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  • Leaks suggest iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature a 6.9-inch display

    Leaks suggest iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature a 6.9-inch display

    New images purportedly showcasing dummy models of the upcoming iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro have surfaced, offering enthusiasts a tantalising glimpse into the potential design evolution.

    Shared initially on the Chinese platform Baolin Video and subsequently disseminated by a Weibo user, these visuals have ignited speculation among tech aficionados.

    Pro models to get bigger

    One notable revelation from the leaked images is the difference in size between the standard and Pro variants. Reports suggest that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are poised to expand to 6.3 and 6.9 inches, respectively. In contrast, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are anticipated to maintain the familiar 6.1 and 6.7-inch dimensions reminiscent of recent iPhone iterations.

    Redesigned aesthetics

    While the dimensions of the standard iPhone 16 models remain consistent, discernible alterations adorn their backs and sides. Notably, the dummy models feature a redesigned camera block, housing vertically aligned lenses. This adjustment is believed to accommodate spatial video recording capabilities, a feature currently exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

    Innovative button configuration

    The leaked images also shed light on an intriguing departure from convention: the replacement of the traditional mute slider with an action button on the left edge of the iPhone 16 dummy. This transition mirrors the existing configuration found solely on the iPhone 15 Pro models. Moreover, speculation abounds regarding the elongated nature of the Action button, a potential ergonomic enhancement over its predecessor.

    Introducing the capture button

    A noteworthy addition visible on both dummy models is the introduction of a capture button—a dedicated key located beneath the power button, speculated to function as a camera shutter button. Unlike conventional physical buttons protruding from the device’s frame, the capture button is purportedly an inductive or capacitive mechanism seamlessly integrated into the side rail.

    Anticipated revelations and continued speculation

    As the tech community eagerly awaits the official unveiling, these leaks offer but a glimpse into the myriad innovations anticipated with Apple’s next-generation iPhones. With the expected launch window in early September looming on the horizon, enthusiasts can anticipate a deluge of further revelations.

    Among the speculated enhancements are a more robust chipset tailored to support cutting-edge generative AI functionalities and the integration of 48MP ultrawide cameras for the Pro variants.

  • AirCar technology purchased by Chinese company for exclusive use

    AirCar technology purchased by Chinese company for exclusive use

    A Chinese firm has acquired the technology behind a flying car, originally developed and tested in Europe. This AirCar, powered by a BMW engine and conventional fuel, completed a 35-minute flight between two Slovakian airports in 2021, utilising standard runways for take-off and landing. Its transformation from car to aircraft took just over two minutes.

    The Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Technology Company, based in Cangzhou, has obtained exclusive rights to manufacture and operate AirCar aircraft within a designated region in China. The company, after acquiring technology from a Slovak aircraft manufacturer, has established its own airport and flight school.

    China, known for spearheading the electric vehicle revolution, is now actively pursuing aerial transport solutions. Recently, Autoflight conducted a successful test flight of a passenger-carrying drone, drastically reducing travel time between Shenzhen and Zhuhai. Meanwhile, eHang, another Chinese firm, received safety certification for its electric flying taxi in 2023, with the UK government anticipating regular flying taxi operations by 2028.

    Unlike vertical take-off and landing drones, AirCar operates on traditional runways, presenting challenges in infrastructure, regulation, and public acceptance. While the sale details remain undisclosed, AirCar received airworthiness certification in 2022 and gained attention through a video by YouTuber Mr. Beast.

    Despite the excitement surrounding prototypes like AirCar, practical implementation may involve mundane aspects such as queues and security checks, according to experts. However, similar concerns once surrounded electric cars, which China has since dominated in the global market. The sale of AirCar raises speculation about China’s potential influence in the flying car industry.

  • Gold price surges to Rs229,500 per tola

    Gold price surges to Rs229,500 per tola

    The local bullion market saw a modest rise on Wednesday, with 24-karat gold fetching Rs229,500 per tola, marking a Rs100 increase from the previous session.

    Last week, gold prices had surged by Rs700 per tola. According to the Karachi Sarafa Association, the price of 24-karat gold rose to Rs196,760 per 10 grammes, up by Rs86.

    Additionally, 22-karat gold was priced at Rs180,363 per 10 grammes.

    Silver prices, however, remained steady, with 24-karat silver maintaining its price at Rs2,580 per tola and Rs2,211.93 per 10 grammes.

    Internationally, spot gold approached its all-time high, trading at $2,181.6 an ounce, marking a 0.13 per cent increase for the day.

    Investors are closely observing the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index data, which serves as the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation.

    This data could offer insights into when the Federal Reserve might begin reducing interest rates. Lower interest rates typically benefit precious metals like gold, which do not yield interest.

  • Petrol prices expected to see notable increase next week

    Petrol prices expected to see notable increase next week

    Consumers already grappling with the burdens of inflation may soon face another blow as reports indicate an imminent hike in petroleum prices within the country.

    Recent assessments suggest a potential increase in petrol prices by over Rs9 per liter commencing April 1. This surge could propel the new price range for petrol from Rs279.75 to Rs289.25.

