidence that just as CPEC begins its second phase, some elements are actively working to drive away Chinese investors," Iqbal remarked.  He recalled that similar elements had incited violence and unrest in the p...

Cambridge International Education (CIE) announced on Saturday that it has cancelled the leaked AS Level Mathematics paper and will not be marking students on it. Instead, students will be assessed based on their performance in the second paper of AS Level Mathematics and other exams. This decision follows the leak of the AS-Level Mathematics paper on social media, particularly Facebook, on May 2. The incident left students in a state of uncertainty, unsure if the paper would be cancelled and how it would impact their grades. In response to the leak, CIE initially stated, "We are looking into concerns raised about a potential paper leakage on 02 May 2024 for AS Level Mathematics 9709 Paper 12. This is being investigated, and Cambridge and the British Council are in close communication." Addressing the leak, CIE assured that students would be marked fairly, ensuring that no one would suffer a loss due to the incident. In a recent email to school heads, Cambridge administration ...

Elon Musk has unfollowed the official Olympics account on X, formerly Twitter, after the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, which included a performance many perceived as mocking Christianity.  The Olympics laser show was amazing! pic.twitter.com/CpN1GMMVnU — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 26, 2024 Musk, who was in Paris during the ceremony, praised the laser show but later expressed displeasure with the controversial drag parody of the Last Supper.  🚫 @elonmusk is no longer following @olympics pic.twitter.com/p8XRT4Mogd — Big Tech Alert (@BigTechAlert) July 27, 2024 In a recent interview with Jordan Peterson, Musk, a self-described "cultural Christian," discussed his views on religion and revealed that his son was misled into consenting to puberty blockers, attributing this to the "woke mind virus" and transgender ideology. Absolutely not. A disgusting display of mockery of one of the most Holy and Sacred images of our Christian faith, by the least tolerant demographic ...

 Germany-based Lilium plans to begin studying possible air-taxi assembly sites in the US later this year with a goal of having a plant up and running by early 2029 to get a foothold in the one of the world's largest markets, its CEO said. Lilium plans to finalise the site next year and expects to invest "250 million to 300 million plus" euros ($271-$325 million) in the final assembly line and improving production, Klaus Roewe told Reuters. But the company "needs financial support for sure" to get the assembly line up and running, added Roewe, a former Airbus veteran. As of the end of March, Lilium had 102 million euros of liquidity, but that was before it raised $114 million in capital that is needed to achieve its first manned flight. Lilium is also in talks to raise money via loans with the help of German and French governments, with the latter tied to Lilium developing and expanding its industrial footprint in France. Lilium is one of the many entrants in the...

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday in Laos, where the two leaders agreed to resolve border issues as soon as possible. The two countries share a long Himalayan border, much of it poorly demarcated, and relations between them have been sour since a military clash in July 2020 when at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops were killed. Jaishankar met Wang on the sidelines of the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN summit in Laos, just three weeks after their last meeting in Kazakhstan, India's foreign ministry said on Thursday. "Agreed on the need to give strong guidance to complete the disengagement process. Must ensure full respect for the LAC (Line of Actual Control) and past agreements," Jaishankar said in a post on X. After their last meeting in Kazakhstan, Wang had said the two countries must handle and control the situation in the border areas while resuming normal exchanges in other areas. Both nuclear-ar...

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has appointed lawyer Shoaib Shaheen as its acting Information Secretary, according to a notification issued by PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan. The appointment was made with the approval of PTI’s beleaguered and incarcerated founding chairman, Imran Khan. Shaheen, a prominent lawyer, will assume the role following the recent arrest of PTI’s former information secretary, Raoof Hasan, who was detained earlier this week. Islamabad Police on Monday arrested Hasan in Islamabad. The former ruling party criticised law enforcers, accusing them of disregarding the law following the arrest. “It’s absolutely shameful how Islamabad Police continues to completely mock and disregard every law in this country. Law of the jungle is reigning over Pakistan!” PTI said in a statement on X. Hasan remains in custody under charges filed under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). However, Shaheen, in his new role, will receive support from PTI members Ali Moha...

