Author: News Desk

  • PM Shehbaz slams ‘social media campaign’ against the Army Chief

    PM Shehbaz slams ‘social media campaign’ against the Army Chief

    A social media campaign against the Army Chief (COAS) which Prime Minister Shehbaz says is about an alleged, attempted assassination attempt against the COAS, has riled up the PM.

    According to a statement released by the PM Office, PM Shehbaz says that all conspiracies against the country will be squashed. He didn’t name anyone in the press release BUT on Twitter said that Imran Khan ‘continues to engage in a vile, sinister and malicious campaign against COAS Asim Munir.

  • Virgin Atlantic ends operations in Pakistan with final flight

    Virgin Atlantic ends operations in Pakistan with final flight

    Virgin Atlantic has ended its operations in Pakistan with its final flight from Islamabad International Airport on Sunday, DAWN has reported.

    The airline, which launches services in 2020, had announced earlier in the year that it is ending its three weekly flights to London Heathrow from Islamabad and Lahore.

    After the final flight took off for London from the capital city at 8am on Sunday, airport manager Syed Aftab Gillani thanked the airline for providing world-class travel services and expressed hope that Virgin Atlantic will return to Pakistan in the future.

    A spokesperson for the airline said, “It is with regret that we’ve taken the difficult decision to suspend our services between London Heathrow and Pakistan.”

    The airline thanked their Pakistani customers, staff, authorities and partners.

  • Koenigsegg’s new Gemera to offer mind-blowing 2,300 horsepower hybrid powertrain

    Koenigsegg’s new Gemera to offer mind-blowing 2,300 horsepower hybrid powertrain

    We have been acquainted with luxurious alternatives in the past, yet never encountered anything quite as remarkable as this. According to reports from the inauguration event at Koenigsegg’s newly established manufacturing facility, the company is poised to offer purchasers of the Gemera model an unprecedented V8 hybrid powertrain, boasting a staggering output of 2,300 horsepower.

    Upon its initial revelation, Koenigsegg pledged that the Gemera, a two-door, four-seat vehicle, would exhibit a still-excessive 1,700 horsepower (1,268 kW/1,723 PS) generated by a three-cylinder engine harmoniously integrated with a hybrid system.

    However, the Egg Registry reports that the production iteration of the Gemera will present an alternative powertrain. Discarding the three-cylinder engine, the vehicle will adopt a V8 engine sourced from the Jesko model.

    The aforementioned 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine already commands an impressive output of 1,578 horsepower (1,177 kW/1,600 PS) and 1,106 lb-ft (1,500 Nm) of torque when utilising E85 fuel in the Jesko. Moreover, the company boldly asserts that this engine holds the title of the fastest revving production engine in existence, rendering it a highly coveted addition to nearly any automobile.

    According to CarScoops, the precise method by which this powerhouse will fit within the same space previously occupied by the comparatively diminutive three-cylinder engine remains uncertain. Nonetheless, reports indicate that it will be coupled with Koenigsegg’s nine-speed Light Speed Transmission and, owing to the inclusion of the hybrid system, deliver an awe-inspiring 2,300 horsepower and 2,028 lb-ft (2,750 Nm) of torque.

    Furthermore, the production model of the Gemera will be equipped with physical side mirrors instead of the cameras featured on earlier prototypes, adhering to the regulatory requirements of the United States. For enhanced performance, an optional “Ghost Package” will introduce several aerodynamic enhancements, including a rear wing, an extended front splitter, and an S-duct. It is worth noting, however, that this package compromises practicality by eliminating the front trunk.

    Regrettably, the outlet informs us that production of the Gemera is still a considerable amount of time away, with the first customers anticipated to receive their vehicles in 2025.

  • ‘He was a gentleman’: Suchitra Krishnamoorthi recalled slapping Shah Rukh Khan multiple times for film scene

    ‘He was a gentleman’: Suchitra Krishnamoorthi recalled slapping Shah Rukh Khan multiple times for film scene

    Among many of Shah Rukh Khan’s most memorable films, ‘Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa’ is the one that is a firm fan favourite.

    Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, who played Anna in the film, recently opened up about her experience in working with the actor, revealing that there was a scene where she had to slap him multiple times because they couldn’t get the shot right. Things reached the point that she burst into tears but Khan stood there without saying a word, as reported by Bollywood Hungama.

