Good afternoon,

Today’s news: Globally, the US vetoes a Gaza ceasefire resolution, Trump’s travel ban, and India’s census. Locally, Pakistan gains key UN Security Council roles, and NEPRA flags massive power losses from two major offline plants.

Plus: The Biscuitt team will be off on an extended Eid holiday from 6th to 16th June. Don’t miss us too much 😌

☕ Grab your chaye, let’s go.

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Around The World

More war. The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent” ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The US was the only nation to oppose the resolution. Fourteen others, including the UK, voted in favor. There were no abstentions. The US ambassador to the UN said the US opposed the resolution because it did not call for Hamas to disarm and leave Gaza.

Big walls. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a full travel ban on people from Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, there will be heightened restrictions on people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Trump said the recent attack on a pro-Israel rally had underscored the extreme dangers posed by the entry of unvetted foreign nationals.

Your-anium. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has pledged that Tehran will not abandon its uranium enrichment, rejecting a key demand in a US proposal aimed at resolving a long-running dispute over Iran’s nuclear program. The issue of uranium enrichment has remained a sticking point, as the US demands a complete halt or low-level enrichment in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

Count me in. After a 6-year delay, India is finally set to count its population in a two-phase census that will conclude in 2027. The census will be conducted digitally and include controversial questions about caste for the first time since independence. India's decennial census is one of the world's largest administrative exercises and provides critical data for planning welfare schemes, allocating federal funds, drawing electoral boundaries, and making key policy decisions.

Pakistan

Model United Nations. Pakistan has been appointed vice chair of the UN Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee, chair of the committee overseeing Taliban sanctions, and co-chair of two informal working groups on Council transparency and sanctions issues — appointments its officials see as international recognition of Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts and constructive UN engagement. As an elected Council member since January, Pakistan has pushed for inclusivity in global governance and pledged to work with other states to strengthen multilateral action against militancy.

Powered down. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has raised serious concerns over the prolonged outages of two major power plants, the Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHPP) and Guddu 747, which have collectively removed over 1,700 MW of low-cost electricity from the grid, burdening consumers with higher tariffs.

The NJHPP, financed in part by a Rs. 75.5 billion surcharge from consumers, has been non-operational since May 2024 due to structural tunnel issues, costing consumers Rs. 0.54/kWh monthly. Meanwhile, the Steam Turbine unit at Guddu 747, offline since a 2022 fire, has caused Rs. 127 billion in losses and reduced the plant’s efficiency and contribution to system stability.

What Else Is Happening?

🏦The State Bank of Pakistan has granted a nationwide microfinance banking license to Halan Microfinance Bank Limited, a subsidiary of Egypt’s fintech giant MNT-Halan.

🚴Polish cyclist Paweł Małaszko completed a 3,376-kilometre solo journey from Karachi to K2 base camp in 56 days, claiming to be the first person to cycle from sea level to both K2 base camp and Khunjerab Pass.

🕋From June 4-8, millions of Muslims will be performing the annual Hajj. Here’s an animated video and a day-by-day breakdown of what’s going on.

🚢The Madleen ship, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), is en route to Gaza, carrying humanitarian aid as the Palestinian enclave faces food shortages due to more than 90 days of total Israeli blockade. Here’s the live tracker and updates.