Author: News Desk

  • Toyota to reveal Crown SUV 2022 next week

    Toyota to reveal Crown SUV 2022 next week

    Nearly 70 years after the initial vehicle went on sale, the Toyota nameplate for passenger automobiles, which was also the brand’s first to be exported to the United States, is ready to enter its 16th generation.

    It will forgo the standard sedan body form in favour of something resembling a high-riding fastback. Even the Japanese manufacturer rhetorically queries if the new Crown is a sedan or an SUV on its dedicated website.

    The updated model is anticipated to arrive in the United States in the summer of 2023, most likely as 2024MY. The world premiere is scheduled for July 15. It’s important to note that Toyota already increased the Crown lineup by launching the nameplate in China. It is utilised for premium versions of the Highlander SUV and Vellfire minivan rather than specific models.

    If the low-volume Century, which has a special status in the lineup and is only offered to VIPs, is excluded, the Crown has historically been Toyota’s flagship vehicle in its native Japan. Since sedans have lost favour in the Land of the Rising Sun, the next-generation vehicle will not resemble the current one at all, according to patent images.

    According to a recent report (connected to those patent images), the new model will measure 4,930 millimetres (194 inches) in length, 1,840 millimetres (72.4 inches) in width, and 1,540 millimetres (60.6 inches) in height.

    According to reports, the wheelbase is 2,850 mm (112.2 in) long, and the platform may be Toyota’s TNGA-K. There are plans for hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains, as well as two- and four-wheel-drive versions.

    The company’s most costly vehicle in the lineup is expected to be the US-bound sedan/SUV, which is expected to cost around Rs11,428,488 ($50,000) before extras. A wholly electric derivative is anticipated for later in the product’s life cycle, according to sources familiar with the situation, but it’s not clear if the EV would be sold in North America.

    Reuters reported in April that Toyota planned to modernise the Crown sedan, retain it on the market in its home country alongside this new model, and make both of them in Japan.

  • ‘Pata nahi yeh saza thi yaan kya’: Nida Yasir breaks down on her show

    ‘Pata nahi yeh saza thi yaan kya’: Nida Yasir breaks down on her show

    Host and actor Nida Yasir recently arranged a special episode of her morning show, Good Morning Pakistan in which all the celebrities who lost their loved ones showed up.

    The stars shared their painful phases of life and how they coped up with that permanent loss.

    She also shared about the death of her mother and the biggest regret she has in her life. Nida broke down into tears while sharing her plight during her mother’s demise.

    “The day after I reached the Maldives I got to know that my mother passed away. During Covid, I was not even able to come back at once because of the corona test and other safety measures. The next morning I found out about my mother’s death, I just spent the whole day praying to Allah to create an easy way for me so I can go back home and see my mother. This thing hurts me the most that I was not there with my mother during her last moments.”

    She added, “My sisters always make me understand that it is very difficult to forget those last moments as they are very painful. I don’t know if that was it a punishment Allah gave me or something else but it will always remain the biggest regret of my life.”

    Earlier this year the Chakkar producer made headlines for refusing a male fan’s request of selfie. The Nadaniyaan diva could be seen saying in the video that I don’t take pictures with men.

    Later, a clip from The Current’s exclusive interview with Nida is resurfacing on web in which she stated the reason of doing so.

    “The reason is that I have seen photographs of a lot of actresses on random pages with captions. They [other actresses] must’ve posed considering them their fans but the captions on Facebook etc say ‘Meet my friend, [XYZ],” she said.

    “I don’t judge anyone ever since, but I’ll get photographed with families, with female friends, but not with male fans,” Nida Yasir remarked.

    Recently we chatted again with Nida over her career, controversies and friendships.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgHd8GLDUc8&t=9s
  • Suleman Shehbaz’s legal team sends Rs1bn defamatory notice to PTI’s Imran Ismail

    Suleman Shehbaz’s legal team sends Rs1bn defamatory notice to PTI’s Imran Ismail

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s son, Suleman Shehbaz, served a defamation notice worth Rs1 billion to former Sindh Governor Imran Ismail for alleging that he owned a solar panel business and was taking undue benefits from the government, reports Geo News.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Ismail alleged in his tweets on July 3 that instead of strengthening ties with Turkey during his visit last month, PM Shehbaz had signed solar energy contracts with Ankara, which would benefit Suleman.

    The legal counsel of Suleman warned Ismail that if he does not fulfill the requirements within 14 days of receiving this notice, then legal action will be taken against Ismail.

