Infinity Social Updates

Experts have welcomed the announcement of a trade deal struck between the US and Pakistan on Wednesday night that includes a partnership in developing oil reserves in the country. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is currently in Washington for negotiations on a tariff deal and also began meetings with senior US officials yesterday. United States President Donald Trump said early on Thursday that his administration has struck a trade deal with Pakistan that includes joint development of the country’s “massive” oil reserves . “We are in the process of choosing the oil company that will lead this partnership. Who knows, maybe they’ll be selling oil to India someday!” Trump said on social media. A post by US President Donald Trump on Truth Social in which he announced that a trade deal between Pakistan and the US had been reached, on July 31, 2025. — realDonaldTrump via Truth Social Additional details of the agreement were not immediately available; however, local experts wel...

Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Senator Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui has strongly denied rumours that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif intends to run for president or is making a political comeback. His statement comes amid speculations earlier that President Asif Ali Zardari would resign from his post. However, the news was rejected across the political spectrum. Speaking during the Dawn News programme ‘Dusra Rukh’ on Wednesday night, Siddiqui categorically denied any such developments, saying, “Nawaz Sharif has neither expressed a desire to become president, nor has there been a discussion about it.” “There is no truth to speculation that Nawaz Sharif is trying to change the system to become president himself. These are baseless, table stories.” He added that there was a time when it was inconceivable that Zardari would become the president, but the decision was made due to the situation, timing and political climate. Siddiqui had earlier also denied reports of Zardari’s resignat...

LARKANA: Police rescued a woman and her two minor children on Wednesday who allegedly attempted suicide along with them by jumping into the Rice Canal. An official at the Civil Lines police station identified the woman as Farida Chandio, resident of Rasool Abad locality, and the children as three-year-old Usman and two-year-old Sadaf. When she jumped into the canal, policemen present on the spot rescued and shifted her to the women’s police station. Later, police produced her in the court of the fourth additional and sessions judge. Farida told the court that five years ago, she was married to Shahid Hussain Chandio. She said her husband was of a suspicious nature and used to abuse her physically over false accusations, putting her and children’s lives at risk. She requested for protection. The woman refused to return to her husband or go with her brothers and instead wished to stay at a shelter home (Darul Aman) for some time. She was shifted to Darul Aman after the court passed ...

A couple was shot dead by the woman’s family over ‘honour’ in Balochistan’s Mastung district, police said on Wednesday. The incident comes a few days after police arrested at least 14 suspects for their involvement in the killing of a man and a woman in the Degari area of Quetta. The couple was shot dead on the orders of a tribal jirga ahead of Eidul Azha for so-called ‘honour’. Wali Khan Station House Officer, Pir Muhammad Alizai, said in a statement today that the deceased couple got married seven years ago. “The couple was travelling from Panjgur to Lakpass in a pickup upon the invitation of the woman’s brothers,” the police said. “The suspects told them to wait at the Noshki Cross, arrived on two motorcycles at about 7am, shot the couple dead with a pistol, and fled.” “Action to arrest the suspects is underway,” SHO Alizai said. According to a first information report (FIR) of the incident, dated July 29, seen by Dawn.com , the deceased were travelling with their two children...

Rescue teams evacuated 160 stranded tourists from Naran in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mansehra district after flash floods, triggered by heavy rainfall, swept through parts of the region on Wednesday, according to a Rescue 1122 spokesperson. Monsoon rains, which fall across the region from June to September, are crucial to the livelihoods of millions of farmers and food security. However, they also wreak havoc by triggering deadly floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable, poorly drained, or densely populated areas. This year’s monsoon rains continue to lash many parts of the country, prompting authorities to release an urban flooding warning for several cities. Mansehra’s Rescue 1122 spokesperson, Amir Khadam Khan, told Dawn.com that 160 tourists were stranded after floods hit Naran, Jalkhad, Barwai and Besar. “Rescue 1122 personnel crossed the flood drain on foot near Besar to access more than 160 stranded tourists and vehicles,” he said. “All the people were ...

Police on Tuesday arrested three suspects over the alleged gang-rape and robbery of a woman in Karachi’s Ibrahim Hyderi area. According to a statement by the Malir Police spokesperson Mohammed Imran, “Police arrested three suspects from the Ibrahim Hyderi area based on technical sources and intelligence information.” The suspects were part of a group involved in the alleged gang-rape and robbery of a woman in the area, the statement said. “The suspects not only looted gold ornaments, cash and valuables from the house but also allegedly raped the woman,” it added. During the initial investigation, the suspects confessed to their involvement with two other accomplices, the statement said. “The suspects forcibly removed the woman’s earrings and fled with them,” it added. Police said that they recovered one loaded pistol from the suspects. It futher said that raids were being conducted at various locations to arrest the other two members of the gang. The statement continued, “The cri...