    Furthermore, there are indications that the government is contemplating raising the petroleum levy from Rs60 to Rs100.

    The petroleum development levy has undergone various adjustments in recent fiscal years, witnessing a notable escalation during FY-2023.

    Sources reveal that the federal government is deliberating a proposal to either subject petroleum to General Sales Tax (GST) or elevate the existing levy rate to fulfill IMF requisites for reinstating an 18 per cent GST on petrol.

    The proposed budget for the upcoming financial year outlines plans to increase the petroleum levy from Rs60 to Rs100 per liter.

    Presently, a levy of Rs60 per liter is imposed on both petrol and diesel, yielding an estimated annual revenue of Rs950 billion. Since March 2022, GST on petroleum products has been maintained at zero levels.

    In the initial budget drafts, GST was slated to be set at 18 per cent, in alignment with International Monetary Fund stipulations calling for the restoration of the standard GST rate.

    On March 15, the government opted to maintain the price of petrol while reducing the cost of high-speed diesel by Rs1.77 per litre.

    Petrol prices, fuel prices, government policy, petroleum levy, inflation, consumer concerns,

  • Teenager muslim ‘hero’ credited for saving more than 100 in Moscow attack

    Teenager muslim ‘hero’ credited for saving more than 100 in Moscow attack

    A 15-year-old boy is being credited with saving over 100 people from the terrorist massacre at a Moscow concert hall on Friday.

    The teen, Islam Khalilov, who worked as a cloakroom attendant at the Crocus City Hall, quickly moved to open doors and provide exits when he saw a large crowd of people running from the besieged concert hall.

    “At first we heard some strange sounds on the first floor. We thought maybe some noisy group had come,” he explained later in an interview, according to the Daily Mail. “I understood that if I didn’t react, I would lose my life and the lives of many people,” he added.

    “We were shown and told where to send people if something happened. I knew where to take people to keep them safe,” Khalilov said.

    Islam recalled seeing one of the terrorists and how it scared him. “To be honest I don’t consider myself a hero. It was part of my job. It is better to sacrifice oneself than allow a hundred people to die,” the boy stated in a humble tone while talking to Al Jazeera.

    Russian children’s rights commissioner awarded Khalilov and 14-year-old Artyom Donskov-who was also working at the venue during the attack-with an official thank-you letter from the government.

    Russia’s Council of Muftis announced that it would award Khalilov with the Medal for Merit, the highest award of Russia’s Islamic community in the upcoming Friday prayer at Moscow’s Cathedral Mosque, reports The Moscow Times.

    At least 139 people were killed in last Friday’s attack. Russian authorities have arrested 11 suspects, four of whom they say were directly involved in the massacre.

  • Jailed Indian opposition politician to run capital from cell

    Jailed Indian opposition politician to run capital from cell

    A senior Indian opposition politician will run the capital from his prison cell, a senior aide said Tuesday, facing down growing calls by rivals demanding he resign.

    Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of New Delhi and a key leader in an opposition alliance formed to compete against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in upcoming elections, was arrested on Thursday in connection with a long-running corruption probe.

    Atishi Marlena Singh, New Delhi’s education minister and fellow member of Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (Common Man Party, AAP), said “statutory and constitutional provisions” allowed him to remain in his post while behind bars.

    “We are very clear that Arvind Kejriwal will remain the chief minister of Delhi,” Singh, 42, told AFP.

    “If he were to resign when there’s been no trial and no conviction, it opens up the route for other opposition chief ministers to be removed,” she added.

    India’s main financial investigation agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which arrested Kejriwal, has launched probes into at least four other state chief ministers or their family members.

    All the investigations involve political opponents of Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    While Modi enjoys high levels of support among his backers, critics accuse him of using law enforcement agencies to intimidate opposition leaders.

    Kejriwal, 55, denies the charges against him.

    His supporters, who held a rally in the city on Tuesday demanding his release, say charges against him are politically motivated and aimed at sidelining challengers of Modi ahead of the polls.

    Modi’s political opponents and international rights groups have long sounded the alarm on India’s shrinking democratic space.

    “All the centre has to do is file some fake cases, and then the ED goes and arrests them”, according to Singh.

    Nearly a billion Indians will vote to elect a new government in six-week-long parliamentary elections starting on April 19, the largest democratic exercise in the world.

    Many analysts see Modi’s re-election as a foregone conclusion, partly due to the resonance of his assertive Hindu-nationalist politics with members of the country’s majority faith.

    Hundreds of BJP loyalists held a rival march through New Delhi on Tuesday, chanting support for Modi and demanding Kejriwal resign.

    “You can run a gang from jail but not a government,” BJP lawmaker Manoj Tiwari told the crowd. “A government cannot be run from prison”.

    In February, Jharkhand state’s chief minister Hemant Soren was arrested and jailed on corruption charges.

    Soren, who denies all charges, resigned and handed power to a colleague.