    In response, Ismail said he welcomed the notice but asked in what capacity the PM’s son had sent him the notice.

    “The person who is a fugitive has sent me a notice. I stand by my claim of solar panels. The Sharif family is a business mafia, which uses the country for its businesses.”

  • ‘Mai ne video banaayi hui hai, agar mujhe kuch hua toh public ko sab pata chal jayega’: Imran Khan

    ‘Mai ne video banaayi hui hai, agar mujhe kuch hua toh public ko sab pata chal jayega’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Tuesday that he knows the names of those who were involved in the conspiracy to oust his government but said he is quiet for the sake of the country as he doesn’t want to harm Pakistan.

    Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Khan claimed that he has recorded a video that involves information about those who have committed “treason”. He said, “Mai ne video banaayi hui hai, agar mujhe kuch hua toh public ko sab pata chal jayega“, (I have recorded a video. If something happens to me, it will be made public). He added that if “they keep sidelining and harassing us, I will tell everything”.

    About the cases registered against Khan and his party members, he said this is being done to “shut them up”.

    “I have never seen such fascism in Pakistan, such a situation is leading Pakistan towards anarchy,” he said. Khan further added that the government can control the media but not social media. “Everyone has a voice now.”

    Khan also condemned the recent incidents of attacks on journalists. He posed a question, ” I ask the judiciary, has martial law been imposed? I ask them whether human rights have been suspended in the country?” Khan said that terrorism cases have been registered against them to keep them quiet.

    Criticising the incumbent government, the PTI Chairman said, “They will accept Israel as a state, will provide Pakistan’s bases to the United States, and will discard the Kashmiri people to establish better relations with India.”

    Moreover, Khan urged the public to come out to vote on July 17 in the Punjab by-elections. “PTI has to win the by-elections despite the election rigging,” adding that this is “jihad ” for the country.

    Khan said that Pakistan can only be saved from this crisis through transparent elections while saying that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) cannot be trusted.

  • Pakistani, Indian fans send love to Fawad for his debut role in Ms Marvel

    Pakistani, Indian fans send love to Fawad for his debut role in Ms Marvel

    Note: This story contains no spoilers

    Fawad Khan has finally made an appearance in the fifth episode of Ms Marvel. Fawad Khan is playing a character of a man from the pre-partition era. Pakistani actors Mehwish Hayat, Samina Ahmed and Nimra Buch are also playing important characters in the Marvel series.

    Internet users not only from Pakistan but from across the border are going gaga over Fawad Khan for his debut role.

    Read more- Ms Marvel slammed in reviews for being ‘Pakistani, Muslim’

    Have a look at some of the reactions:

    https://twitter.com/asapjoke1107/status/1544647286482997248?s=21&t=AFDmNcogz3dbip2x7ppLVw
    https://twitter.com/underooswebsss/status/1544592463427297286?s=21&t=EA3lbFMRfEHLGy71C08Wyg
    https://twitter.com/nimkislut/status/1544635475880579073?s=21&t=WpovarQkEovzCpdaF29XVw
    https://twitter.com/michaelnotscoot/status/1544586190304604162?s=21&t=WpovarQkEovzCpdaF29XVw
    https://twitter.com/faheemishere/status/1544630096098738176?s=21&t=EA3lbFMRfEHLGy71C08Wyg

    Ms Marvel is currently streaming on Disney+. Marvel’s first Pakistani Muslim woman superhero is being played by Iman Vellani.

  • Anti-Narcotics Force recovers 280 kg of drugs

    Anti-Narcotics Force recovers 280 kg of drugs

    The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) carried out three operations on Tuesday in Islamabad, Peshawar, and Quetta, where they were successful in recovering 280 kg of drugs and apprehending six suspects, along with a woman.

    111 kg of drugs, including 64.8 kg of Chars and 46.8 kg of opium, were found in a vehicle during an operation near the Motorway Toll Plaza in Islamabad, according to a spokesman for ANF Headquarters. Three suspects, Hamad, Qaiser, and a girl named Shumaila were also detained.

    Another operation was carried out by ANF Peshawar near Gora Qabristan, G.T. Road Peshawar, and 108 kg of opium and 38.4 kg of charras were seized from a Kia Sportage vehicle.

    Imran Ashraf, another suspect, was captured by the raiding group, and a gun was found in his hands. In the third operation, two motorcycle riders named Saifullah and Bismillah were in possession of 22 kg of charras when an ANF raid was conducted on Samungli Road in Quetta.

