Infinity Social Updates

Iran unveiled a new ballistic missile and an upgraded one-way attack drone at a military parade on Saturday, state media said, amid soaring regional tensions and allegations of arming Russia . Iran stands accused by Western governments of supplying both drones and missiles to Russia for use in its war with Ukraine, a charge it has repeatedly denied. The solid-fuel Jihad missile was designed and manufactured by the aerospace arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and has an operational range of 1,000 kilometres, state news agency IRNA said. The Shahed-136B drone is an upgraded version of the Shahed-136, with new features and an operational range of more than 4,000 kilometres, it added. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the annual parade in Tehran, commemorating the 1980-88 war with Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. “Today, our defensive and deterrent capabilities have grown so much that no demon even thinks about any aggression towards our dear Iran,” he said. “With unity and cohesio...

Whatsapp and Instagram users in Pakistan reported outages on Saturday, while interruptions in internet services provided by Zong and PTCL were also reported, according to outage tracking website DownDetector . Instagram users today reported a maximum of 86 outages in one hour, with WhatsApp users reporting problems since 10:45am, particularly with sending voice notes, DownDetector said, adding that network providers Zong and PTCL have also reported outages since this morning. A chart showing the number of Instagram outages on September 21. — DownDetector Dawn.com correspondents in Karachi and Lahore also reported problems with internet service on mobile phones. A chart showing the number of WhatsApp outages on September 21. — Downdetector The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has yet to comment on the reported outages. However, in August, the PTA said that internet services across the country are expected to remain slow till “early October”, since the submari...

Punjab’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested five “suspects allegedly linked to terrorist organisations” during 65 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) carried out across the province, the agency said on Saturday. The Punjab CTD regularly carries out operations across the province to prevent and investigate terrorism-related activities and gather intelligence. Operating under the provincial police department, the agency plays a key role in maintaining internal security and countering terrorism within the country. In a statement issued today, the CTD said 63 individuals were interrogated during the actions, which were taken in Lahore, Mianwali, Bahawalpur, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh. Three of the arrested suspects were identified as Amjadur Rehman from Toba Tek Singh, Sher Ali from Jhang and Zahab Ullah from Lahore — who it said were connected to the banned group Fitna-al-Khawarij (Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan). The other two were Tayyab Raees from Bahawalpur, who CTD said was ...

Director General (DG) of Immigration and Passports Mustafa Jamal Qazi on Friday said that the backlog of passports in major cities has been cleared and that the government will now resolve the issue in the remaining cities. Earlier this year, it was reported that several citizens were facing trouble procuring passports, some of which had been delayed for up to two months. As the delivery of passports witnessed delays, those on the receiving end were patients needing urgent medical treatment abroad, students seeking admission to foreign universities, and individuals pursuing work visas. Despite paying “urgent” fees for expedited service, many applicants said that they were waiting for months to obtain their passports but without success. The prolonged delays exacerbated the frustration and anxiety of many, highlighting a critical need for efficiency and reform in the passport issuance process. There were public complaints that the passport issuance process , which was supposed t...

The United Nations has awarded two Pakistani female peacekeepers with the Gender Advocacy Award for their “outstanding performance”, a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. In a statement issued on Thursday, the ISPR said the awards were presented to Major Sania Safdar, part of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Cyprus, and Major Komal Masood, who served in the Central African Republic, “for their outstanding performance and commitment in promoting the ideals of UN”. The accolades were presented by the under-secretary general in the UN’s Department for Peace Operations at its New York headquarters. “While serving in [an] international environment, both officers demonstrated exceptional professionalism [and] dedication,” the ISPR noted. It added that the two peacekeepers “made [a] significant contribution to Mission’s Peace and Stability efforts, especially with regards to advancing women’s meaningful participation in Peacekeeping Operations within the mission”...

Bangladesh fast bowler Hasan Mahmud rattled India with four wickets to leave the hosts on 176-6 at tea on the first day of the first Test at Chennai on Thursday. Hasan vindicated skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto’s decision to field first in overcast conditions as he struck early with three wickets and took one more after lunch. Ravindra Jadeja, on seven, and Ravichandran Ashwin, on 21, were batting at the second break. The tourists, who come in fresh from a 2-0 sweep in Pakistan , are chasing their first-ever Test win against India. Mahmud ripped through the Indian top order including skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — both scoring just six runs — to leave the hosts teetering at 34-3 inside the first hour of play. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made 56, put on a 62-run stand with fellow left-hander Rishabh Pant to get some momentum into the Indian innings. Hasan broke the stand in the third over after lunch when wicketkeeper-batsman Pant, who is playing his first Test after a ...

Multiple women have accused Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed, the former owner of upmarket London department store Harrods where they worked, of rape and sexual assault, the BBC said on Thursday. The allegations, made in a BBC documentary and podcast, are the latest to be levelled at powerful figures following the start of the #MeToo movement in 2017. Fayed, who died last year at the age of 94, was a prominent figure in British life for decades due to his ownership of Harrods. A confidant of the late Princess Diana, his son Dodi died alongside her in a car crash in Paris in 1997. More than 20 women have spoken to the BBC as part of a special investigation alleging assault and physical violence at properties in London and Paris. Five women said they had been raped by him, according to the documentary “Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods” due to be broadcast later Thursday, and the “World of Secrets” podcast. Fayed had previously been accused of sexually assaulting and gropin...