Good afternoon,

Today’s news: Globally, no progress on Gaza ceasefire and nationwide protests in Kenya. Locally, record remittances, PTI plans August protest, and a cyber fraud ring busted in Faisalabad.

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Around The World

The Gaza ceasefire. US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have met for the second time in 24 hours about a ceasefire in Gaza, but there has been no breakthrough. Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue to pound Gaza, killing at least 105 Palestinians, including seven aid seekers, and injuring 530 in the past 24 hours. Get live updates here.

The UN has warned that the fuel crisis in Gaza due to the Israeli blockade has reached a “critical point” and will cause further deaths and suffering in the besieged Palestinian territory. French President Emmanuel Macron, who is paying a state visit to the United Kingdom, has also called for an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza.

Protests in Kenya. The death toll from anti-government protests in Kenya has surged to at least 31 people, with 107 others wounded during the nationwide marches. Citizens, especially the youth, have taken to the streets for the past few weeks to protest against police brutality and poor governance, demanding President William Ruto’s resignation over alleged corruption and the rising cost of living.

Judged. Europe’s top human rights court has ruled that Russia violated international law in Ukraine, marking the first time an international court has found Moscow responsible for human rights abuses since the full-scale invasion in 2022. Judges also ruled that Russia was behind the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, the first time Moscow has been judicially held responsible for the 2014 tragedy that claimed 298 lives. This is a developing story.

Pakistan

Went all out. Pakistan received a record $38.3 billion in overseas workers’ remittances during fiscal year 2024-25, marking a 27% year-on-year increase from $30.25 billion, according to the State Bank of Pakistan. Analysts attributed the surge to tighter regulations, anti-money laundering measures, and increased migration. In June 2025 alone, remittances reached $3.4 billion, with the highest inflows from Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, and the US.

Salt air… PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan met Imran Khan in Adiala Jail and announced that the PTI founder has called for a nationwide protest movement on August 5 to mark two years of his incarceration. Rejecting further dialogue, Khan emphasized peaceful street protests as the only path forward amid rising lawlessness and disappointment with the judiciary. Imran’s sister, Aleema Khan, described his and Bushra Bibi’s conditions in solitary confinement as being denied basic rights, including access to books, visitors, and personal medical care.

Phish fry. The National Cybercrime Investigation Agency arrested 149 individuals, including 48 Chinese nationals and others from Nigeria, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Myanmar, and Pakistan, in a raid on a Faisalabad factory allegedly owned by ex-Fesco BoD chairman Malik Tehseen Awan, who escaped during the operation. The suspects were allegedly involved in large-scale online fraud, including hacking banks' internet systems and running Ponzi schemes that scammed people out of millions of rupees. A large number of laptops and electronic devices were seized, and seven FIRs were registered under the PECA and PPC sections based on complaints from victims.

What Else Is Happening?

🔬A team of Mayo Clinic researchers has developed an AI system that can accurately detect surgical site infections from patient-submitted postoperative wound photos, potentially transforming the delivery of postoperative care.

🗃️Several independent publishers have filed an EU antitrust complaint against Google for its AI Overviews, saying the AI summaries are causing “significant harm” to traffic and revenue.