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  • Karachi faces urban flooding risk as heavy rains likely through August 23

    Karachi faces urban flooding risk as heavy rains likely through August 23



    Residents commute through a flooded road during the monsoon season in Karachi, Pakistan, July 9, 2022. — Reuters

    The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rainfall in Karachi and other parts of Sindh from August 17 to 23.

    In a weather advisory issued on Sunday, the Met Office said that under the influence of monsoon currents, rain and thunderstorms — with isolated heavy downpours — are expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Larkana, Qambar Shahdadkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Badin, Thatta, Tharparkar and surrounding districts.

    The weather department said that the port city is likely to experience rainfall with thunder and lightning on Monday and Tuesday, with isolated heavy downpours expected in some areas.

    The Met Office has warned that heavy rain, strong winds, and lightning could disrupt daily life, cause urban flooding, and lead to water accumulation in low-lying areas.

    The weather may also damage vulnerable structures such as poorly built homes, electric poles, billboards, vehicles, and solar panels during the forecast period, it said.

    Farmers have been advised to plan agricultural activities keeping the weather forecast in mind.

    Meanwhile, the water flow at Guddu and Sukkur barrages remains at low flood levels, while Kotri Barrage is reported to be stable and flowing normally.

    The Met Office’s forecast comes as northern parts of the country have witnessed widespread destruction and loss of life exceeding 300 deaths due to heavy rains resulting in flash floods and landslides.

    Isolated heavy falls are also expected in upper KP, Pothohar region and Kashmir, the weather department said, adding that rains are also expected in northeast/south Balochistan, south Punjab and southeast Sindh during evening/night.

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  • Scientists finally tame the impossible 48-atom carbon ring

    Scientists finally tame the impossible 48-atom carbon ring

    In a new study led by Oxford University’s Department of Chemistry, chemists have demonstrated the synthesis of a cyclocarbon that is stable enough for spectroscopic characterisation in solution at room temperature.

    nough to be studied in liquid solution form at room temperature.

  • The study – only the second example of a new type of molecular carbon allotrope that can be studied under normal laboratory conditions – was published on August 14 in Science.

    • In a new study led by Oxford University’s Department of Chemistry, chemists have demonstrated the synthesis of a cyclocarbon that is stable enough for spectroscopic characterisation in solution at room temperature.

    The synthesis of a new type of molecular carbon allotrope that can be studied under normal laboratory conditions is a rare achievement. The only previous example was the synthesis of fullerenes by Krätschmer et al. in 1990 (Nature 1990).

    In the new study, the molecule cyclo[48]carbon was synthesised as a [4]catenane, i.e. with the C48 ring threaded through three other macrocycles. These threaded macrocycles increase the stability of C48 by preventing access to the protected cyclocarbon.

    Previously, molecular rings consisting purely of carbon atoms have only been studied in the gas phase or at very low temperatures (4 to 10 K). Now, the team have synthesised a cyclocarbon that is stable in solution at 20°C (half-life 92 hours). This has been achieved by using threaded macrocycles, choosing a large cyclocarbon with a low level of strain, and developing mild reaction conditions for the unmasking step in the reaction (where a precursor molecule is transformed into the final product).

    The cyclocarbon catenane was characterised by mass spectrometry, NMR, UV-visible and Raman spectroscopy. The observation of a single intense 13C NMR resonance for all 48 sp1 carbon atoms indicates that all of the carbons are in equivalent environments, which provides strong evidence for the cyclocarbon catenane structure.

    Lead author Dr Yueze Gao (Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford) said: “Achieving stable cyclocarbons in a vial at ambient conditions is a fundamental step. This will make it easier to study their reactivity and properties under normal laboratory conditions.”

    Study senior author Professor Harry Andersen (Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford) said: “This achievement marks the culmination of a long endeavour to synthesise cyclocarbon catenanes, based on the hope that they might be stable enough to study at room temperature. The original grant proposal was written in 2016, based on preliminary results from 2012-2015. It is satisfying to have reached this point, because there were many times when the goal seemed unrealistic and unachievable. This work would not have been possible without the outstanding facilities for NMR spectroscopy in the Department of Chemistry at Oxford.”

    The study also involved researchers from the University of Manchester, the University of Bristol and the Central Laser Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.

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  • Pakistan get 8 gold medals at Hero Taekwondo Open

    Pakistan get 8 gold medals at Hero Taekwondo Open

    Pakistan taekwondo players Syed Ameer Hamza, Muhammad Umar, Hammad Nadeem, and Shamil Ali secured four medals at the 7th International Taekwondo Cup 2025 in Nilai, Malaysia, last week.