Ava Kris Tyson, co-host of the popular YouTube channel MrBeast, is facing allegations of having inappropriate conversations with minors.  Furthermore, an old YouTube video has resurfaced showing Tyson sharing explicit images of Jennette McCurdy from iCarly. In the controversial video, Ava Kris Tyson, previously known as Chris Tyson before transitioning in 2023, directed viewers to a link containing the leaked images of Jennette McCurdy. These images were allegedly shared without her consent by her ex-boyfriend, NBA star Andre Drummond, in 2014. Kris Tyson from MrBeast is far worse than Dr Disrespect but the so-called influencers haven't said a word about it! 1. Kris had inappropriate conversations with several min*rs 2. Used the N word with hard R on stream! 3. Provided revenge p*rn for kids 💀 Will MrBeast let go… pic.twitter.com/saz78tlZzW — ZDragon (@IBZDRAGON) July 23, 2024 Since the backlash, Tyson has made her X, formerly Twitter, profile private and deleted several posts. Th...

Environmental samples taken from three drainage pumping stations in Hyderabad for the third consecutive month have tested positive for the poliovirus. With two more positive results reported on Monday, the tally of positive samples from Hyderabad in the first seven months of 2024 has reached 14. The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, Islamabad, has also confirmed the detection of the virus in an environmental sample from Dadu district. According to the lab, a sample collected on July 2 from the Qadir pumping station tested positive and has been classified as a YB3A-4B cluster, which is 99.77% genetically linked to the virus detected in an environmental sample in Karachi East on May 14. Another sample from Latifabad Unit 9 pumping station also tested positive, classified as a YB3A-4B cluster and 99.89% genetically linked to the virus detected in a sample in Hyderabad on May 8. This month, the Islamabad-based lab has detected three po...

Joe Biden has tested negative for COVID and his symptoms have resolved, the White House physician said in a letter on Tuesday as the president headed back to Washington two days after ending his reelection bid and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris. Almost six days ago, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced the positive test for the 81-year-old Democrat after Biden cancelled a speech due to the diagnosis. "He is vaccinated and boosted and experiencing mild symptoms," Jean-Pierre said. The White House cited Biden's doctor as saying he had been suffering from upper respiratory symptoms earlier in the afternoon. "He felt OK for his first event of the day, but given that he was not feeling better, point of care testing for Covid-19 was conducted and the results were positive for the Covid-19 virus," the statement said. President Biden was self isolated after the test in complaince with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines   from Late...

Former US president Donald Trump, while playing a round of golf with professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau, took a playful jab at President Joe Biden. During the game today, Trump, after sinking a putt, quipped, "You think Biden can do that?" He added sarcastically, "You know, we had an argument about golf...can you believe that?" and laughed. DeChambeau responded, "Yes, I watch CNN." The golf outing was part of a "special episode" for DeChambeau's YouTube show, Break 50. DeChambeau, the 2024 US Open winner, announced that Trump, the Republican presidential nominee for the 2024 election, would be featured on his show.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Rogan O’Handley (@dc_draino) In addition to Trump's appearance, DeChambeau's show pledged to donate $10,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project for every stroke they scored under par. DeChambeau emphasised that the episode fo...