  • Absar Alam asks who is the mastermind behind attacks on journalists after his attackers arrested

    Absar Alam asks who is the mastermind behind attacks on journalists after his attackers arrested

     Police have arrested the accused who shot at and injured journalist and former PEMRA Chairman Absar Alam last year, reports Umar Cheema for The News.

    Absar Alam’s attackers not only confessed to making a life attempt on him but also admitted that they were tasked to hit another journalist, Asad Ali Toor. However, the attackers changed their plans after the hype created after the attack on Absar.

    Taking to Twitter, Absar said that he is thankful that for the first time assailants who attacked journalists were arrested. However, he went on to question the details that have come to the surface after the arrest. “Who was giving information and instructions from Pakistan about me and Asad to this person from Germany?”

    “Who is the real mastermind behind the murderous attacks on journalists by criminals in Germany and France?”

    “The big test of the police, intelligence agencies, and the government has now begun,” tweeted Absar.

    In April 2021, Absar was shot in Islamabad. He was walking in the F-11 park near his home when he got shot.

    In May 2021, journalist Asad Ali Toor was attacked by three unidentified men, who broke into his apartment and tortured him.

  • In a first, Sindh Assembly passes bill to reserve job quota for transgenders

    In a first, Sindh Assembly passes bill to reserve job quota for transgenders

    The Sindh Assembly has passed a bill reserving 0.5 per cent of positions in various provincial government offices for members of the transgender community.

    Mukesh Kumar Chawla, the Sindh Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, introduced the bill in the House. After the bill was approved, the Sindh government became the first in the nation to set aside a job quota for the underrepresented transgender minority.

    “The transgender people are a marginalised and vulnerable segment of our society. The history of transgender community in Pakistan is fraught with violence, socio-political exclusion, economic inequality and emotional insensitivity. In this respect, it is to empower and include such a vulnerable and weak community in the mainstream of the society. For this purpose, it has been decided to reserve a 0.5 per cent quota for transgenders.”

    There are 10,418 transgender people in Pakistan as of the most recent census, which was conducted in 2017. Of them, 24 per cent reside in Sindh. Approximately 206 of the 41,000 open positions across all government departments, according to government authorities, will be filled by transgender people.

  • Hyderabad will finally get Rescue 1122 service by 2023

    Hyderabad will finally get Rescue 1122 service by 2023

    Deputy Commissioner of Hyderabad Fuad Ghaffar Soomro, who also serves as acting Director-General of the Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA), revealed that Hyderabad would launch its 1122 emergency service by the following year.

    Additionally, Garbage disposal in the city will also become operational by the next month due to the recent contract that has been inked.

    He was addressing the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) members in this location on Tuesday night. The Site area filtration facility, he claimed, had been rendered operational and would shortly be turned over to the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa).

    According to him, Hyderabad’s water quality is superior to Karachi’s. He also noted that the city’s power outages had grown since the introduction of 1000 MW of energy. He claimed the water supply and drainage industries were being impacted.

    He committed to resolving the problems with marriage gardens and reception halls. Underpasses, he added, were also necessary for the metropolis. For the renovation and adornment of roundabouts and greenbelts, he requested the assistance of the business community.

    He gave the business community his word that problems with the fruit market would be taken care of within a timely manner.

    In his welcome speech, HCCI President Adeel Siddiqui noted that rising gas costs, electricity and gas prices, as well as unannounced power outages, were all contributing to a decline in production at small and medium-sized businesses.

    He claimed that industrialists were having difficulties as a result of administrative hurdles. He claimed that the city needed an effective firefighting apparatus. He said that several parts of Latifabad lacked access to even drinkable water.

  • Missing mountaineers Shehroze and Fazal located

    Missing mountaineers Shehroze and Fazal located

    Mountaineers Shehroze Kashif and Fazal Ali who had gone missing missing while descending the summit of Nanga Parbat have been traced, Shehroze’s father confirmed to Geo News.

    “Both Shehroze and Fazal are moving towards camp three,” he said. However, he said that no one had assisted his son and Fazal and they are returning on their own.

    Shehroze Kashif hails from Lahore and Fazal Ali from Shimshal of Gilgit-Baltistan’s Hunza district.

    The ninth-highest peak in the world, Nanga Parbat, was successfully ascended by the duo Tuesday. Shehroze took the honour of being the youngest mountaineer in the world to ascend Nanga Parbat, a mountain that is regarded as being the deadliest and fiercest.