    The Karachi Taekwondo Academy players raised the Pakistani flags high in the senior, junior, and cadet categories in the tournament, which featured more than 2000 athletes from 25 countries. They won two gold medals and two silver medals.

    Other gold medallists include Syed Hadi Jafri in 45 kg event, while Tayiba Ashraf clinched three gold medals in virtual fight, pair poomsae, and 49 kg fight, and Sumbul Fatima bagged two gold medals and a silver in different events.

    While talking to The Express Tribune the athletes listed their aspirations, but the most fascinating feature was, at least three of them want to pursue careers in sports but also in medical professions.

    Ameer Hamza, Gold medal in 51 KG Junior weight category 15 to 17 years

    Hamza took the gold medal in the 51 kg juniors event, which had players aged between 15 and 17 competing for the top prize.

    “I am so happy to be here, and win this title, it is the hard work and the dedication of my coach that helped me win this gold medal,” he told The Express Tribune with excitement in his voice.

    “I had a tough event, I fought two opponents and both of them were very good. “

    Hamza had previously competed in Fujera Open as well, but he did not win in 2019 juniors event.

    “I wasn’t very good at the sport then, but I know I am improving, and this result shows it,” said the 15-year-old, who aims to become a doctor when he grows up.

    “I want to carry on with taekwondo, but I also want to study to become a doctor. I am hoping to be able to find success in both of these things.”

    Ameer is also the son of the Karachi Taekwondo Academy owner and coach Syed Rehman Shah, who has dedicated his life to training children in the Korean martial arts.

    His other student, Umar, on the other hand, won the all-important final fight to clinch the senior title in 64 kg event.

    He competed with a Chinese athlete and he deemed the event to be challenging but rewarding, “Chinese athletes are usually very tough to beat and they have great technique. I makes the victory sweeter to know I defeated a good competitor,” explained the 20-year-old D Pharmacy student.

    Umar has been a persevering athlete, he represented Pakistan in the Qatar Open 2023 and, have been on the quest of making the country proud on the mat.

    Despite a tough schedule at Hamdard University, where he is pursuing a degree, Umar makes time for the taekwondo practice and trains at least one to two hours everyday throughout the year.

    However, he seldom gets any support from the university administration when it comes to highlighting his achievements as national athlete.

    “Mostly my fellow students and teachers are aware that I represent Pakistan internationally, even the Vice Chancellor of my university knows it, but they tend to ignore this, and of course it can affect me, the lack of support feels cold and cruel at times. We are here on our own,” said Umar.

    Similarly, Shamil, who took silver medal in the 49 kg cadet weight category, believes that his training at the Karachi Academy helped keep his passion for taekwondo grow strong and attributes the balance between studies and training time to be essential for the quality of his game.

    “I have been training for four years, my family is very supportive of me playing in international events,,” said Shamil, who was on call with his mother before the interview.

    “I think the tournament was tough because there were so many well-trained athletes here.

    “While I was in the fight I was only thinking about what I can do to make sure that I end this with a medal.

    “My mind was only focused on that, so I am glad I managed a silver.”

    He said that his ultimate goal in life is to do what he loves: compete in taekwondo events, and become a male nurse.

    “I want to become a nurse, my whole family is in this profession, so I also want to continue the tradition.

    “The goal for me is to get the degree in nursing and get black belt in taekwondo,” concluded the 14-year-old.

    Road to Nilai was paved with challenges

    Karachi Taekwondo Academy owner and coach Syed Rahman Shah, who has also been a sports trainer at reputable schools including Habib Public, added that the greatest challenge is to find sponsors and support from the government when it comes to taking the athletes to international events.

    “The way e have come to Malaysia is nothing short of a miracle, I can say that it was only with the help of Allah, the parents chipped in, and we asked people for help, but there is no institutional help of talented athletes.

    “But winning these medals after going through so much only ensures that we are on the right path, and my students are proving their mettle on the international stage,” said Rahman,

    “We need support from the Pakistan Teakwondo Federation as well, because at the end of the day every athlete wants to compete at the highest level, and to achieve that there needs to be an effective system in place that can treat our players with respect and dignity,” said Rahman.

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  • China’s ‘scissor wing’ project could revive hypersonic drone concept

    China’s ‘scissor wing’ project could revive hypersonic drone concept

    Chinese engineers are reportedly working on their own version of the oblique wing concept. Developed as early as the 1940s, this design consists of a single wing that can swivel around the fuselage, much like a scissor blade.