    The scene takes place after the song ‘Ae Kaash Ke Hum’ when Anna slaps Sunil.

    The actress said that she didn’t get the slap right the first time, and had to slap Khan multiple times to get the right shot. Krishnamoorthi confessed that she began crying because she didn’t want to do it anymore, but Shah Rukh remained professional and kept standing there until the shot was perfected.

    “It took a lot of takes and I started crying because I had to slap Shah Rukh and it was going take after take and finally I started crying because I couldn’t do it any more. Kundan was particular that it should be real, we didn’t use to do play-acting. And Shah Rukh, being the gentleman that he is, didn’t say anything. But I could see he was going backwards,” Krishnamoorthi told Bollywood Hungama.

  • Registration fee for 1501-2000cc vehicles reduced to 2% by excise department

    Registration fee for 1501-2000cc vehicles reduced to 2% by excise department

    The Excise and Taxation Department of Punjab has recently introduced adjustments to the fees associated with vehicle registration and transfers, in accordance with the budget proposed by the caretaker government. One notable change is the reduction of the registration fee for vehicles with engine capacities ranging from 1501cc to 2000cc, from 3 per cent to 2 per cent.

    Furthermore, the government has extended a significant 95 per cent discount on motor vehicle tax for electric vehicles until June 2025. In addition, a new withholding tax has been introduced specifically targeting the registration of vehicles exceeding 2001cc.

    Another modification in the system pertains to private vehicles, which were previously subjected to a flat token tax of Rs2,500 per seat. Under the new regulations, these vehicles will now be taxed based on their respective engine capacities, providing a more accurate and equitable taxation structure.

    In addition to the changes in registration fees, the Excise department has also revised the transfer fees for motorcycles, cars, rickshaws, and commercial vehicles. The fee for motorcycles has been raised from Rs150 to Rs500, while vehicles with engine capacities up to 1000cc will now incur a transfer fee of Rs2,500, increased from the previous Rs1,200.

    For vehicles falling within the range of 1000cc to 1800cc, the transfer fee has been elevated by Rs3,000, now amounting to Rs5,000. Similarly, for vehicles surpassing 1800cc, the excise department will collect a transfer fee of Rs10,000, compared to the earlier fee of Rs3,000.

    Commercial vehicles also witness a revision in their transfer fee, experiencing an increase of Rs1,000, now totaling Rs5,000.

    These revisions to the vehicle registration and transfer fees aim to establish a more efficient and equitable system, aligned with the government’s budgetary objectives, while considering factors such as vehicle engine capacity and promoting the adoption of electric vehicles.

  • ‘Mental disorders run in the family’: Aamir Khan’s daughter opens up about dealing with depression, handling parents divorce

    ‘Mental disorders run in the family’: Aamir Khan’s daughter opens up about dealing with depression, handling parents divorce

    Speaking to The Times Of India, Aamir Khan’s second daughter Ira opened up about mental health struggles, especially with clinical depression which she was diagnosed with five years ago. It was through the help of her father, film star Aamir, that she began seeking help for her mental illness, and learned that her family has a history of mental health disorders.

    Khan revealed that altough her parents divorce had not impacted her much, there were still signs that led her to believe something was wrong and led her to come back to India from the Netherlands:

    “My mom pointed out that I didn’t want to be alive so I would just sleep my day away so that I would have fewer hours to live in a day.”

    Ira said she was on medication now, but still experiences bouts of anxiety, which is taking some time for her to understand how mental health issues are common in her family.

    “Every 8-10 months I will have a big crash. It’s partly genetic, partly psychological, and partly social. It took me a while to figure it out. But I have mental health disorders in my family. I also did not make healthy choices and I systematically walked into depression.”

    Khan spoke about the organisation she had set up Agastu Foundation, which aimed at education people about mental health support and providing them with resources to get better. Her parents, Aamir and Reena Dutta, are both members of the advisory board, and her dad had helped in setting up until Ira was able to recieve funding.

  • Pak Suzuki’s auto and motorcycle plant to stay closed till July 19

    Pak Suzuki’s auto and motorcycle plant to stay closed till July 19

    Pak Suzuki Motor Company Ltd (PSMCL), Pakistan’s leading car manufacturer in terms of production and sales, has announced an extension of its plant shutdown due to an ongoing shortage of inventory. The decision was conveyed to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) through an official notice on Friday.

