Good afternoon,

Today’s news: Globally, Israel strikes Yemen’s airport, China hosts the Pacific Islands, and Cholera in Sudan. Locally, PM Shehbaz praises Turkiye and Azerbaijan’s support, Youm-e-Takbeer, and the Supreme Court discusses the PTI reserved seats case.

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Around The World

Updates from Yemen. Israel has launched air strikes on Yemen’s main airport in the capital, Sanaa, a day after Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired two projectiles towards Israel. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the Israeli air force struck Houthi “terror targets” at the airport and destroyed the last aircraft remaining.

Sanaa airport, the largest in Yemen, came back into service last week after temporary repairs and runway restoration following previous Israeli strikes. It was mainly used by United Nations aircraft and the only remaining civilian aircraft of Yemenia Airways, after three others were destroyed in the last attack.

China’s deal. China is hosting a high-level meeting with 11 Pacific Island nations to deepen ties and build a closer community with “a shared future” in the strategic region. The president of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau, and top diplomats from Niue, Tonga, Nauru, Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Fiji, and Samoa are attending. The diplomats are expected to discuss trade, infrastructure development, poverty alleviation, sustainability, and climate change.

We’re domed. Trump says he has told Canada it will have to pay $61bn to be part of his proposed Gold Dome missile defence system, “if they remain a separate, but unequal, nation.” Otherwise, it will become the 51st state of the US. 

Trump’s latest comments come as China, North Korea, and Russia say the Golden Dome missile defence system will create a ‘space arms race’. The Golden Dome is modelled after Israel’s Iron Dome, which also receives significant funding from the US, including $500m per year for its upkeep.

Update from Sudan. Sudan’s Ministry of Health has reported a spike in cholera cases, with 2,700 infections and 172 deaths in the past week. The ministry said 90% of cases were reported in Khartoum, where water and electricity supply have been severely disrupted in recent weeks by drone strikes blamed on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, at war with the army since April 2023.

Pakistan

Out and about. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking at the Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit, hailed Turkiye and Azerbaijan as Pakistan’s “brothers in arms,” praising their unwavering support and deep historical, cultural, and spiritual ties. He emphasized the strength of their solidarity on issues like Karabakh, Kashmir, and northern Cyprus. 

Atomic habits. Pakistan is celebrating Youm-e-Takbeer today, marking the 27th anniversary of its 1998 nuclear tests. Initiated after the 1971 war with India, Pakistan's nuclear program was developed to counter India's conventional military superiority, with the military reaffirming its nuclear arsenal as a deterrent solely for defensive purposes. 

Call a rose by any name… During a live-streamed hearing today, the Supreme Court’s 11-member Constitutional Bench questioned the legal standing of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) in the reserved seats case. The hearing focused on review petitions challenging the Supreme Court’s July 2024 majority judgment, which allowed 41 PTI-backed independents to submit affidavits to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), declaring their association with the party.

For context: These candidates had contested the general elections as independents after PTI was barred from using its symbol. While they later sought to join the PTI to claim reserved seats, the ECP rejected this, stating that independents cannot retroactively affiliate with a party for that purpose. The lawmakers then joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), which subsequently claimed the reserved seats.

The Supreme Court is now reviewing the matter and has questioned SIC’s legal standing, noting that the original ruling concerned PTI and the individuals were officially declared independents. After much back and forth, the hearing ended with the court undecided on SIC’s standing and adjourned proceedings until Thursday, leaving key questions unresolved, particularly whether SIC can continue to act as the representative of lawmakers declared independent or affiliated with PTI.

What Else Is Happening?

🌙Saudi Arabia has announced that the annual Hajj pilgrimage will begin on June 4 after observatories confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon. In Pakistan, the Eid-al-Adha will be observed on June 7.

🚀SpaceX lost control of its ninth Starship test flight 30 minutes after the uncrewed rocket vehicle was launched into space from Texas today. The mega-rocket then re-entered the atmosphere earlier than planned after an onboard fuel leak triggered uncontrollable spinning in space. 

📲The US State Department has halted scheduling new visa interviews for foreign students while it expands the screening of their social media activity.