Heavy rain killed more than 30 people and forced authorities to evacuate tens of thousands as swaths of northern China were lashed by torrential downpours that sparked landslides and flooding, state media said Tuesday. Weather authorities have issued their second-highest rainstorm warning for the capital Beijing, neighbouring Hebei and Tianjin, as well as 10 other provinces, state news agency Xinhua said. The rains are expected to last into Wednesday, it added. As of midnight Monday, the heavy rainstorms had left 30 people dead in Beijing, Xinhua said, citing the city’s municipal flood control headquarters. More than 80,000 people have been evacuated in the Chinese capital alone, local state-run outlet Beijing Daily said on social media. The death toll was highest in Miyun, a suburban district northeast of the city centre, it said. “This time the rain was unusually heavy, it’s not normally like this,” a resident of Miyun, surnamed Jiang, told AFP as water streamed down the road...

The Gilgit-Baltistan government on Tuesday announced that it would compensate people affected by the recent rain-induced floods that damaged houses and other infrastructure, adding that the search for missing tourists has been intensified. The devastating impacts of climate change have become more visible in GB as unprecedented heat­­waves , erratic weat­her patterns, and glacial melting have triggered cloudbursts and intense floods across the region. On July 21, floods swept across GB, causing landslides and leaving many stranded , and damaging more than 500 houses , roads and other infrastructure. At least 10 people died and four were injured as a result. The Babusar Highway was partially reopened yesterday as the search for missing people continued. In a statement today, GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said those affected by the floods will be compensated for their losses. “The rehabilitation of the affected people is underway in Thak, Niyat village, Batogah, Thor...

The unidentified bodies of a man and a woman were recovered from Karachi’s China Port area on Monday, police said. The deceased remain unidentified, but their age was estimated to be between 25 and 30 years old, according to South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza. “There are bullet marks on the body,” he said, adding that two 9mm shells were also recovered from the site of the incident. “Evidence is being collected from the crime scene,” the DIG said. “The identification of the deceased and further investigation are underway.” Situated near Clifton beach, China Port , also known as Oyster Rocks or the South Asia Pakistan Terminal (SAPT) breakwater, is a man-made structure built by China to protect the port from waves. It’s a popular spot for locals, offering views of the port, cargo ships, and cranes. Last month , a partially decomposed body of a young man was found in a desolate area in Karachi’s Scheme 33. Sachal Station House Officer Aurangzeb Khattak had said the...

At least six people were killed when a gunman opened fire at a market in Thailand’s capital Bangkok on Monday, Thai police said in a statement. The fatalities include the gunman who took his own life, Charin Gopatta, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, told Reuters . “Police are investigating the identity of the person and the motive for the incident,” Thai police said in a statement. The five people killed by the gunman were security guards at the market, it said. No tourists were killed or injured in the shooting incident, said Sanong Saengmani, a police official in Bangkok’s Bang Sue district, where the market that mainly sells agricultural produce is located. Tourism is a key economic driver in Thailand, Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, where growth has been sluggish and such incidents can potentially dampen sentiment. In video footage shared by police, a suspect in a white hat and a backpack slung on his chest is seen walking through a parking lot a...

Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) activists marked the 12th day of their sit-in in Islamabad on Sunday, demanding the release of their jailed leaders, as protesters alleged police were asking to see their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs). BYC, a Baloch advocacy group active since 2018, has been campaigning against enforced disappearances. Its chief Dr Mahrang Baloch and other activists were arrested on March 22 for allegedly attacking Quetta Civil Hospital and inciting violence, a day after police cracked down on their protest. Earlier this month, an anti-terrorism court remanded them into 15-day police custody. The Islamabad sit-in began on July 16, with BYC leaders and members demanding the release of its activists. Political leaders, journalists and activists have joined the sit-in over the past few days. Last week, the BYC continued the demonstration on the road leading to the National Press Club in Islamabad, as the route had been blocked by police with barbed wi...

