Good afternoon,

Today’s news: Globally, Ukraine-US talk ceasefire, global stock markets stumble, and former Philippine President arrested. Locally, Peshawar-bound train attacked in Balochistan. Plus, UN envoy vows action against Afghan terrorists, IMF discusses agricultural tax, and Nadra launches first digital ID card.

☕ Grab your chaye, let’s go.

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Around The World

Droning on. Russia said it was hit by a “massive” Ukrainian drone attack overnight Tuesday, hours ahead of critical talks between officials from Washington and Kyiv. Moscow’s defense ministry said it had downed 337 Ukrainian drones, of which 91 had targeted the Moscow region, killing two people and wounding six. 

Meanwhile, high-stakes talks between Ukraine and the United States have started in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The US says that there is promise in Ukraine's proposal for a partial ceasefire. Kyiv is also expected to propose an aerial and naval truce with Russia during the negotiations. Russia has previously rejected the idea of a temporary ceasefire, saying it was an attempt to buy time and prevent Ukraine's military collapse. The Kremlin has not publicly offered any concessions either. Get live updates here. 

Taking stock. The US stock market lost more than $1.7 trillion in value after President Donald Trump declined to rule out the possibility of the economy entering a recession this year. The benchmark S&P 500 tumbled 2.7 percent on Monday while Asian benchmarks also slipped as worries grew over how sharply higher tariffs will hurt exporters in the region. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 sank 0.6% to 36,793.11, its lowest close in six months. Tesla shares also plummeted over 15% on the worst day in five years, and pushed the stock now firmly below its level on Election Day.

Day in court. Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the Philippine government on Tuesday after it received an International Criminal Court warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity. Duterte has been investigated by the ICC over his brutal anti-drugs crackdown during his time in office that killed more than 6,000 people. Previously labeled “Asia’s Trump” due to his unorthodox leadership style, Duterte had swept to power in 2016 on a promise to wage war against drugs and drug pushers in the Philippines.

Pakistan

Balochistan train attack. The Balochistan government has imposed emergency measures after armed men opened fire on the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express. The attack occurred between Pehro Kunri and Gadalar, where the assailants reportedly stopped the train inside Tunnel No. 8. The train, carrying around 500 passengers in nine coaches, remains at the site as authorities attempt to establish contact with those on board. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack. Rescue operations are underway, though officials face difficulties reaching the site due to the rugged terrain. Additional trains have been dispatched for support.

An emergency has been declared at hospitals in Sibi and Quetta, with medical staff put on high alert. While there is no official confirmation of casualties, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar condemned the attack, stating that some passengers were injured.

Chit chat. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission met with Pakistani authorities to discuss an agricultural income tax as part of ongoing talks under the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The session included officials from the Finance Ministry, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and provincial governments, with further meetings scheduled for today. The IMF was also expected to begin policy-level talks for the disbursement of a $1 billion tranche under the EFF. However, no meeting took place between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and the IMF team on Monday, though other government officials engaged in discussions.

A little digital. Nadra has launched Pakistan’s first dematerialised ID card, integrating it into the Pak ID mobile app, eliminating the need for physical cards. A pilot for the fully digital identity will begin on August 14, 2025, under the World Bank-funded DEEP initiative. The announcement was made during Nadra’s 25th-anniversary celebrations, with congratulatory messages from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

What else is happening?

🧬You’ve probably heard the stat before that Women, on average, live longer than men. Researchers have now found that the dormant X chromosome in females, vital for longevity, can reawaken late in life and turn on genes that keep the brain healthy.

🤖Just days after launch, Chinese AI agent named Manus is winning expert acclaim. Manus AI is a general AI agent that turns your thoughts into actions and can handle multiple high-intensity tasks simultaneously, while working in the cloud, which allows users to shut their laptop while the AI is working.

Today In History

On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake and resulting tsunami struck Japan’s northeastern coast, killing nearly 20,000 people and severely damaging the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station.

In 1918, the first confirmed US cases of a deadly global flu pandemic were reported among Army soldiers. The influenza outbreak would ultimately kill an estimated 20 million to 40 million people worldwide.