    With such aircraft, at slow speeds, the wing sticks out normally (perpendicular) to enable it to take off, land, and fly as normal. At high speeds, the wing rotates until it basically blends into the fuselage, turning the whole plane into a hypersonic dart.

    Planes normally have to choose between designs good for low-speed takeoff (big, wide wings for lift) and designs good for high-speed flight (swept, slim wings to cut drag).

    Other designs, such as the F-14 and the British Tornado, try to do both by sweeping both wings backward, but that requires heavy, complex mechanisms. The oblique wing, on the other hand, is “simpler” engineering-wise, as just one big wing pivots.

    Ressurection of the oblique wing

    However, this concept has its own inherent problems, such as stability nightmares in the past (the 1970s NASA AD-1 was notoriously wobbly and hard to control). To overcome this, the Chinese team used a combination of modern technology, including supercomputers and artificial intelligence (AI).

    These are being used to model and predict airflow around the aircraft during flight. The design also integrates smart materials and sensors to manage the intense stresses such an aircraft would experience.

    The design reportedly includes a mix of canards, tailplanes, and active surfaces to maintain stability while the wing is in motion. This new oblique-wing aircraft isn’t just a research project; it has significant combat potential if successful.

    It could, for example, be used as the basis for a new kind of drone “mother ship” that could reach Mach 5 (3,700 mph or 6,000 kph), and fly near space at an altitude of 18.64 miles (30 km).

    This mother ship could potentially carry 16–18 autonomous drones for swarm attacks on radar, communications, and command centers. In theory, the ship would drop a drone behind enemy lines before defenses could react and then return to base autonomously.

    As interesting as this sounds, the engineers face major obstacles. For instance, the pivot shaft for the wing must withstand immense bending, torque, and vibration loads.

    Not a simple task

    At Mach 5, the exterior of the aircraft becomes hotter than 1,832°F (1,000°C) while the internal pivot shaft remains cooler. This temperature difference can lead to differential expansion, lubrication failures, and a risk of cracking. Over repeated flights, fatigue could cause catastrophic failure.

    So, the final aircraft would require redundancy, real-time stress monitoring, and backup systems in case the pivot fails. “Redundancy is a must,” an unnamed aviation expert told the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

    “They will need multiple backup systems, real-time strain monitoring, microsecond-level diagnostics, and fail-safe locking mechanisms to freeze the wing in a stable position if anything goes wrong,” the expert added.

    If the team can solve these issues, it would represent a resurrection of an idea that was ahead of its time but was limited by past technology.

    If China successfully resolves these challenges, this could become a new class of hypersonic weapons platform that is long-range, fast, and hard to stop, capable of deploying drone swarms.

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  • Microsoft might finally fix dark mode in Windows 11 — seriously

    Microsoft might finally fix dark mode in Windows 11 — seriously

    It’s finally happening. After more than six years since it was last updated, Microsoft looks to be making new progress towards finishing dark mode on Windows 11. Ever since dark mode debuted on Windows in 2016, it’s been embarrassingly incomplete with common UI interfaces still brightly colored when dark mode is enabled.

    That looks to finally be changing, as the latest Windows 11 preview builds include an early glimpse at some newly themed dark interfaces in the File Explorer. First spotted by Phantomofearth on X, the latest builds include a hidden dark mode for the file copy window, file deletion prompt, and file permissions popup window.

    As you can see in the screenshot below, we can see that when dark mode is now enabled, these UI surfaces are themed correctly. The window itself, as well as buttons are themed with a dark grey colorway to match to the rest of the File Explorer.

    The file copy window is finally getting a dark theme. (Image credit: Windows Central)

    It’s a small amount of progress, but any progress is worth celebrating when there’s been no progress at all for over half a decade. I still can’t fathom why Microsoft thought it was okay to abandon dark mode in its incomplete state on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Why it’s taken them so long to finally get back on track is a mystery.

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  • Why is Apple is deliberately slowing the flow of content for its most futuristic device?

    Why is Apple is deliberately slowing the flow of content for its most futuristic device?

    Gurman identifies immersive video as the Vision Pro‘s primary selling point and the feature that most impresses potential customers. However, he notes that the content library available to owners remains limited and is not updated frequently. He provides specific examples of this sparse offering, noting that original series like “Wild Life” and “Adventure” have only four and five episodes respectively. Others, such as “Elevated”, have just a single episode, leaving users with few options. He also points to sports content from 2024 that is still being featured well into 2025.

    The core of the issue, Gurman reports, is a “conundrum” for Apple. Producing immersive video is exceptionally expensive. With sales of the $3,499 headset being modest-Gurman estimates fewer than one million units sold-Apple is reportedly unwilling to make a larger financial commitment to programming. 

