Good afternoon,

Today’s news: Globally, Trump heads to the UAE, and updates from Gaza and India. Locally, a major heatwave, Imran Khan faces new forensic tests as his sons seek global support, May 9 trials accelerate, and Islamabad slams India over nuclear remarks.

☕ Grab your chaye, let’s go.

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Around The World

Jet, set, go. President Donald Trump will head to the UAE today after visiting Qatar on Wednesday, where Trump and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed agreements that would “generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion”.

The agreements are said to include a $96bn deal with Qatar Airways to buy up to 210 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X aeroplanes, and a statement of intent for $38bn in investments at Qatar’s Al Udeid Airbase and other air defence capabilities. Meanwhile, a meeting is scheduled for later today of US, Turkish, and Syrian officials to discuss details of Trump’s announced dropping of sanctions against Syria.

Update from India. Indian police have killed 31 suspected Maoist rebels along the border of the states of Chhattisgarh and Telangana in central India in what is being described as the “biggest ever operation” against the long-running insurgency. Indian authorities have been battling Maoist rebel groups, also known as Naxals, across several central and northern states since 1967. Inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, insurgents have over the decades launched attacks on government forces in an attempt to overthrow the state and usher in a classless society.

Update from Gaza. Recent Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 84 people, as indirect ceasefire talks continue in Qatar. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has said that a series of recent Israeli attacks on Gaza show that Israel is not interested in ending the war. 

Al Thani also stated that a US-backed plan for distributing aid in Gaza through a newly created group is unnecessary. Humanitarian and United Nations aid groups have said that they already have the means of delivering aid to Gaza but are being blocked from doing so by Israel.

Pakistan

It’s going to get hot. Pakistan is experiencing its first major heatwave of the season, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department warning that temperatures will rise 4–7°C above normal across much of the country from May 15–20. Southern regions like Sindh, southern Punjab, and Balochistan will face sustained heat, while central and northern areas, including Islamabad, KP, and Gilgit-Baltistan, will see peak temperatures through May 19. A westerly weather system is expected to bring rain and thunderstorms tothe upper parts of the country on May 19–20, potentially offering some relief. Authorities have issued alerts urging people to avoid sun exposure, stay hydrated, and limit travel during peak heat hours. The National Institute of Health and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority have called on hospitals and departments to prepare for heat-related illnesses. 

Boot on the neck. A Lahore anti-terrorism court has approved the prosecution’s request to conduct polygraph, photogrammetric, and voice match tests on PTI founder Imran Khan in 12 cases related to the May 9, 2023, riots. The tests must be completed within 12 days at Adiala Jail. Khan’s lawyer opposed the move, calling it delayed and unnecessary, but the court sided with the prosecution, citing investigative needs. 

Recently, in their first public interview, Imran Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, appealed to Donald Trump and international leaders to intervene for their father’s release. Speaking to citizen journalist Mario Nawfal, they described Khan’s imprisonment since August 2023 as politically motivated and called on "people of influence" to speak up for his rights. The brothers said they had Khan’s permission to speak publicly and expressed frustration over limited contact with him due to irregular prison communication.

Meanwhile, May 9 trials are being fast-tracked at Kot Lakhpat Jail, now held four days a week to meet a Supreme Court deadline.

Regular chatter. The Foreign Office has strongly condemned Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent statement questioning the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons and calling for them to be placed under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) surveillance. Singh made the remarks while speaking in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, calling Pakistan a “rogue and irresponsible nation.” In response, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan described the remarks as “irresponsible,” claiming they reflect India's insecurity and frustration over Pakistan’s effective conventional and nuclear deterrence. Khan asserted that Pakistan’s conventional military capabilities are sufficient to deter aggression without resorting to what he called India’s “self-imposed nuclear blackmail.”

What Else Is Happening?

💆In an attempt to win back customers, Airbnb now allows users to hire on-site professionals, including private chefs, massage therapists, and personal trainers.

🧑‍💻 A new study suggests that long working hours might not just be bad for you; it could also be altering the structure of your brain.