Good afternoon,

Today’s news: Globally, updates from Gaza, Nepal, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Locally, PM Sharif takes Pakistan’s case to the UNGA, floods ravage Punjab and KP, and strong water reserves ease Rabi season fears.

☕ Grab your chaye, let’s go.

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

Around The World

Shifting tides. Britain, Canada, and Australia announced formal recognition of the state of Palestine, in an attempt to pile pressure on Israel. The three, all strong allies of Israel for decades, also expressed frustration at the lack of progress towards a two-state solution. Later, Portugal also announced that it had formally recognized a Palestinian state, adding that a two-state solution was the only path to a just and lasting peace.

Meanwhile, desperate scenes are unfolding across Gaza’s coastal road as forcibly displaced families flee Gaza City to the south of the enclave, where they are unlikely to find safety or any humanitarian infrastructure. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across the enclave since dawn. France and Saudi Arabia are due to convene dozens of world leaders to rally support for a two-state solution, with several of them expected to recognise a Palestinian state formally.

When-Z. Nepal's interim government, led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, has set up a panel to investigate the violence during anti-corruption protests this month that killed 74 people and forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to quit. The demonstrations, which began as a Gen Z-led movement against widespread corruption, escalated into the nation's deadliest violence in decades, and more than 2,100 people were injured. 

Up north. Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s Belgorod border region killed two civilians, while in Ukraine, a man was killed and residential buildings were damaged by Russian shelling in the Donetsk region. The latest round of attacks came after Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack targeting regions across Ukraine on Saturday, killing at least three people and wounding dozens. Russia launched 619 drones and missiles during the attack.

Additionally, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting to discuss Russian incursions over Estonia’s airspace, after Estonia requested the meeting when three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace over the Gulf of Finland without permission.

Pakistan

Showmanship. PM Shehbaz Sharif is leading Pakistan’s delegation at the 80th UN General Assembly in New York this week, where world leaders are gathering under the theme “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.” PM Sharif will address the crises in Palestine and Kashmir, while also highlighting Pakistan’s views on regional security, climate change, terrorism, Islamophobia, and sustainable development. He will also attend a Palestinian peace conference co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, UN Security Council meetings, a climate action summit, and join select Islamic leaders in a meeting with Trump. 

The latest. The Sutlej River maintained medium-level flooding at Ganda Singh Wala and Sulemanki headworks, inundating parts of Lodhran, Multan, and Bahawalpur, with breaches near Noraja Bhutta threatening the M5 Motorway, which remains closed for a ninth day due to damage at six points. Authorities are repairing dykes, roads, and utilities, while relief camps and medical teams assist. 

Over 3 million people have been rescued nationwide in nearly 5,800 operations since June 26, but floods have claimed 1,006 lives, injured over 1,000, and destroyed more than 12,500 homes and key infrastructure, including 239 bridges and 2,000km of roads, with Punjab and KP bearing the brunt of casualties and damage.

Watered down. Pakistan is set to begin the upcoming Rabi season with over 13 million acre feet (MAF) of carryover water storage, easing concerns over shortages despite recent flood damage during Kharif. Tarbela and Chashma dams have reached peak conservation levels, while Mangla has also surpassed last year’s storage, bringing total reserves to nearly 99% of capacity compared to 11.4MAF last year. With Rabi crop needs at 37–38MAF, availability is projected at 35–36MAF, leaving only a minimal shortfall, while officials warned that heavy sand deposits left by floodwaters may hinder farmland recovery.

What Else Is Happening?

💵 US President Trump stunned the tech world by announcing a 50-fold increase in the cost of skilled worker permits, up to $100,000. However, the White House clarified that the fee applied only to new applicants and was a one-off. 

😨Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said he now believes there is a “25% chance things go really, really badly” with AI development leading to disaster.

🤝Nvidia and Intel announced a new partnership to co-develop x86 processors for AI infrastructure and PC products, with Nvidia also investing $5B in Intel.