Good afternoon,

Today’s news: Globally, updates from Gaza, Ukraine, and Japan. Locally, the Balochistan honor killing case sparks outrage, Comsats faces a scandal, and the World Bank pushes to speed up power reforms.

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Around The World

Updates from Gaza. Israeli forces have launched a ground and air assault on the city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, which is packed with thousands of displaced people from Rafah and Khan Younis. It's assumed that Israeli hostages are being held there. Israel has not launched a ground offensive there during its 21-month war.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue to pound Gaza a day after killing at least 115 Palestinians, including 79 aid seekers at the Zikim crossing and 13 others at GHF-run sites. Gaza’s Health Ministry has announced 19 deaths from starvation in the last 24 hours as the UN warns that the hunger crisis in the Palestinian enclave has reached “a new level of desperation”. 

Updates from Ukraine. Ukraine has proposed a new round of peace talks with Russia next week, after negotiations stalled last month. Zelenskyy confirmed on Saturday that Ukraine made the offer of a meeting with Russian negotiators, just after US President Trump offered Putin a 50-day window to achieve a ceasefire before the US implements high tariffs on Russian products. Meanwhile, Russia unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months, killing two people and wounding 15.

Showdown. Japan's ruling coalition has lost its majority in the country's upper house in a snap election, but Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said he has no plans to quit. The tightly-contested election was held under peak public frustration at the Liberal Democratic Party coalition, its junior partner Komeito, over rising prices and the threat of US tariffs. 

The fringe far-right Sanseito party emerged as the winners in the elections, gaining support on a platform of warnings of a silent invasion of immigrants, and pledges for tax cuts and welfare spending. The Sanseito was founded on YouTube during the COVID-19 pandemic, spreading conspiracy theories about vaccinations, a cabal of global elites, and spearheading a "Japanese First" campaign.

Pakistan

Your honor. At least 11 people have been arrested in Balochistan for the brutal killing of a couple in an honor killing after a video of their execution went viral, prompting widespread outrage and a high-profile investigation. The victims were accused of being in an ‘immoral’ relationship after they got married, brought before a tribal leader who ordered their execution, and then shot dead in a desert. The case has drawn strong condemnation from political leaders, activists, and the public, with calls for urgent justice and reform to end such barbaric traditions. 

Promo-gate. The University Staff Welfare Association (USWA) of Comsats University Islamabad has accused the university management of governance failure, administrative abuse, and rule violations, urging the Senate to investigate. In a letter, the association alleged that key positions have been unlawfully held on prolonged acting charges, violating the CUI Act and Supreme Court directives. 

USWA also alleged manipulated promotions, tampered eligibility criteria, and retaliation against whistleblowers. Meanwhile, university officials denied the accusations, stating that all actions were per the established rules.

Watt woes. The World Bank has urged Pakistan’s Power Division and three major power distribution companies to expedite implementation of the $55 million Additional Financing for the Electricity Distribution Efficiency Improvement Project, warning that delays in procurement, contract execution, and environmental assessments could hinder progress. While recent disbursements and commitments have increased, the Bank stressed the need to finalize key agreements, update project strategies, and fill staffing gaps to meet FY26 targets.

What Else Is Happening?

💻Microsoft has issued an alert about “active zero-day attacks” on SharePoint software and recommended that customers apply security updates immediately.

👀The CEO of the IT company Astronomer has resigned after he was captured in a widely circulated video showing him embracing an employee at a Coldplay concert.