Greetings! Happy International Music Day to those celebrating.

Let’s get into today’s top stories.

🇵🇰 Kashmir protest turns deadly as gunfire erupts at “peace rally”. A demonstration in Pakistan-administered Kashmir devolved into violence when shots rang out near the front of the march, leaving at least one person dead and dozens injured, according to local authorities. Organizers said the rally drew several thousand people pressing for economic relief and political dialogue; police said they were investigating multiple suspects after videos showed chaotic exchanges of gunfire and rock-throwing. The event followed calls by national politicians to ease tensions after recent strike actions, but protesters defied appeals to delay. Hospitals reported crush injuries alongside gunshot wounds as ambulances struggled through roadblocks to reach district facilities. Officials imposed temporary movement restrictions in several towns while promising an inquiry into the use of force and the presence of armed provocateurs. The incident underscores a volatile mix of inflation, governance grievances, and long-simmering status disputes. Diplomats urged restraint amid fears of copycat protests across the region. The regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract have been disputed amongst Pakistan, India, and China since 1947 and 1959, respectively.

🇵🇭 Powerful quake in the central Philippines kills dozens and injures hundreds. An offshore magnitude-6.9 earthquake struck near Cebu province late Tuesday, toppling walls and pancaking older homes across multiple municipalities. Authorities reported at least 69 deaths and more than 200 injuries as search teams deployed backhoes and sniffer dogs to sift through collapsed structures in Bogo City and nearby towns. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the shallow depth amplified shaking, with aftershocks expected for days. Emergency managers opened school gyms as shelters and warned of landslide risks after heavy September rains left slopes saturated. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council prioritized clearing key roads to restore fuel and medical supply lines, while utilities crews worked to stabilize downed lines. Insurance officials said property losses will hinge on how widely older masonry failed, a known vulnerability in the region’s housing stock. Regional airports resumed limited operations, but runway inspections and terminal checks slowed normal schedules.

🏛️ Government shutdown begins, agencies pivot to contingency mode. With negotiations stalled, the federal government entered a funding lapse that will furlough hundreds of thousands of workers, close or curtail many services, and delay some payments. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directed departments to execute “orderly shutdown” plans that separate excepted from non-excepted work, a line that keeps core national security, mail, and air-traffic control operating. Economists estimate each week of shutdown clips tenths from quarterly gross domestic product as contractors idle and travel, permits, and grants slow. National parks face reduced services and access limitations, while routine civil cases pause and passport processing backlogs grow. The political road back typically requires a short-term continuing resolution, but both chambers left major policy riders unresolved. Bond markets will watch for any spillover to Treasury issuance calendars if the impasse lingers. Agencies emphasized employee back-pay is historically authorized, but contractors often are not made whole.

💊 Pfizer agrees to cut Medicaid prices under TrumpRx framework. The White House said Pfizer ($PFE) will align U.S. Medicaid prices with its lowest prices in peer nations and provide average discounts around 50% through a new direct platform dubbed TrumpRx, with initial rollout in 2026. The drugmaker also pledged $70 billion in U.S. manufacturing and research investment under the agreement, details of which are still being standardized with states. Health-policy analysts noted past rebate complexity and differing formularies could blunt headline savings for some patients. Governors welcomed relief to strained Medicaid budgets but asked for clarity on how “most-favored-nation” rules interact with existing supplemental rebates. Patient groups pressed for guardrails ensuring that list-price cuts translate to lower out-of-pocket costs, not just budget relief. The administration said other pharmaceutical deals are in progress and will be announced on a rolling basis. Wall Street reaction was mixed as investors weighed volume gains against margin compression.

🎖️ Wounded Knee review ends with honors intact, anger renewed. The Department of Defense, led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, said it will not recommend revoking 20 Medals of Honor awarded to U.S. soldiers for the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, defying years of appeals from Native communities and lawmakers. The decision followed a review framed by the department as respecting historical process but criticized by tribal leaders as moral evasion. Historians widely document that most victims at Wounded Knee were Lakota women and children; advocates argue the medals memorialize a war crime, not valor. Legal experts say rescission is rare but not unprecedented, and that Congress could still act via statute. The move is likely to reverberate through federal-tribal relations and commemoration policy, including how battlefield sites are narrated to the public. Advocacy groups announced renewed lobbying campaigns and education initiatives aimed at museums and schools. The Pentagon’s statement closes an internal chapter but opens a wider public one.

🎾 Roger Federer tops International Tennis Hall of Fame ballot for 2026. The International Tennis Hall of Fame listed Federer alongside Juan Martín del Potro and Svetlana Kuznetsova on the newly released nominees slate. Federer’s 20 Grand Slam singles titles and 310 weeks at World No. 1 make induction likely on first consideration, with fan voting and expert committees weighing in through 2026. The Hall noted expanded criteria that assess impact, sportsmanship, and global influence alongside on-court results. Analysts say the class could spotlight a generational handoff as Federer, del Potro, and Kuznetsova symbolize the tour’s 2000s–2010s arc. Newport’s election process typically announces honorees the year after balloting closes, with enshrinement during summer festivities. Sponsors and the tourism board anticipate a measurable bump in hotel occupancy and ticketed events during induction weekend. The ballot’s star power practically guarantees a sellout.

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That’s all for today!

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See you tomorrow!