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has declared that his party's sit-in scheduled for July 26 in Islamabad will persist until their demands are met. Addressing a trader convention on Monday, Hafiz Naeem stated, "Our protest is against the excessive taxes, and the exorbitant increases in petroleum and gas prices." "We will demand our rights from the imposed government of Form 47 with full force." "We must sit in Islamabad until our demands are approved. Regardless of party affiliations, Jamaat-e-Islami will not betray you. We will live with dignity and courage in our country," he added, deeming the protest a national agenda. Rehman extended an invitation to members of all parties, emphasising that JI's struggle is essential to prevent anarchy in Pakistan. "We will embark on a peaceful political resistance and, InshaAllah, we will succeed," he said. July 26 sit-in will reflect representation of the country's 250 million peo...

batteries within ten years, providing an environmentally friendly, more efficient, and safer alternative. Researchers at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) have patented a new superionic material based on potassium silicate, a mineral extracted from ordinary rocks. The lithium-ion battery, currently the most widely used in electric cars, has limitations in terms of capacity, safety, and availability. Lithium is expensive, environmentally harmful, and scarce, potentially hindering the green transition of car transport. “With more people switching to electric cars, there is a need for lithium-free batteries that are as efficient, eco-friendly, and cheaper to produce,” said a DTU spokesperson. New materials for the battery’s anode, cathode, and electrolyte, as well as new designs, are required. DTU researcher Mohamad Khoshkalam has developed a material that could replace lithium in future batteries: solid-state batteries based on potassium and sodium silicates. These common mineral...

Apple’s AI plans go beyond the previously announced Apple Intelligence launches on the iPhone, iPad and Mac. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is also working to bring these features to its Vision Pro headsets reported by Tech Crunch. It’s not the most surprising move — if Apple Intelligence (a whole suite of features including an improved Siri, proofreading tools and custom emojis) is key to Apple’s future, why wouldn’t it be available on all the latest Apple gadgets? But for all that’s impressive about the Vision Pro, it remains an unusually pricey device with a limited audience (so far). Apple Intelligence won’t be launching on the Vision Pro this year, Gurman says. Apple’s main challenge here is rethinking how the features will look in mixed reality, rather than on a MacBook or iPhone screen. Read: Zoom unveils immersive app for Apple's Vision Pro headset Speaking of Vision Pro sales, Gurman reports that Apple is also rolling out changes to the way it demos the ...

At least 30 people are missing after heavy flooding hit southwestern China, state-run media said on Saturday. Heavy rain that caused flash flooding in the Ya'an region of Sichuan province's Hanyuan county also damaged over 40 homes, state-run broadcaster CGTN reported. Rescue teams arrived in the area and launched search efforts for missing people. Earlier on Saturday, local media reported that at least 11 people were killed after part of a highway bridge in northwestern Shaanxi province collapsed. The bridge, located in Shangluo city of Zhashui county, collapsed at around 8.40 p.m. local time (1240GMT) on Friday due to sudden downpour and flash floods.   from Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/mxeRA7V

A Russian court found US reporter Evan Gershkovich guilty of espionage on Friday and sentenced him to 16 years in a maximum security penal colony in what his employer, the Wall Street Journal, called "a disgraceful sham conviction." Gershkovich, a 32-year-old American who denied any wrongdoing, went on trial in the city of Yekaterinburg last month after being accused of trying to gather sensitive information about a tank factory. He was the first US journalist accused of spying in Russia since the Cold War, and his arrest in March 2023 prompted many US and other Western correspondents to leave Moscow. US President Joe Biden said Gershkovich did not commit any crime and has been wrongfully detained. "We are pushing hard for Evan's release and will continue to do so," Biden said in a statement. "Journalism is not a crime." Video of Friday's hearing released by the court showed Gershkovich, dressed in a T-shirt and black trousers, standing in a glass ...