    The report also highlights a second concern within Apple: a fear that if a large content library is released now, it will be considered old by the time a lighter, cheaper Vision Pro model arrives in 2027 to attract a mainstream audience. This has resulted in a difficult cycle where the content needed to attract new buyers is being held back.

    The situation is notable as competitors prepare their own devices. Gurman mentions that Meta plans to launch its “Hypernova” smart glasses with a display for approximately $800, prioritizing a lower price point to build an audience. Apple’s next major update to the Vision Pro line, a more affordable model, is not anticipated for another two years.

    Gurman’s reporting indicates that Apple’s content strategy, while financially cautious, is hindering the Vision Pro‘s ability to grow its user base. By not investing robustly in the content ecosystem — a strategy that proved foundational to the success of the iPhone and iPod — I believe Apple is limiting the appeal of its own hardware. This approach, I fear, risks cementing the Vision Pro‘s status as a product for a niche market rather than establishing it as the next major computing platform.

    Read the latest from Johanna Romero

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  • GCC countries’ GDP exceeds USD 2.143 trillion

    GCC countries’ GDP exceeds USD 2.143 trillion

    Muscat: The GCC nations made a GDP of USD 2.1431 trillion in 2023 – a 2.7% decrease from USD 2.2027 trillion in 2022, the GCC Statistical Center has announced.

    The center showed that the available domestic product (the portion available for consumption and savings after taxes and other transfers) amounted to USD 1.9891 trillion, compared to USD 2.0515 trillion in 2022-a 3% decline.

    It added that the total value added by the non-oil sector in the GCC countries at current prices by the end of 2023 was approximately USD 1.513 trillion, while the oil sector’s value added stood at USD 603.5 billion.

    The data indicates that the non-oil sector’s contribution to the total GCC GDP at current prices rose to 71.5% by the end of 2023, compared to 65% by the end of 2022-reflecting an annual growth rate of 6.4%.

    Mining and quarrying activities had the highest contribution to the GCC economy over the past five years, with an average of 28.3%, while manufacturing activities were the largest contributor within the non-oil sector, with an average of 11.7%.

    Most economic activities recorded growth rates in 2023. The highest growth was seen in Financial and insurance activities (11.7%), Transport and storage (11.6%), Real estate activities (8.1%), Public administration and defense (7.9%), Wholesale and retail trade (7.6%) and Education (5.5%).

    On the other hand, mining and quarrying activities and manufacturing industries saw a decline of 18.8% and 0.7%, respectively.

    According to the data, the value of exports of goods and services by the end of 2023 reached USD 1.2587 trillion, contributing 59.5% to the GDP at current prices, with a 7.1% decrease compared to the previous year.

    Final consumption expenditure-which includes total spending by households, non-profit institutions, and the government on goods and services for direct satisfaction of needs (not for further production)-amounted to USD 1.2456 trillion, marking an annual growth rate of 7.5%.

    Gross capital formation (total investment in fixed capital and assets) reached USD 601.8 billion, with an annual growth rate of 5.5%.

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  • Optimisation of Sub-30 nm Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Loaded With Docetaxel Produced by the Cold-Burst Method: A Particle Size Optimisation Study

    Optimisation of Sub-30 nm Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Loaded With Docetaxel Produced by the Cold-Burst Method: A Particle Size Optimisation Study


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  • Microsoft issues Windows 10 death countdown reminder

    Microsoft issues Windows 10 death countdown reminder

    Microsoft has reminded users, yet again that support for Windows 10 is coming to an end. You could be forgiven for being tired of hearing about this, but as the cut-off date is very much on the horizon, Microsoft’s eagerness to ensure everyone knows is understandable.

    There are now less than two months to go until Microsoft stops issuing updates to Windows 10 for anyone who has not paid for extended support. This is really not long, and while it is hard to believe that there could possibly be anyone who is not yet aware of this, there will of course be some.

    Microsoft issued the reminder to start a 60-day countdown to the end of mainstream support. With the company having talked about the October 14 end of support date for so long, it feels somehow surprising that it is now suddenly upon us.

    In its reminder, Microsoft says that the October updates will be the latest one that most people will receive. Although the company has given no indication that it would patch a critical bug for non-paying users should something be discovered, but it is not an unheard of scenario; Microsoft has relented in the past in the case of really serious problems.

