Good afternoon, 

The highlights of this week have been mostly grim, with a terrorist attack in Islamabad and a saas-pocalyse style major sell-off. Plus, other top updates from around the globe.

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🌍 What in the World

👋 A deep selloff in global software stocks shocked the world this week, after Anthropic rolled out a new legal AI tool this week, intended to automate contract review, legal research, and drafting. The tool shook an already nervous market, heightening fears that AI could threaten a whole range of software companies, from app developers to stock market data aggregators.

A global software sell-off followed, lasting almost four days, after wiping out almost $300 billion in market value on Tuesday. Europe and Asia also joined the rout. Get the full scoop here.

🇵🇸 Hamas’s political leader abroad, Khaled Meshaal, has rejected calls to disarm Palestinian factions in Gaza, arguing that stripping weapons from an occupied people would turn them into easy victims to be eliminated. US President Donald Trump last month sought to achieve a comprehensive demilitarisation of Hamas, threatening the Palestinian group with repercussions if it fails to do so. Hamas has refused to give up arms as long as Israel continues to occupy Gaza.

🇹🇭 Thailand has voted in an early election called after multiple coalition governments collapsed, giving the country three prime ministers in as many years. Just like in 2023, this election pits those advocating far-reaching change, the People's Party, against conservative forces led by incumbent PM Anutin Charnavirakul. Results will become clear around 22:00 local time (15:00 GMT), but no party is likely to win a majority.

🎌 Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s party is projected to secure a large majority of more than 300 seats in Japan’s lower house in a snap election on Sunday, based on exit polls. Her predicted success is in marked contrast to her two predecessors, under whom the party lost its parliamentary majority because of corruption scandals and rising costs.

🇮🇹 Six people have been arrested after police clashed with protesters in Milan, one of the hosts of the Winter Olympic Games, during the first day of the competition. An estimated ‍10,000 people took to the streets of the city in northern Italy on Saturday to protest against a range of issues, including the cost of living. 

🇱🇾 Libyan prosecutors are investigating the killing of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the country's long-time leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi. The 53-year-old, who was once widely seen as his father's heir apparent, was killed during a confrontation with four unknown gunmen who broke into his home in the city of Zintan.

🛰️ SpaceX has filed plans with the FCC for a massive satellite-based data center network, signaling that Elon Musk is serious about moving AI computing into orbit. This effort aligns with the recently completed merger of SpaceX and xAI, suggesting a shared infrastructure vision.

🇵🇰 Home ground

🪖 At least 32 people were killed, and 150 were injured on Friday when a suicide blast targeted the Qasr-e-Khadijatul Kubra mosque and imambargah in Islamabad’s outskirts. The blast occurred during Friday prayers, marking the deadliest assault on the Pakistani capital in nearly two decades. On Saturday, a police officer was killed, and four suspects, including an “Afghan Daesh mastermind” behind the attack, were arrested in overnight raids in Peshawar and Nowshera.

Pakistan’s military and civilian government have long accused the Afghan Taliban government of sheltering militants on Afghan soil. Pakistan also blames India for funding and supporting militants who launch these attacks against it. New Delhi and Kabul have rejected Islamabad's allegations.

🛩️ The recently privatized Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Wednesday that it has entered into a cargo agreement with global aviation group Air France-KLM to expand its global outreach and push Pakistani exports to more international markets. Air France-KLM operates in 320 destinations and is a global aviation player in passenger, cargo, and maintenance businesses.

⛔ Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party called on the masses to observe a countrywide “shutter-down” strike by closing their businesses in protest against alleged rigging today on the second anniversary of the Feb. 8, 2024, general elections. Most of the markets in Lahore and Islamabad were open on Sunday. A partial shutdown was observed in Peshawar, while a complete shutdown strike was reported in Quetta.

📈 Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan increased by $56 million during the week ended January 30, 2026, reaching $16.16 billion, according to data released by the central bank on Friday. The country’s total liquid foreign reserves stood at $21.34 billion as of January 30.

💨 Pakistan has been invited to the first proposed meeting of US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” (BoP) on Gaza, reported to be held in Washington on Feb 19, and is likely to attend. Meanwhile, a new Gallup Pakistan survey shows 73% of Pakistanis are in favour of sending troops to Gaza, but only if it’s part of a UN-backed mission with Muslim countries and at the request of the Palestinian leadership.

🫸 In a significant move to assert parliamentary supremacy, a Senate rule was amended on Friday with the aim of curbing judicial interference in parliamentary affairs. Here’s the tea.

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🏂 The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics commenced on Friday, promising 'the greatest show on Earth'. Here’s the daily schedule of the games and live updates by the BBC.