Pakistani pilgrims will be barred from travelling by road to Iran and Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage due to public and national security, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday. Pilgrims visit Iraq to attend the chehlum commemoration — also known as Arbaeen (40 in Arabic) — to mark the 40th day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Husain, the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). “After extensive consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, [the] Balochistan Government, and security agencies, it has been decided that zaireen (pilgrims) will not be allowed to travel to Iraq and Iran by road for Arbaeen this year,” Naqvi said on X. He added that the “difficult decision was taken in the interest of public safety and national security”. However, the pilgrims will be able to travel by air, the minister noted. Naqvi stressed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to “arrange maximum flights to facilitate their pilgrimage in the coming...

Passengers on a US domestic flight were forced to evacuate onto a runway due to a brake fire just ahead of the plane taking off in Denver, the airline said. American Airlines Flight 3023 was departing for Miami on Saturday but “experienced a mechanical issue” while accelerating ahead of takeoff at Denver International Airport, the airline told AFP , adding all 173 passengers and six crew “deplaned safely”. One passenger sustained a minor injury and was taken to a hospital for evaluation, American Airlines said. Blown tires and the deceleration of the plane while braking resulted in an isolated brake fire, which was extinguished by city firefighters, according to the airline. Social media videos published by US media outlets showed passengers frantically evacuating an American Airlines plane via an emergency slide as smoke billowed from beneath the aircraft. A man held a child as they rushed down the slide, stumbling as he hit the ground. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ...

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Saturday apologised to mixed martial arts player Shahzaib Rind for the “inordinate delay” in the government’s promised financial reward and support. In September, Rind made history when he won the Karate Combat Championship (KC-49) in Singapore, becoming the first-ever world champion from Pakistan after defeating Brazil’s Bruno Roberto De Assis in the final. Following the win, President Asif Ali Zardari had presented Rind with a cheque worth Rs 100 million, the Balochistan government announced Rs2m as a cash prize, while a former minister had also promised him 25 acres of land. Tarar’s apology today comes after Rind, in a post on X on Wednesday, had slammed the government for its “fake promises” of Rs5m in cash and an additional Rs80m to support his training and upcoming matches. “Our politicians are corrupt,” Rind alleged, adding that the last time he won, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced rewards for him. “It was all [a] lie...

China’s premier Li Qiang warned on Saturday that artificial intelligence development must be weighed against the security risks, saying a global consensus was urgently needed even as the tech race between Beijing and Washington shows no sign of abating. His remarks came just days after United States President Donald Trump unveiled an aggressive low-regulation strategy aimed at cementing US dominance in the fast-moving field, promising to “remove red tape and onerous regulation” that could hinder private sector AI development. Opening the World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai on Saturday, Li emphasised the need for governance and open-source development, announcing the establishment of a Chinese-led body for international AI cooperation. “The risks and challenges brought by artificial intelligence have drawn widespread attention […] How to find a balance between development and security urgently requires further consensus from the entire society,” the premier said. Li said China ...

Pakistan has called for de-escalation and ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war and stressed that “echoes for peace must be heard” as Ambassador Usman Jadoon addressed a United Nations briefing. “Peace in Ukraine is long overdue,” Ambassador Jadoon, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, told the UN Council, which debated the situation in Ukraine on Friday after Russia invaded its neighbour in March 2022. “The calls for ending this conflict should not be allowed to go unheard or masked by the continued drums of war,” he added, highlighting that the conflict was now four years old. Pakistan, as a consistent advocate for peace, has called for de-escalation and giving primacy to dialogue over fighting, said Ambassador Jadoon, who at that time was chairing the 15-member meeting. “Only a sincere and meaningful dialogue which addresses mutual security concerns of all sides, is anchored in the principles of UN Charter and international law, and respects the re...

The Karakoram Highway (KKH) was reopened on Saturday as aid and rescue operations continued in Gilgit-Baltistan after flash floods battered the region. The devastating impacts of climate change have become more visible in GB as unprecedented heat­­waves , erratic weat­her patterns and glacial melting have triggered cloudbursts and intense floods across the region. On Monday, floods swept through GB’s Babusar area in Diamer district and Naran, causing landslides and leaving many stranded . At least nine people died and more than 500 houses, roads and other infrastructure were damaged as a result. In a statement today, GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said: “The Karakoram Highway is open for all types of traffic.” He recalled that the main artery had been blocked due to landslides and mud flow on Friday, adding that machinery was sent to restore the road. Faraq further said that rescue and search operations were underway across the region. The recent floods have caused...