    Goodbye Windows 10

    The full message in the message center section of the Windows release health pages reads:

    60-Day Reminder: Windows 10, version 22H2 will reach end of servicing on October 14, 2025

    On October 14, 2025, Windows 10, version 22H2 (Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions) will reach end of servicing. October 14, 2025 will also mark the end of support for Windows 10 2015 LTSB and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB 2015. The October 2025 monthly security update will be the last update available for these versions. After this date, devices running these versions will no longer receive monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats.

    As we shared last October, for the first time ever, you can enroll your personal Windows 10 PC in the ESU program and receive critical and important monthly security updates after support ends in October. See Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for detailed information on the ESU program for personal devices. See Enable Extended Security Updates (ESU) to learn more about the ESU program for organizations.

    As always, we recommend that you update your devices to the latest version of Windows 11. For information about servicing timelines and lifecycle, see Windows 10 release information, Windows 11 release information, Lifecycle FAQ – Windows, and Microsoft Lifecycle Policy search tool.

    We know that Microsoft really wants everyone to move to Windows 11. The company has made absolutely no secret of this. But there will undoubtedly be people who, for whatever reason – be it preference, finances, lack of awareness, hardware support, or endless other things – stick with Windows 10.

    We don’t yet know how many people this might be, but time will tell. The number will certainly shrink over time, but it will be interesting to see the attitude Microsoft adopts to those who do decide to stick with the unsupported operating system.

    But there are also some versions of Windows 11 that will not be supported from the same date, October 14. Microsoft has also reminded people:

    On October 14, 2025, Windows 11, version 22H2 (Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions) will reach end of servicing. The October 2025 monthly security update will be the last update available for this version. After this date, devices running this version will no longer receive monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats.

    Image credit: rozelt / depositphotos


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  • One gene completely changed how these flies fall in love

    One gene completely changed how these flies fall in love

    Researchers in Japan have genetically transferred a unique courtship behavior from one fruit fly species to another. By turning on a single gene in insulin-producing neurons, the team successfully made a species of fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) perform a gift-giving ritual it had never done before. The study, published in the journal Science, represents the first example of manipulating a single gene to create new neural connections and transfer behavior between species.

    In nature, most male fruit flies court mates by rapidly vibrating their wings to create sound patterns or “courtship songs.” However, Drosophila subobscura has evolved a very different strategy: males regurgitate food and offer it as a gift to females during courtship. This behavior does not exist in closely related species such as D. melanogaster.

    These two fruit fly species diverged about 30-35 million years ago. Both have a gene called “fruitless” or “fru” that controls courtship behavior in males, but they use different strategies — one species sings and the other gives gifts. The researchers found the reason for this difference: in gift-giving flies (D. subobscura) insulin-producing neurons are connected to the courtship control center in the brain, while in singing flies (D. melanogaster) these cells remain disconnected.

    “When we activated the fru gene in insulin-producing neurons of singing flies to produce FruM proteins, the cells grew long neural projections and connected to the courtship center in the brain, creating new brain circuits that produce gift-giving behavior in D. melanogaster for the first time,” Dr. Ryoya Tanaka, co-lead author and lecturer at Nagoya University’s Graduate School of Science, explained.

    The researchers inserted DNA into D. subobscura embryos to create flies with heat-activated proteins in specific brain cells. They used heat to activate groups of these cells and compared the brains of flies that did and did not regurgitate food. They identified 16-18 insulin-producing neurons that make the male-specific protein FruM, clustered in a part of the brain called the pars intercerebralis.

    “Our findings indicate that the evolution of novel behaviors does not necessarily require the emergence of new neurons; instead, small-scale genetic rewiring in a few preexisting neurons can lead to behavioral diversification and, ultimately, contribute to species differentiation,” Dr. Yusuke Hara, co-lead author from the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), noted.

    “We’ve shown how we can trace complex behaviors like nuptial gift-giving back to their genetic roots to understand how evolution creates entirely new strategies that help species survive and reproduce,” senior author Dr. Daisuke Yamamoto from NICT said.

    The study, “Cross-species implementation of an innate courtship behavior by manipulation of the sex-determinant gene” was published in the journal Science, on August 14, 2025, at DOI: 10.1126/science.adp5831. It represents the result of collaborative efforts led by Drs. Yusuke Hara and Daisuke Yamamoto at the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), in partnership with researchers at Nagoya University.

    Funding:

    This research was conducted with support from KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research: “Early-Career Scientists (Project Numbers: 19K16186, 21K15137),” “Scientific Research A (Project Number: 21H04790),” “Transformative Research Areas (A): Hierarchical Bio-Navigation Science (Project Numbers: 22H05650, 24H01433),” and “Scientific Research C (Project Number: 23K05846).”

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