The ongoing heatwave in Karachi has affected 62 more residents in the last 24 hours, according to the Sindh Health Department. The latest statistics reveal that Civil Hospital treated 18 cases, Sindh Government Liaquat Hospital 17, Jinnah Hospital 12, and Sindh Government Saudabad Hospital 4 heatstroke patients. Additionally, three cases each were reported from Liaquat National Hospital, Sindh Government New Karachi Hospital, and Ghaghar Village Maternity and Child Centre. Also read: 19 bodies found in different areas of Karachi amid ongoing heatwave Single cases were reported from Gudap Health Centre and MH Labour Square. Since June this year, 51 deaths have been attributed to heatstroke in Karachi. The health authorities continue to urge residents to take precautions during the severe weather, including staying hydrated and avoiding unnecessary outdoor activities. from Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/Qs6ymB4

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader Qamar Zaman Kaira announced on Wednesday that his party will oppose any decision to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Kaira stressed that political parties should only be countered through democratic means. “The political parties can only be defeated in the political arena,” he said, emphasising that even those parties embracing fascism should be dealt with democratically. “My party [PPP] will show resistance in line with the ban on the PTI.” Kaira clarified that the government has not yet decided to ban PTI, stating, “The reference to ban the PTI will be sent to the court, and the bench will be formed.” This sentiment was echoed by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who earlier remarked that PTI's current predicament was self-inflicted. “PPP has never supported the ban on any of the political parties,” Shah said, adding that the PPP was not consulted about the potential ban on PTI. The issue has sparked a broader debate, with the ...

Thai police are investigating the deaths of six foreign nationals whose bodies were found in a room at an upmarket hotel in Bangkok on Tuesday, including looking for a seventh person in connection with the incident. All six, who were of Vietnamese descent, with two carrying US passports, checked into Bangkok's Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel at two separate times after arriving on Saturday and Sunday, police official Thiti Saengsawang told reporters. The group - three men and three women - checked into different rooms but their bodies were found in one room, which did not show any signs of struggle, he said. "This was not self harm, but someone caused the deaths," said Thiti, adding that police were looking for a seventh person connected with the group. "We are tracing every step since they got off the plane." Police officers found the bodies after a call from the hotel staff at around 5.30 p.m. (1030 GMT) reporting that there had been deaths, the Thai police said in a...

The federal government has increased the price of petrol by a whopping Rs9.99 per litre while the price of high-speed diesel has been hiked by Rs6.18 per litre, as per a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance on Monday. This increase comes into effect from July 16 with the revised prices to remain applicable for the next fortnight. The sudden price hike is expected to burden consumers already grappling with inflationary pressures.  This move by the government is aimed at offsetting rising international oil prices and maintaining fiscal stability, although it is likely to provoke widespread public outcry and criticism. The impact of these latest increases on daily commuters, transporters, and businesses dependent on fuel is anticipated to be severe. Citizens are bracing themselves for higher transportation costs and increased inflationary pressures on essential commodities, further straining household budgets already under stress from previous economic challenges. The Minist...

A small landlocked African nation playing in the big league: with military might, image branding and political influence, Rwanda under President Paul Kagame has become a major strategic player with tentacles spread far and wide. De facto leader since the 1994 genocide and running for a fourth term as president in elections Monday, the iron-fisted Kagame has established a sphere of influence far outweighing Rwanda's size to develop the country and entrench his own power base. Unlike many other African nations, "Rwanda is pursuing a real foreign policy strategy", says Paul-Simon Handy, East Africa director at the Institute for Security Studies. This strategy is similar to "smart power", says Handy, combining hard power -- the use of military and economic means for influence -- and soft power. The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) is one of the pillars of this policy, though its role is contradictory. The Democratic Republic of Congo has for years accused its neighbour of...

Businessman Elon Musk on Friday claimed that the European Commission offered his X platform an "illegal secret deal" to "quietly" censor speech after the commission accused it of breaching EU digital laws. "The European Commission offered X an illegal secret deal: if we quietly censored speech without telling anyone, they would not fine us," Musk wrote on X. "The other platforms accepted that deal. X did not," he said."We look forward to a very public battle in court, so that the people of Europe can know the truth," Musk wrote later. Musk's statement came in response to the European Commission saying earlier Friday that X is in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) in areas linked to "dark patterns, advertising transparency and data access for researchers.” The commission warned that if its preliminary views are confirmed, X could face severe fines. The European Commission firmly denied Musk’s claim, with Commissioner for I...