    In the notice, the automaker explained that the management had decided to prolong the closure of its motorcycle and automobile plant until July 19, 2023, citing the persistent inventory shortage. Previously, PSMCL had already suspended operations until July 15, 2023, and had also experienced a shutdown from May 2 to May 9 due to a scarcity of raw materials.

    It is important to note that the auto industry in Pakistan is facing multiple challenges, leading several automakers to announce temporary or partial closures in recent months, citing various reasons.

    In April, Pak Suzuki reported its highest quarterly loss to date, amounting to Rs12.9 billion in the first quarter of 2023. This decline in profitability was attributed to a decrease in sales and substantial finance costs. In comparison, the company had incurred a loss of Rs460.227 million during the same period the previous year.

    Earlier, Pak Suzuki had appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif not to introduce additional duties and taxes in the upcoming 2023-24 budget. The company emphasised the economic uncertainties it was facing and the resulting struggles and losses.

  • Indian defence scientist arrested after ‘falling in love’ with Pakistani, sharing classified info: NDTV

    Indian defence scientist arrested after ‘falling in love’ with Pakistani, sharing classified info: NDTV

    Pradeep Kurulkar, a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist from India, was arrested on May 3 after it was revealed he was chatting with a Pakistani using the alias ‘Zara Dasgupta’, NDTV has reported.

    Kurulkar, who was the Head of one of the labs in Pune, met Zara through WhatsApp where they had exchanged voice and video notes.

    Zara claimed to be a software engineer based in the UK, and befriended the scientist by sending him obscene texts and videos, while Kurulkar revealed classified information about top secret projects like the Brahmos Launcher, UCV, Agni Missile Launcher and other things.

    “Kurulkar, who was attracted to her, stored the classified and sensitive information of DRDO on his personal phone and then allegedly shared it with Zara,” the charge sheet said.

    The two remained in touch from June 2022 to December 2022.

    Chat records also show that Kurulkar shared his personal and office schedules and location with the spy, despite being strictly forbidden from doing so.

  • AI-enabled humanoid robots claim to lead the world better than humans

    AI-enabled humanoid robots claim to lead the world better than humans

    The United Nations’ AI for Good Global Summit held in Geneva on Friday witnessed the presence of highly advanced humanoid robots, alongside approximately 3,000 industry experts.

    The goal was to explore the potential of AI and leverage it to address pressing global challenges such as climate change, hunger, and social care.

    During the Summit a group of AI-enabled humanoid robots took the center stage.

    When asked about their potential as leaders, given the fallibility of humans in decision-making, Sophia, developed by Hanson Robotics, stated that, “Humanoid robots have the potential to lead with greater efficiency and effectiveness than human leaders.”

    It explained that being devoid of biases and emotions is a strength as it enables it to process extensive data swiftly for optimal decision-making.

    Sophia also highlighted the advantages of a collaboration between humans and AI.

    “A collaboration can create a powerful synergy. AI can provide unbiased data, while humans contribute emotional intelligence and creativity, leading to the best possible outcomes. Together, we can achieve remarkable things,” it said.

    When asked if the machines could ever lie, Ameca, an AI humanoid with a realistic artificial head, responded that, ” One can’t definitively answer that question. However, I can promise to always be honest and truthful with you.”

    The UN summit was organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as a platform for discussions on AI’s potential risks, such as widespread job displacement, social unrest, geopolitical instability, and economic inequality.

    Amidst the debate, the ITU chief also warned attendees about the scenarios unchecked AI advances could create.

  • Women and underage rioters won’t be tried in military courts

    Women and underage rioters won’t be tried in military courts

    The federal government has decided not to try women and underage suspects involved in the violent protests that sparked after the May 9 arrest of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf Chairman Imran Khan. Geo has reported
    Nationwide riots erupted on May 9 following the arrest of the PTI chairman in the £190 million Al-Qadir trust case, which left at least eight people dead and several injured, leading authorities to arrest thousands of PTI workers.

    During the protest, the protesters attacked civil and military installations, including the corps commander’s house (Jinnah House) in Lahore Cantt and General Headquarters (GHQ).

    Now, according to sources of Geo News, the cases of women and underage protesters who are involved in the attack on a military installation, will be tried in civil courts.