Residents in Saharanpur billed ₹22.17 crore for a house worth ₹4 crore, plus water charges

The hybrid version of the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 is now available in South Africa. This model is equipped with a new hybrid powertrain featuring a twin-turbo V6, which provides increased power while reducing fuel consumption.

The 3.5T Petrol HEV model is offered in the ZX trim for R2,287,700, which is R96,400 more expensive than the standard 3.5T version. A hybrid GR-S model is expected to be released later this year at a price of R2,343,800.

The new hybrid models combine a 3.5-liter engine with twin V6 turbochargers, a compact hybrid system from the company, and a ten-speed automatic transmission. Together, they deliver 341 kW of power and 790 Nm of torque, which is 36 kW and 140 Nm more than the non-hybrid V6 version. Meanwhile, the 3.3-liter turbocharged diesel engine remains unchanged.

Toyota claims that the average fuel consumption for the hybrid model is 10 liters per 100 km, which is 2.1 L/100 km better than the standard 3.5T petrol model. The hybrid version also includes a waterproof air conditioner inverter located under the center console, capable of providing external power up to 1500 W for various devices.

The introduction of the hybrid model has also brought several minor updates across the entire lineup, including new exterior color options Magnetite Black and Classic White, as well as new interior trim combinations.

Glen Crompton, Vice President of Marketing for Toyota South Africa, noted that the introduction of the new HEV proves that customers no longer have to choose between legendary capabilities and modern electrified features. He added that this is another important step in Toyota's strategy of offering buyers the right technology for their individual needs.

The Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Uzbekistan, Sherzod Khidoyatov, held a meeting with the new Chargé d'Affaires ad interim and Ambassador of Italy to Uzbekistan, Guido De Santis.

The parties discussed opportunities to deepen bilateral interaction in the fields of construction, architecture, urban planning, and housing and communal services.

At the beginning of the meeting, the minister congratulated the Italian diplomat on the start of his work in Uzbekistan and wished him a successful diplomatic mission.

Key Areas of Cooperation

During the negotiations, particular attention was paid to sustainable territorial development, the implementation of modern solutions in urban planning, the use of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly construction technologies, increasing the seismic resistance of buildings, and modernizing the infrastructure of utility services.

Participants also examined the potential of applying advanced Italian experience in architecture and engineering, adapted to the conditions of Uzbekistan.

Furthermore, prospects for expanding direct cooperation between relevant organizations, research institutes, and business representatives of both countries were studied, including holding joint seminars and implementing practical projects.

Following the negotiations, the parties agreed to maintain working contacts in priority areas, jointly develop new initiatives, and implement them through practical projects.

The Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, Ibrohim Abdurakhmanov, held a meeting with Eric Azulay, founder of the American organization Alliance for Commercialization and Innovation Research (ACIR) and a member of the International Expert Council of Uzbekistan.

During the negotiations, the parties discussed directions for developing cooperation in the field of agricultural innovations, the commercialization of scientific developments, and attracting investment to this sector.

Main attention was paid to supporting innovations in agriculture, the practical application of research results, and expanding project financing opportunities through international grant programs.

One of the central issues was increasing the involvement of the Ministry of Agriculture in projects funded by the World Bank under the MUNIS 2 program.

The negotiators also considered the possibilities of organizing regular educational programs for scientists, researchers, and agribusiness representatives. These programs should cover preparing applications for international grants, developing commercialization plans for scientific projects, market research, and intellectual property protection issues.

Furthermore, the creation of an innovation ecosystem in the agrarian sector was discussed. This includes incubating agritech startups and scientific developments, expanding grant programs, promoting promising projects to the market, and adapting international experience to the conditions of Uzbekistan.

At the end of the meeting, an agreement was reached on the further development of cooperation in the field of innovation commercialization, implementation of scientific developments in agriculture, and the realization of joint educational, consulting, and innovation initiatives with the participation of ACIR.