The Meteorological Department has forecast light rain, drizzle, and sprinkles in Karachi until Sunday due to the ongoing monsoon season. On Friday, the maximum temperature recorded was 34.5 degrees Celsius. Strong sea winds blew through the city, starting at 45 km/h and increasing to 50.4 km/h (29 nautical miles) by evening. Despite high humidity, the strong winds kept the weather moderate. The humidity levels were recorded at 76% in the morning and 65% in the evening. The Met Office's Early Warning Centre predicts that the city will experience partly cloudy skies and strong winds on Saturday, with light rain and drizzle expected in the evenings and nights. The sea breezes are expected to remain active in the coming days, with hot and humid conditions prevailing in most parts of Sindh. from Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/JOKmHZw

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded on Thursday that Israel retain control of key Gaza territory along the border with Egypt as part of any accord to suspend the war with Hamas. The condition conflicts with Hamas’ position that Israel must withdraw from all Gaza territory after a ceasefire. Speaking after the return of Israeli negotiators from talks with mediators in Qatar, Netanyahu said Israel needed control to stop weapons reaching Hamas from Egypt – one of four conditions for a deal with the Palestinian. He did not say if the measure would be permanent. But it is the first time Israel has insisted on retaining control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and the so-called Philadelphi corridor along the border. Netanyahu said Israel’s negotiators, led by Mossad intelligence chief David Barnea, went to Doha to defend what he called four “ironclad principles”, with the key condition that Israel be allowed to keep fighting until its war aims of des...

Pakistani mountaineer Salma Masood and Dutch mountaineer Richard have been successfully rescued and shifted to Skardu. The two climbers, who had embarked on an expedition to Broad Peak, requested medical aid after falling ill during the climb. The Dutch mountaineer experienced altitude sickness and breathing problems, prompting an urgent evacuation request to the Pakistan Army. Responding swiftly, the Pakistan Army deployed a helicopter to rescue the ailing mountaineers. Both Masood and Richard expressed their gratitude to the Pakistan Army for their immediate response and timely rescue. The successful evacuation highlights the efficiency and readiness of the Pakistan Army in handling emergencies in challenging terrains. from Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/lXKAqz7

Israeli officials on Tuesday reported progress in Egypt-hosted talks aimed at reaching a Gaza cease-fire and prisoner swap with Hamas. Israeli public broadcaster KAN, citing officials, said progress had been made on important issues during a visit by the head of the Shin Bet security service, Ronen Bar, to the Egyptian capital, Cairo. It, however, did not provide any details about these important issues. Bar returned to Israel early Tuesday from Egypt. An Israeli official, however, called for caution, predicting “complicated negotiations" with Hamas. Bar and Mossad chief David Barnea are set to fly to Qatar on Wednesday to attend a four-party meeting with Egypt and the US to explore ways of advancing Gaza cease-fire talks. Read also: Latest Israeli attack to sabotage ceasefire talks, says Hamas chief For months, efforts by the US, Qatar, and Egypt to mediate an agreement between Israel and Hamas for a hostage exchange and cease-fire have been hampered by Israeli Prime Minister Ben...

Karachi faced a chaotic situation following the onset of monsoon rains, as several areas reported waterlogging due to overflowing gutters on Tuesday. This led to severe disruptions in traffic flow, with long queues of vehicles forming on various thoroughfares. As reported by Express News, Karachi witnessed rainfall ranging from 2 millimeters to 58 millimeters across different parts of the city. Despite significant rainfall, municipal representatives were notably absent, leaving residents to contend with familiar scenes of water accumulation in low-lying areas. Areas like Guru Mandir, MA Jinnah Road, Hassan Square, Liaquatabad No. 10, Korangi Expressway, and Federal B Area witnessed waterlogging, affecting local businesses and residents. Similarly, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 13-D, Lyari, and old city areas also reported water accumulation. The downpour severely disrupted the city's major roads, causing extensive traffic jams compounded by flooded streets in residential areas. Key arterie...

