It’s been a week, hasn’t it? With everything going on, you probably missed a thing or two – and that’s exactly why we’re here!
This week was full of major stories – from breaking news and sad events to ongoing investigations. Here’s a quick look at the key events that grabbed attention across the country and around the world.
1. Gaza Is Starving. This Evidence Should Shame the World.
Gazans are enduring what the UN and humanitarian experts call a “worst‑case scenario” of famine: widespread, life‑threatening hunger driven not by food scarcity alone, but by a deliberate blockade and war‑torn conditions that have crippled aid delivery, medical care, and local food systems. Children are especially vulnerable – in some areas, nearly one in five is acutely malnourished; severe cases have soared at clinics, with tragic deaths rising rapidly. Human rights organizations, independent experts, and the International Criminal Court have concluded that this is not an unfortunate byproduct of conflict but a deliberate strategy: the use of starvation as a weapon. This man‑made famine should not only be a humanitarian wake‑up call but a global moral indictment – the world must act now to halt the suffering and demand unrestricted aid access for Gaza.
2. Human Trafficking Day Highlights A Global Crime
This week marked World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, themed “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation.” The day reminded the world that human trafficking isn’t just a human rights issue – it’s a massive, billion-dollar criminal industry run by global networks that target vulnerable people. From 2020 to 2023, over 200,000 victims were reported worldwide, though many more go uncounted. With traffickers now using advanced technology, justice systems must evolve to keep up. In Pakistan, the FIA, in partnership with the UNODC, ILO, and IOM, shared progress made under the National Action Plan. Efforts include better data systems and victim support services. Still, officials stressed that traffickers are exploiting migration routes and legal gaps. True justice means more than just rescue – it requires long-term support, protection, and reintegration for survivors.
3. Russia’s Earthquake Triggers Tsunami Alerts
A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 29 set off tsunami warnings across the Pacific, including Hawaii, Japan, and the U.S. West Coast. Though waves were mostly under five feet, panic spread quickly – sirens sounded, tourists fled, and coastal areas prepared for impact. Tsunamis, often caused by underwater quakes, move fast and hit hard. The article also recalls past disasters like the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2011 Japan crisis to remind us: when the ground shakes near the sea, don’t wait – get to higher ground fast.
4. Faiza’s Story and the Brutal Truth About The Jirga System in Pakistan
After 13-year-old Faiza was raped and killed, a jirga “compensated” her family – a brutal reminder that this system still operates above the law. Despite being declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court back in 2019, jirgas, the all-male tribal councils, continue to operate like parallel courts in rural Sindh, Balochistan, and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. And while some defend them as a quick alternative to a backlogged formal system, what they actually deliver is something else entirely: unchecked, unlawful decisions that often end in further violence and human rights abuse. Read more here.
5. Khushhal Khan & Ramsha Khan Starrer Biryani Is Just Around The Corner
They’ve done it before, and they’re doing it again, Khushhal Khan and Ramsha Khan return to light up your screens in the much-awaited drama Biryani. The first look gives us a glimpse into what seems to be a story rooted in contrast – a simple girl, a soft-spoken boy, and a dynamic that flips the usual. Ramsha Khan plays a university-going girl whose life revolves around home and studies. But make no mistake: she’s no cookie-cutter damsel. She’s fierce, outspoken, and radiates that “I’ll say it like it is” energy. Khushhal Khan, on the other hand, plays the “nice guy” – obedient, respectful, and, interestingly, ends up being her student. Not much is revealed about his backstory, but his presence in the teaser leans into the softer male lead territory that we’ve seen gaining popularity lately. Catch up more here!
6. The Donkey Meat Seizure In Islamabad
The Islamabad Food Authority (IFA), acting on a tip-off, raided a café and recovered around 1,000 kg of donkey meat this week. The operation extended to a farmhouse in Tarnol, where over 50 live donkeys were found, allegedly awaiting slaughter. The raid, carried out with Islamabad Police and the district administration, led to the arrest of a foreign national overseeing the operation, while local accomplices fled. A city-wide investigation is now underway into possible links between illegal slaughter and food businesses. An FIR has been registered under multiple sections of the ICT Food Safety Act, 2021.
7. Goonj Shows Us What Workplace Harassment Can Look Like For Women
In a drama that’s only 2 episodes old, Goonj just put a spin on workplace harassment, what it looks like without all the blatant signs and glaring red flags, yet, even more toxic and sinister. Nabeel’s character, essayed by Mirza Gohar Rasheed, has but one purpose, and that is to constantly harass Zarnab played by Komal Meer, with a snide remark, an uncomfortable stare, or merely dropping insinuations targeting Zarnab’s attire or professional competence at work. The negativity is masked enough not to be called out by Zarnab, yet, it’s substantial enough to ruffle her calm, giving her a daily personal and professional challenge – to get through the day at work without crashing – just what Nabeel wants her to do. Tap here to read full article!
8. Olympic Champion Laura Dahlmeier Dies at 31 in Mountaineering Accident in Pakistan
German biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier, 31, died in a mountaineering accident on July 28 while descending Laila Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram range. A sudden rockfall struck her at around 5,700 meters. Despite rescue attempts by the Pakistan Army and local porters, poor weather and terrain made recovery impossible. Dahlmeier had previously written that no one should risk their life to retrieve her body. Dahlmeier was a two-time Olympic gold medallist, winning both sprint and pursuit events at the 2018 Winter Games, along with seven World Championship titles and a 2017 World Cup overall win. After retiring in 2019, she became a mountain guide and biathlon commentator. Tributes have poured in, with German officials calling her a national treasure known for both talent and humility.
9. Section 89 Is No More – But Its Ghost Still Haunts Pakistan’s Children
The death of 14-year-old Farhan Ayaz at an unregistered madrassa in Khwazakhela, Swat, has reignited national outrage over corporal punishment this week. Farhan died after being brutally beaten by three teachers, including the madrassa head and his son, for missing class. His death has highlighted the gap between legal reforms and ground realities – particularly Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code, a colonial-era clause that long permitted physical punishment of children “in good faith.”
10. ‘Main Manto Nahi Hoon’ Sparks Backlash Over Fat-Shaming Dialogue
Last week’s episode of Main Manto Nahi Hoon stirred controversy on social media after a fat-shaming dialogue drew widespread criticism. In the scene, Sajal Aly’s character Mehmal asks Humayun Saeed’s character if his wife is “moti” (overweight), because he seems to have no motivation at all. The line was slammed for implying that a woman’s weight could be the reason behind a man’s lack of interest, reinforcing harmful body-shaming tropes. Viewers expressed their outrage online, calling out both writer Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar and Sajal Aly for normalizing such regressive messaging on mainstream television.