  • Teens in Gaza hoping to be killed to end their ‘nightmare’: UN

    Teens in Gaza hoping to be killed to end their ‘nightmare’: UN

    The situation in genocide-ravaged Gaza is so desperate that teenagers are now saying they hope to be swiftly killed to escape the “nightmare”, a spokesman for the UN children’s agency said Tuesday.

    “The unspeakable is regularly said in Gaza,” said James Elder, spokesman for the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF.

    Speaking to journalists in Geneva via video message from Rafah in southern Gaza, he said the agency had on Monday held a meeting with adolescents.

    Several said they were “so desperate for this nightmare to end that they hoped to be killed”, he said.

    Israel’s intense attacks in Gaza have killed at least 32,333 people, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry.

    The UN has warned that Gaza is facing a looming famine, spurring increasingly urgent appeals for Israel to open up more border crossings and to stop hampering the movement of aid through the Palestinians territory.

    The Israelis “have a right to control. They inspect every single gram, litre, kilo of whatever goes into Gaza,” Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency, told reporters.

    “But they cannot say that once it’s inside, we leave it with you. They must create this enabling environment that allows us to move it around.”

    “We need to dispel this notion that their obligation with getting aid in somehow stops with getting a few trucks, a fraction of what is needed, across the border,” he said.

    “That is not correct.”

    Elder meanwhile pointed out that the Israelis had denied a quarter of the 40 mission requests to the north since the beginning of the month.

    “Now there is an existing old crossing point that could be used in the north 10 minutes from where those people are putting their hands to their mouth pleading for food,” he said, referring to the Erez Crossing.

    “10 minutes. Open that and we could turn this humanitarian crisis around in a matter of days. But it remains closed.”

    “Let’s be clear, life-saving aid is being obstructed, lives are being lost, dignity is being denied.”

  • Sunil Grover confesses fight with Kapil Sharma was fake

    Sunil Grover confesses fight with Kapil Sharma was fake

    Actor-comedian Sunil Grover, gearing up for his streaming show ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’ with fellow comic artiste Kapil Sharma, revealed that his public spat with Kapil was a publicity stunt.
    On Tuesday, Sunil addressed the media on the sets of his show and playfully joked about the infamous fight between him and Kapil, which caused a stir in the entertainment industry six years ago.

    In jest, Sunil explained to the media that at that time, streaming platforms were gaining popularity in the country. So, he and Kapil brainstormed ideas to enhance television content and decided to capitalize on the OTT trend.
    He joked: “Uss time pe Netflix India mein naya naya aaya tha toh humko laga ki television ki audience ko baandh ke rakhne ke liye kuch karna padega (Netflix had just entered in India back then. So, me and Kapil thought that we have to do something to retain our television audience.”

    “That’s how we came up with that idea of a fight as a publicity stunt,” Sunil said as he couldn’t hold his laughter at the cooked up story.

    ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’ will be available on Netflix starting March 30.

  • Who was the famous actor providing the voice for iconic character Mera Sultan?

    Who was the famous actor providing the voice for iconic character Mera Sultan?

    In a revelation that has left fans astonished, renowned actor Farhan Ally Agha recently disclosed that he voiced the iconic character of Mera Sultan, the Turkish drama that was a runaway hit about a decade back. The disclosure occurred during his appearance on the popular show ‘Life Green Hai’ where Farhan shared intriguing insights into his diverse career.

    Turkish dramas have long held a special place in the hearts of Pakistani viewers, with titles like Ishq e Mamnu and Mera Sultan dominating television screens and captivating audiences across the nation. Mera Sultan, in particular, emerged as a sensation, drawing in viewers with its compelling storyline and engaging characters.

    While the show garnered immense popularity, one aspect that remained the unknown to many was the identity of the voice behind the titular character, Sultan. Farhan Ally Agha, recognized for his versatile performances in both comedic and dramatic roles, stepped forward to unveil this well-kept secret.

    From his notable roles in acclaimed series like Chupke Chupke and Tere Bin to his successful stint as a model, Farhan’s repertoire has consistently showcased his talent and versatility.

  • Ahsan Khan defends Sana after marriage to Shoaib Malik

    Ahsan Khan defends Sana after marriage to Shoaib Malik

    Ahsan Khan, a show host and actor, who starred in the drama ‘Sukoon’ alongside Sana Javed, has recently made comments on her marriage to Shoaib Malik. As Sana Javed’s marriage took place during the drama’s airing, many people had questions about whether Ahsan knew of her relationship with Shoaib.

    Khan was a guest on the programme, ‘Life Green Hai’, when programme host Nadia Khan questioned him whether he knew about Sana’s marriage while they were shooting together at the time.
    Ahsan Khan honestly expressed, “I am genuinely happy for her that she got married. I mean, if she wasn’t happy in her previous marriage and then decided to divorce and remarry, this should be a normal thing for us. It’s her personal choice.”
    Khan also said, “She is a good friend, and we worked together for about ten months. I wish Sana well in her marriage. Even if Sana told me something in confidence, I would not break her trust by saying anything on-air. Marriage is a good thing, so people should not be saying negative things about the new couple.”