France defended its decision to recognise Palestinian statehood amid domestic and international criticism on Friday, including against the charge that the move plays into the hands of Hamas. President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state during a UN meeting in September, the most powerful European nation to announce such a move. Macron’s announcement drew condemnation from Israel, which said it “rewards terror”, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it “reckless” and said it “only serves Hamas propaganda”. Mike Huckabee, US ambassador to Israel, quipped that Macron did not say where a future Palestinian state would be located. “I can now exclusively disclose that France will offer the French Riviera & the new nation will be called “Franc-en-Stine”, he said on X. Hamas itself praised the French initiative, saying it was “a positive step in the right direction toward doing justice to our oppressed Palesti...

A group of non-Muslim senators have written a letter to Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani for the formation of a minority caucus in the House to represent their rights, it emerged on Friday. A caucus refers to a formal or informal group within Parliament or provincial assemblies, often focused on specific issues or the interests of particular groups. At present, the most prominent one in the Senate is the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC), a cross-party forum for women parliamentarians to address issues related to women, girls and gender equality. The letter dated July 24, seen by Dawn.com , was signed by Senator Khalil Tahir Sandhu (PML-N, Punjab), Senator Gurdeep Singh (PTI, KP), Senator Poonjo Mal Bheel (PPP, Sindh), and Senator Danesh Kumar (BAP, Balochistan) and addressed to the chairman Senate. “We, the undersigned non-Muslim members of the Senate of Pakistan, respectfully submit this joint request for the activation and formal recognition of the minority caucus within the S...

Pakistan’s shipping sector is set for a major transformation following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China on Thursday, a statement from the Press Information Department said. The MoU was signed between the CEO of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) and the chairman of China’s Shandong Xinxu Group, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry. “The signing of this MoU symbolises a growing partnership between Pakistan and China in the maritime domain, paving the way for future cooperation, investment, and development in Pakistan’s shipping industry,” Chaudhry said while addressing the signing ceremony, according to the statement. He emphasised that the collaboration will boost regional trade, enhance connectivity, and strengthen Pakistan’s role in the global maritime industry through cooperation and shared economic goals. PNSC , headquartered in Karachi, is Pakistan’s premier national flag carrier, operating under the Mini...

Police on Thursday arrested the prime suspect allegedly involved in a robbery at the residence of a Chinese national in Karachi’s Clifton area, police officials said. Malir City Police said in a statement that they conducted an intelligence-based operation and arrested the suspect in the domestic robbery incident within the limits of the Clifton police station. “The ringleader involved in the robbery at a foreign citizen’s house has been arrested, while his wife was also found to be an accomplice,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Malir, Dr Abdul Khaliq Pirzada. “The suspect has been involved in theft and robbery incidents in different areas of Karachi and was hiding in the Malir area, where he was arrested after a raid,” the police official said in the statement. Pirzada added that during interrogation, the suspect revealed his wife was also involved in the robbery. “The suspect’s wife used to work as a maid in different houses, collect information, and carry out the robberies...

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD plans to roll out its first car assembled in Pakistan by July or August 2026 to capture growing demand for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the region, a company executive said on Wednesday. BYD , the world’s top EV maker, has been expanding rapidly outside its home market, where it is in a strong price war. The Pakistan plant addresses rising demand from emerging markets and allows the company to take advantage of incentives offered by the government. The plant has been under construction since April near Karachi in a partnership between BYD and Mega Motor Company, a subsidiary of Hub Power, Danish Khaliq, vice president of sales and strategy at BYD Pakistan, told Reuters . It would initially have the capacity to produce 25,000 units a year on a double shift, he said. He did not elaborate on when the plant would achieve full capacity or say when mass production would begin there. The plant will start by assembling imported parts, with some...

Balochistan — Pakistan’s largest and most resource-rich province — rarely makes headlines, and when it does, it’s often for tragic reasons : bombings, attacks on passenger buses, targeted killings, enforced disappearances, arrest of activists, or political upheavals. In recent years, another deeply troubling issue has pushed its way into the spotlight — a rise in gender-based violence and ‘honour’ killings . While such violence has long haunted the province, the proliferation of smartphones, internet access, and social media have made it increasingly difficult to keep these crimes hidden. Over the weekend, one such incident sparked nationwide outrage: a harrowing video emerged online, showing a woman and a man being killed by a group of men in the outskirts of Quetta — reportedly in the name of honour. At a press conference on Monday evening, while sharing details of the so-called honour-based killing, Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti disputed reports that the victims we...