Prince Harry is set to receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service for his work with the Invictus Games at this week's ESPYs on ESPN, but controversy has emerged over Meghan Markle's possible role in securing the nomination.  The award, named after the former NFL player who left his career to join the army and was killed in Afghanistan, has faced backlash from veterans and Pat Tillman’s mother. Royal commentator Charlotte Griffiths has suggested that Meghan's connections may have played a part in Harry's nomination. Speaking to GB News, Griffiths said, "This is actually very serious. There's a grieving mother involved and she said: 'Look, I don't know if you're filming your Netflix documentary but you can't just make life about promoting yourself because sometimes there's a serious message behind these events that you attend.'" The controversy deepened with the announcement that Serena Williams, a close friend of Meghan Markle, will p...

YouTube has introduced an updated version of its "Erase Song" tool, enabling creators to remove copyrighted music from their videos while preserving other audio. Announced earlier this week and now being rolled out, the tool utilizes AI to extract songs without affecting dialogue or other sounds. According to 9 to 5 Google website, previously available in beta, the improved tool addresses performance issues noted by users. As YouTube explained, the feature allows creators to either remove the claimed song while keeping other sounds or mute all audio in the affected sections. This option appears on videos with copyright claims related solely to audio. Read: Youtube broadens @Handles to 75 languages Despite its capabilities, YouTube acknowledges that the tool might not be effective in all cases, particularly if the song is difficult to isolate. In such instances, creators are advised to use other editing options like muting all sound or trimming the claimed segments. Additional...

 A futuristic study conducted by Chinese scientists has shed light on the potential of using moss to transform Mars's barren red landscape into a lush green environment. Scientists have recently found that Syntrichia caninervis, a desert moss that thrives in various extreme environments on Earth, is a promising pioneer plant for colonizing extraterrestrial environments. The study, conducted by researchers from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG), the National Space Science Center, and the Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was recently published in the journal The Innovation. Syntrichia caninervis is a globally distributed moss species that flourishes in harsh deserts, mountainous regions and circumpolar regions. It forms part of the biological soil crust. Using samples from the Gurbantunggut Desert in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, one of the most concentrated distributions of Syntrichia caninervis, the rese...

A total of 177 pages of Japanese military personnel registration forms detailing their work in Unit 731, a Japanese germ-warfare unit during World War II, were made public in Harbin, the capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Saturday. The forms contain the personal information of 140 members of the unit, including doctors, lieutenants, medical soldiers, military employees and others, who belonged to the Linkou Division, the biggest of the four divisions set up by Unit 731 on Dec. 2, 1940. It is also known as the 162nd Manchurian Unit. According to Jin Shicheng, a researcher with the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army, the documents show that the work of these people covered bacterial experiments and production, laboratory-animal feeding, education and training, health and epidemic prevention, and so on. Read: UN says no evidence of biological weapons in Ukraine, bucking Russian claims In one of the forms, the J...

Prince Harry's potential acceptance of the Pat Tillman Award for Service has sparked a debate among royal experts due to the controversy surrounding his nomination.  Richard Eden, diary editor for the Daily Mail, commented on the Daily Mail's Palace Confidential podcast that Harry should "do the honourable thing" and decline the award. Eden stated, "It's a great award meant to honour someone who put service before personal gain, and it really isn't appropriate for Harry to get it." The nomination has angered some people, including Tillman's mother, who believes there are "far more fitting" recipients. Rebecca English, royal editor for the Daily Mail, highlighted the "controversy" and described Tillman's mother's reaction as "really outrageous." Charlotte Griffiths, editor at large for the Mail on Sunday, suggested that Harry should contact Tillman's mother to potentially change her mind. "I think it ...

