Good afternoon,

Today’s news: Globally, updates from Gaza, Trump faces pressure over Epstein files, and the US imposes tariffs on Indonesia. Locally, monsoon rains claim more lives in Punjab, PCB audit reveals Rs6bn in financial irregularities, and Government challenges Dr Aafia Siddiqui case ruling.

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Around The World

Updates from Gaza. 20 Palestinians were killed Wednesday in the crush of a crowd at a food distribution site run by an Israeli-backed American GHF in the Gaza Strip. This is the first time it has acknowledged deadly violence at its operations. Gaza’s Health Ministry said GHF workers used tear gas against the crowd, inciting a panic. The deaths came as Israeli strikes killed 41 others, including 11 children in the Strip.

Spill the tea. US President Donald Trump has said Attorney General Pam Bondi should release credible information on late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as he faces a backlash after seeking to draw a line under the case. Bondi has been lambasted by some of Trump's political base after her department recently said there was no evidence that Epstein kept a "client list", contradicting her previous statements 

Trump also claimed the so-called Epstein films were “made up” by former US Presidents Obama and Biden, and expressed disbelief over the continuing fascination with the “sordid” but “boring” case.

Friends, benefits. Trump announced on Tuesday that the US has reached a trade agreement with Indonesia, after negotiations Jakarta described as an “extraordinary struggle.” The deal will see the US impose a 19% tariff on Indonesia’s exports, a reduction from the 32% Trump had initially threatened, in exchange for full access for American firms. Indonesia has agreed to lower its trade tariffs for many agricultural products as well as certain manufactured goods from the US.

Pakistan

Mayhem. 9 people lost their lives and 92 others were injured in rain-related incidents across Punjab over the past 24 hours. The district administration and Wasa mobilized resources to clear rainwater, and rain advisories were issued urging public caution. The PMD forecasts further heavy rains, strong winds, and potential flooding across multiple cities, directing local authorities to remain on high alert.

Additionally, the United Nations World Food Program and the Green Climate Fund have launched a $9.8 million project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to help 1.6 million people in flood-prone districts cope with climate-related disasters. The initiative will install early warning systems like weather stations and river monitors, train local authorities and communities in emergency response, and improve coordination among government departments. 

Where’s Waldo? A report by the Auditor General of Pakistan has uncovered over Rs. 6 billion ($21 million) in financial irregularities and governance issues within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the 2023–24 fiscal year. Major discrepancies include non-recovery of sponsorship dues, unauthorized spending on police meals during international matches, and irregular appointments of coaches and a media director. The PCB is yet to comment on the audit report.

Policy plea. The federal government has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the Islamabad High Court’s May 16th order allowing amendments to a long-pending petition concerning Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who has been imprisoned in the US since 2010. The government argues that the IHC’s directive constitutes judicial overreach, undermines the finality of concluded litigation, and interferes with Pakistan’s foreign policy and international legal obligations. It maintains that efforts for Dr Aafia’s release, including clemency petitions and diplomatic negotiations, have already been made and rejected.

What Else Is Happening?

🧸Pop Mart, the Chinese toy firm behind the hugely popular Labubu dolls, has said its profits are set to soar by at least 350% for the first six months of this year as its revenues have also more than tripled.

🐪A year after losing her leg in an animal cruelty case, Cammie the camel in Sindh, Pakistan, walked again with a prosthetic limb fitted after months of rehabilitation. The effort was made possible through collaboration between local volunteers, the Sindh government, and a US-based prosthetics firm.