Good afternoon,

Today’s news: Globally, updates from Gaza and Bangladesh. Plus, Trump on the Russia-Ukraine war. Locally, the constitutional bench hears challenges to the 26th Amendment, new wheat policy, and Saudi Arabia hails Pak-Afghan ceasefire. 

☕ Grab your chaye, let’s go.

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

Around The World

Un-ceased. Israel has killed at least 97 Palestinians and wounded 230 since the start of the ceasefire, and violated the truce agreement 80 times by killing dozens of Palestinians in a wave of air raids that it said were in response to a ceasefire violation by Hamas, which the group has denied. 

Hamas had said it was committed to the ceasefire, but accused Israel of violations, and warned strikes could "push the situation toward a total collapse.” However, US President Trump said the ceasefire remained in place, as Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to travel to Israel today.

Stop right there. Trump has called for Russia and Ukraine to freeze the war along current battle lines, pushing a proposal that would see Moscow keep large areas of Ukrainian territory, while telling reporters that the two sides should just stop fighting and resolve the “details” over territory at future talks. 

The current front line runs through the Donbas region, an industrial hub. Ukraine has previously insisted on reclaiming all of its land. Trump himself asserted last month that Ukraine can win militarily and recapture all of the territories occupied by Russia, which also includes the Crimean Peninsula and other areas in eastern Ukraine.

Update from Bangladesh. A fire that decimated a cargo complex in Bangladesh’s largest airport has caused losses of more than $1bn to garment exporters during the peak export season. The fire ripped through the cargo import area of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday afternoon and gutted storage areas holding huge quantities of raw materials, apparel, and product samples.

Bangladesh's garment sector generates around $40bn a year, accounting for over a tenth of its gross domestic product. The damaged airport cargo village is among the country's busiest logistics hubs, especially during the pre-Christmas rush.

Pakistan

Bench vs. Bench. An eight-member Supreme Court Constitutional Bench, led by Justice Aminuddin Khan, continued hearings on challenges to Pakistan’s 26th Amendment, which restructured judicial powers by curbing the CJP’s suo motu authority, fixing their term at three years, and establishing a parliamentary role in judicial appointments. Petitioners argued that the very bench hearing the case lacked legitimacy since it was formed under the disputed amendment and called for a full court of all 24 judges to decide the matter. 

The judges debated whether the CB could constitutionally refer the case to a larger bench, with Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar asserting that no bench other than the CB could hear constitutional cases. The 26th Amendment has drawn criticism from lawyers and opposition parties alike for undermining judicial independence, with petitioners urging the court to strike down the law entirely on grounds of procedural impropriety and violation of the Constitution’s basic structure.

Crop top. The Pakistani government has introduced its Wheat Policy 2025-26 to ensure fair prices for farmers and maintain food security through strategic reserves of 6.2 million tons procured at Rs. 3,500 per maund, aligning with global prices. Announced by PM Shehbaz, the policy follows devastating floods in Punjab that destroyed 30% of the nation’s wheat stocks and aims to stabilize the market while supporting farmers. Agriculture, which contributes 24% to Pakistan’s GDP, has seen an 8% drop in wheat output this year. 

Icky. Lahore ranked as the world’s second most polluted city, with air quality levels 31 times higher than the WHO’s annual PM 2.5 guideline, as Punjab authorities launched anti-smog operations ahead of Diwali. The province’s recurring smog season, fueled by crop burning, vehicle and industrial emissions, and stagnant winter air, has pushed AQI levels into hazardous territory, prompting warnings and mitigation efforts. 

Officials urged residents to wear masks and limit outdoor activity, while municipal bodies were directed to prevent waste burning, sprinkle water on roads, and enforce construction regulations. Punjab also rolled out anti-smog guns and stricter emission controls as part of its campaign to tackle worsening air pollution across the region.

Peace adjacent. Saudi Arabia on Monday welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan following a week of deadly border clashes that left dozens dead and hundreds injured. The truce, reached after Doha talks, will be followed by further discussions in Istanbul on Oct. 25. Riyadh praised the deal as a step toward lasting regional stability, commended Qatar and Turkiye’s mediation efforts, and reaffirmed its support for peace and prosperity for both nations.

What Else Is Happening?

🗃️Anthropic’s new “Skills” lets organizations create reusable, domain-specific folders containing instructions, code, and reference materials that Claude can automatically access when relevant. This marks a major shift from one-off prompts to structured, company-wide AI customization.

💎Thieves wielding power tools struck at the Louvre Museum in Paris, stealing eight items of priceless jewelry from the French crown jewels in a brazen heist that took just four minutes.