Kylian Mbappe said on Thursday that it would be “an honour” to play against his boyhood-hero Cristiano Ronaldo when France and Portugal meet in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 in Hamburg today. “It is an honour. Everyone knows about my admiration for Cristiano,” France captain Mbappe, 25, told reporters on the eve of the game. Growing up, Mbappe famously decorated his bedroom wall with pictures of Ronaldo and was introduced to the Portuguese superstar at Real Madrid’s training ground when the Spanish club tried to sign him as a young teenager. “I have got to know him over time. We are still in contact. He still tries to follow my career,” Mbappe said. Ronaldo, 39 and now playing club football in Saudi Arabia, has admitted this European Championship is set to be his last, which means Mbappe could knock him out of the competition for the final time. “It is an honour but it doesn’t matter what has happened before or will happen in the future,” added Mbappe, who will follow in Ronaldo’s fo...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday he has agreed to send a delegation for talks on securing the release of hostages seized in the October 7 attacks. In a statement after telephone talks with US President Joe Biden, Netanyahu's office said: "The prime minister updated President Biden about his decision to send a delegation that would continue negotiations for freeing the hostages." There was no indication where the delegation would go or when it would leave. In its own readout of the phone call, the White House said Biden welcomed the decision to have Israeli negotiators "engage" with mediators in a bid "to close out the deal". Netanyahu called a meeting of his security cabinet for later Thursday to discuss new proposals sent by Hamas through Qatari mediators, media reports said. Hamas has demanded an end to the fighting and an Israeli withdrawal as a prelude to any hostage deal. Israel has countered that there can be no end to...

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has announced the commencement of the second phase of an anti-smog campaign, stating that over the next three months, environmental protection laws will be rigorously enforced across various sectors. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Aurangzeb said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has mandated the strict enforcement of laws under the Smog-Free Punjab vision. PHOTO: GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB The first phase, spanning three months, focused on providing facilities, technical assistance, and technology to all sectors. PHOTO: GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB "Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif's vision of a green and smog-free Punjab to eliminate smog, toxic and deadly fumes, and pollution has been started with full force," said Aurangzeb. "If you support us again, smog will be eliminated from Punjab like garbage." PHOTO: GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB She urged citizens to check their vehicles and factory chimneys, stop using plastic, ref...

Russia is aiming to create the four-module core of its planned new orbital space station by 2030, its Roscosmos space agency said on Tuesday. The head of Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, signed off on the timetable with the directors of 19 enterprises involved in creating the new station. The agency confirmed plans to launch an initial scientific and energy module in 2027. It said three more modules would be added by 2030 and a further two between 2031 and 2033. Russia has until now partnered with the United States and other countries on the International Space Station, one of the few areas where it still collaborates closely with the US given the dire state of relations since its invasion of Ukraine. Read also: Russian satellite breakup in space prompts ISS astronauts to seek shelter With the ISS approaching the end of its operational life, Moscow announced plans in 2022 to pull out of the project and build its own station. It initially said it would quit the ISS after 2024, but told...

As the first half of 2024 concludes, we take a look back at the top ten highest-grossing movies in the United Kingdom so far this year. 1. Dune: Part Two ($49,430,820) - Leading the chart is "Dune: Part Two," which garnered an impressive $49.4 million. The epic continuation of the sci-fi saga, directed by Denis Villeneuve, captivated audiences with its stunning visuals and complex narrative.   2. Inside Out 2 ($29,395,031) - In second place, "Inside Out 2" brought in $29.4 million. This animated sequel continued to charm viewers with its emotional depth and creative storytelling, appealing to both children and adults.   3. Kung Fu Panda 4 ($27,089,877) - The fourth installment of the beloved animated series, "Kung Fu Panda 4," earned $27.1 million. Po's latest adventures provided fun and excitement for families and animation enthusiasts alike.   4. Migration ($26,569,713) - "Migration" secured the fourth spot with $26.6 million. This film...