Good afternoon,

Today’s news: Globally, updates from the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war.  Locally, Pakistan–Bangladesh reset ties, ATC jails 75 PTI supporters, and fresh flood alerts push the toll near 800.

☕ Grab your chaye, let’s go.

P.S. First time reading? Subscribe here for free.

Around The World

Updates from the Middle East. At least 4 journalists were among 14 people killed in an Israeli airstrike on southern Gaza hospital. Planes and tanks have struck Gaza City as Israel's plans to seize the area increase pressure on nearly a million Palestinians living there — 64 people were killed and nearly 300 injured in Israeli attacks in the past 24 hours. Residents reported uninterrupted explosions as Israeli troops returned to blow up buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia.

Meanwhile, The Israeli military has bombed the Yemeni capital Sanaa as tensions in the region continue to escalate. At least 6 people were killed and 86 others were injured in the attacks. The Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV said the attack targeted an oil facility and a power plant in Sanaa. Israel said it also targeted a presidential palace in the Yemeni capital, which it claimed is located on a “military complex”.

Next steps. Russia accused Ukraine on Sunday of launching drone attacks that sparked a fire at a nuclear power plant in its western Kursk region overnight. Russian officials said several power and energy facilities were targeted in the overnight strikes.  The UN nuclear watchdog said it was aware of reports that a transformer at the plants had caught fire due to military activity, but had not received confirmation. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy said Ukraine would continue to fight for its freedom while its “calls for peace are not heard," in a defiant address to the nation as Ukraine celebrated 34 years since its independence.

Pakistan

Make-up class. Pakistani Deputy PM Ishaq Dar’s two-day visit to Dhaka marked a major step in thawing Pakistan–Bangladesh ties, with agreements signed to boost trade, investment, and visa-free travel for officials, alongside the creation of a Joint Working Group to raise bilateral trade to $1 billion. Experts have hailed the rapprochement as a strategic shift amid Dhaka’s tensions with India, though they stressed the need to institutionalize ties through agreements and long-term economic cooperation rather than relying on political changes. 

Locked in. A Faisalabad anti-terrorism court sentenced 59 PTI leaders and supporters to 10 years in prison and 16 others to 3 years, while acquitting 34 in the case of an attack on former interior minister Rana Sanaullah’s house during the May 9, 2023 riots. The court, holding day-to-day hearings after missing its earlier deadline, heard testimony from a former SHO already jailed in another case, while a joint investigation team had earlier been directed to submit the charge sheet.

Weather worsens. The PDMA has issued fresh flood warnings for the Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab and Indus rivers as relentless monsoon rains push the nationwide death toll since late June to nearly 800, including 485 in the past 10 days alone. The NDMA and PDMA have placed multiple districts on alert, warning of medium to high flooding, landslides and urban inundation, while urging residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate. Officials caution the season, likely to continue until mid-September, could rival the catastrophic 2022 floods.

What Else Is Happening?

💦Google released a new blog detailing the environmental footprint of its Gemini chatbot, claiming the model consumes the equivalent of five drops of water per query, though researchers argue it left out most of the actual water usage.

💲The US government has secured a 10% stake in struggling Intel on Friday, just a couple of weeks after Trump lamented the company’s CEO as a conflicted leader unfit for the job.