Ayesha Mumtaz

KFC Malaysia temporarily closes over 100 outlets due to a nationwide boycott sparked by Israel's war on Gaza. The boycott, part of the global BDS movement, targets American and Israeli products, affecting companies like McDonald's and Starbucks.

Blackstone acquires Tricon Residential for $3.5 billion, expanding its real estate portfolio in North America. The deal marks a significant move into the housing market, with plans for substantial real estate development in the US and Canada.

Vietnam's Prime Minister orders stricter food safety enforcement after nearly 500 people were hospitalized due to bread poisoning in Dong Nai province. The incident prompted an investigation and suspension of the Bang bakery's operation pending the outcome.

Canada receives extradition request from India for 7 Punjab gangsters linked to Khalistan movement, including Hardeep Singh Nijjar, killed in June 2023. Three arrested in connection with Nijjar's killing, with Canadian PM Trudeau citing potential Indian government involvement.

Ho Chi Minh City's Metro Line No. 1 is 98% complete, but disputes between investors, contractors, and consultants may delay its 2024 launch. A task group and the Dispute Adjudication Board are working to resolve the issues and ensure the project's timely completion.

India's Air Force receives its second C295 aircraft, part of a 56-aircraft deal to replace its ageing Avro-748 fleet. The partnership between Airbus and Tata will produce 40 aircraft in India, marking a milestone in the country's aerospace sector.

Cyclone Hidaya, the strongest tropical cyclone near Tanzania's coast, is expected to make landfall in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. The storm's impact may exacerbate the region's existing flooding situation, with authorities urging evacuations and caution in coastal areas.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar rejects US President Joe Biden's comments characterizing India as "xenophobic" and hindering economic growth.

Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met with senior ASEAN officials in New Delhi to strengthen the ASEAN-India comprehensive strategic partnership. The meeting reviewed relations across three pillars and discussed preparations for the ASEAN-India Summit later this year.

Salinity stress adversely affects wheat growth and productivity, necessitating effective mitigation strategies. This study investigates the combined impact of ascorbic acid (AsA), silver nanoparticles (NPs), and Salvadora oleoides aqueous leaf extract (LE) on wheat tolerance to salinity stress. A randomized complete design (RCD) was employed with fourteen treatments: T1 (5 mM AsA), T2 (10 mM AsA), T3 (20 ppm AgNPs), T4 (40 ppm AgNPs), T5 (5% S. oleoides LE), T6 (10% S. oleoides LE), T7 (20 ppm AgNPs + 5 mM AsA), T8 (20 ppm AgNPs + 10 mM AsA), T9 (40 ppm AgNPs + 5 mM AsA), T10 (40 ppm AgNPs + 10 mM AsA), T11 (20 ppm AgNPs + 5% S. oleoides LE), T12 (20 ppm AgNPs + 10% S. oleoides LE), T13 (40 ppm AgNPs + 5% S. oleoides LE), and T14 (40 ppm AgNPs + 10% S. oleoides LE). Wheat plants were subjected to salinity stress (SS) and no-stress conditions (NoSS) for 50 days. Chlorophyll content, DPPH activity, total soluble proteins and sugars, antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation, leaf ion concentrations, and nutrient uptake were analyzed. Under SS, T6 (10% LE) showed the lowest chlorophyll-a (90.04%) and b (57.84%). DPPH activity was highest in NoSS with T9 (40 ppm NPs + 5 mM AsA) at 14.40%, and lowest in SS with T6 (10% LE) at 6.67%. Total soluble proteins and sugars were highest in NoSS with T9 (40 ppm NPs + 5 mM AsA) and T6 (10% LE). In SS, SOD activity peaked with T6 (10% LE) at 8.39 U/mg protein, while CAT activity was highest with T9 (40 ppm NPs + 5 mM AsA) at 6.25 U/mg protein. Lipid peroxidation was highest in SS with T6 (10% LE) at 14.67 µM MDA/g fresh weight. Leaf Na and Cl concentrations were highest in SS with T9 (40 ppm NPs + 5 mM AsA), at 14.26% and 44.15%, respectively. The combined application of 40 NPs and 5 AsA (T9) proved most effective in enhancing chlorophyll content and DPPH activity under NoSS, while 10% LE (T6) showed significant improvements in SOD activity and lipid peroxidation mitigation under SS. Future research should explore optimizing treatment concentrations and combinations to further enhance wheat stress tolerance and evaluate long-term effects on crop yield and quality.