Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir renewed threats against India on the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, warning that any future “misadventure” against Pakistan would result in “extremely widespread, dangerous, far-reaching and painful” consequences. Speaking at Pakistan Army headquarters in Rawalpindi alongside top military officials, Munir described the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict as a battle between “two ideologies” and claimed Pakistan had successfully defended its sovereignty. He accused India of pursuing political and military objectives through “false flag operations” dating back to 2001. Munir also reiterated earlier warnings about targeting Indian infrastructure and invoked Pakistan’s nuclear capability. Operation Sindoor followed the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s precision strikes on terror camps.

Two Indian crew members aboard the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, linked to a deadly Andes strain hantavirus outbreak, were confirmed healthy and asymptomatic after the ship reached Spain’s Canary Islands. The vessel carrying nearly 150 passengers and crew arrived at Tenerife from Cape Verde after three infected passengers were earlier evacuated to Europe. According to the World Health Organisation, eight people fell ill, including three deaths involving a Dutch couple and a German national. Following WHO and Spanish health protocols, passengers disembarked wearing protective suits and were transferred under strict supervision for repatriation. The two Indian nationals were evacuated to the Netherlands for quarantine, while multiple countries organised emergency evacuation and monitoring operations for citizens.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake congratulated Chandrasekar Joseph Vijay on being sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, highlighting the deep historical, cultural and economic ties between Sri Lanka and the southern Indian state. In a social media post, Dissanayake said Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu remain connected through shared history, culture, enterprise and enduring people-to-people relations built across generations. He emphasised that the future holds significant economic promise as India and Sri Lanka continue strengthening bilateral cooperation and partnership. The Sri Lankan President also expressed his willingness to work together within the India-Sri Lanka partnership framework for greater prosperity and progress, while wishing success to Vijay and Tamil Nadu’s people.

Chiranjeevi Kolla, a 37-year-old Indian tech professional based in California, died after battling Valley Fever, a rare fungal infection that severely damaged his lungs. Kolla reportedly developed flu-like symptoms in early April, but his condition rapidly worsened and was initially mistaken for pneumonia. Doctors later confirmed Valley Fever, caused by inhaling fungal spores found in soil across parts of the US Southwest. He spent nearly a month in intensive care on ventilator support before dying on May 5 in Walnut Creek, California. Kolla is survived by his wife and five-year-old son, while a fundraiser has been launched to support the grieving family. (PC: India Today)

An Indian sailor was killed and four others suffered burn injuries after a wooden cargo dhow caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. Seventeen Indian crew members were rescued by a passing vessel operating in the area, according to sources. The injured sailors are undergoing treatment in Dubai and are reported to be safe. Officials from the Indian Consulate in Dubai met the rescued crew members and are coordinating with the dhow owner to provide assistance. The incident comes amid continued tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important oil shipping routes. (PC: X)

China has, for the first time, officially acknowledged providing on-site technical support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory strikes on terror camps in 2025. Engineers from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV that they assisted the Pakistan Air Force during the four-day conflict. Engineer Zhang Heng said the team worked under extreme conditions to ensure Chinese-made J-10CE fighter jets performed effectively. Another engineer, Xu Da, described the aircraft as a “child” they nurtured. The revelation underscores deepening China-Pakistan military integration and Beijing’s expanding operational involvement in regional conflicts. (PC: India Today)

Nepal on Friday reiterated its commitment to resolving its border dispute with India through diplomatic dialogue, amid renewed tensions over the Lipulekh Pass route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said Nepal had conveyed its concerns to both India and China regarding the pilgrimage route through territory Kathmandu claims as its own. Nepal maintains that Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani belong to it under the 1816 Sugauli Treaty. India recently rejected Nepal’s objections, calling the territorial claims an “unilateral artificial enlargement.” The annual pilgrimage will run from June to August through Lipulekh Pass and Nathu La. (PC: X)

Two Indian crew members are among 149 people aboard the MV Hondius, where a deadly hantavirus outbreak has killed three passengers and infected eight others. Operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship remains under global health scrutiny as authorities race to contain the rare Andes strain, which can spread through close human contact. The health status of the Indian crew members remains undisclosed. The outbreak is believed to have originated during a birdwatching tour in Ushuaia, Argentina. The vessel has departed Cape Verde and is heading to Tenerife, Spain, for passenger screening and disinfection. The World Health Organization said public risk remains low but warned additional cases may emerge during the lengthy incubation period. (PC: Reuters)

India on Thursday said repatriation of illegal Bangladeshi nationals remains a “core issue” in ties with Bangladesh, responding to Dhaka’s concerns over alleged migrant “push-ins” along the Assam and West Bengal border. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Bangladesh to cooperate in expediting the return of at least 2,862 identified illegal immigrants. Bangladesh recently placed border guards on alert and warned of action if migrants are forcibly sent through unguarded border stretches. While Dhaka raised concerns following political developments in eastern India, New Delhi did not address reported differences between the Centre and state governments on handling illegal migration. The issue has emerged as a major diplomatic and border-security concern between Delhi and Dhaka.

India on Thursday rejected allegations in a Canadian intelligence report accusing New Delhi of foreign interference, calling the claims “baseless imputations.” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India respects sovereignty and does not interfere in other nations’ internal affairs. He urged such concerns to be handled institutionally rather than through politicised public narratives. Simultaneously, India highlighted that the same CSIS report acknowledged the threat posed by Canada-based Khalistani extremist groups. The report noted extremist elements misuse democratic freedoms in Canada to promote separatism, radicalisation and violent activities. New Delhi reiterated concerns over threats to diplomats, vandalism of religious sites and pro-Khalistan activities, while maintaining that Ottawa has failed to adequately act against extremist networks operating from Canadian soil.