Kashish Chaudhary, a 25-year-old from Noshki, Balochistan, has become the province’s first Hindu woman Assistant Commissioner after clearing the Balochistan Public Service Commission exam. Accompanied by her father Girdhari Lal, she met Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and pledged to work for women and minority empowerment. CM Bugti praised her achievement as a symbol of national pride. Kashish joins a growing list of Hindu women in Pakistan breaking barriers in civil services and law enforcement, including SP Manesh Ropeta and civil judge Suman Bodani. Her success highlights the rising participation of minority women in public life across Pakistan. (PC: X/@dpr_gob)

Lt Gen D S Rana, Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency, briefed defence attaches from 70 nations on the successful execution of Operation Sindoor at the Manekshaw Centre. The operation, targeting confirmed terror-linked sites, demonstrated India's integrated and precise military strategy across space, cyber, and electronic warfare domains. The briefing showcased indigenous kinetic force multipliers and emphasized India’s technological and strategic superiority. It also addressed misinformation campaigns by adversaries and India's whole-of-nation approach to counter them. Attending nations included Sweden, Nepal, the Philippines, and Egypt, highlighting international interest in India's evolving security operations. (PC: The Times of India)

Following its successful deployment in Operation Sindoor, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has garnered massive global attention, with 17 countries now expressing interest in procurement. Capable of flying at Mach 3 with pinpoint accuracy, BrahMos proved its strategic edge during India's retaliation against Pakistan’s terror infrastructure. Nations such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Egypt are in advanced talks, while the Philippines already received its first batch. Jointly developed by India and Russia, BrahMos is admired for its versatility, deployable from land, air, and sea. Its success is cementing India’s position as a key player in the global defense market. (PC: AP)

India has notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of its intention to impose retaliatory tariffs on select U.S. products, countering the 25% levies reinstated by the U.S. on steel and aluminium imports in March 2025. These U.S. tariffs affect $7.6 billion worth of Indian exports. India's move comes amid ongoing trade negotiations, where it has offered to reduce its tariff gap with the U.S. from nearly 13% to under 4%, seeking preferential market access for its key export sectors. Additionally, India has recently imposed a temporary 12% duty on imported low-cost Chinese steel to protect its domestic industry. The two nations aim to finalize a trade deal soon. (PC: Bloomberg)

Former Bangladesh President Mohammad Abdul Hamid departed Dhaka at 3 am last week aboard a Thai Airways flight in a lungi, slipping out as most citizens slept. Upon discovering his exit, the interim Muhammad Yunus government suspended and transferred officials and appointed a probe led by Education Adviser CR Abrar. Hamid served from 2013 to 2023 and faces co-accusations in a January 14 murder case linked to the 2024 anti-Sheikh Hasina protests, alongside Sheikh Hasina and Awami League figures. His family cites medical treatment, while opponents allege he fled to evade trial. SAD demanded sanctions. Last week, the interim government banned the Awami League and its student wing, cancelling its election registration. ( PC: Wego Travel Blog & The Statesman)

A UN-backed report says all 2.1 million people in Gaza face extreme hunger. Around 244,000 are already at the worst level of food crisis. The report blames the Israeli aid blockade, ongoing since March, for this. It warns that famine is now very likely. Children are starving, and families are begging or selling trash to survive. Aid groups say Israel is using hunger as a weapon. Israel denies a crisis, citing past aid during the ceasefire. The war began after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023. Over 52,000 people in Gaza have died since, according to Gaza’s health ministry. (PC: EPA/ Shutterstock)

On May 10, during the season's first successful summit of Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,586m), French climber Margareta Morin, 63, died at 7,800m amid severe weather, preventing her rescue. Morin, attempting her first 8,000m peak, lacked prior high-altitude experience. Simultaneously, British climber Adrian Michael Hayes was rescued after suffering severe altitude sickness post-summit. Sherpas brought him to Camp IV, awaiting evacuation pending weather improvement. The 13-member expedition, comprising six foreign climbers from France, Kosovo, Iran, UAE, and seven Nepali Sherpas, reached the summit after a 20-hour climb from Camp IV. This incident follows the recent death of British hiker Tom Howard, 27, killed by a falling boulder on India's Triund Trek. (PC: Himalayan Wonders)

The United States and China have agreed to slash reciprocal tariffs, marking a significant de-escalation in their ongoing trade war. Following negotiations in Geneva, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a 90-day halt on tariff measures, with reciprocal tariffs reduced by 115%. China plans to fix tariffs on U.S. goods at 10%, suspend an additional 24% tariffs for the next 90 days, and eliminate an extra 91% tariffs. This agreement comes as trade tensions had begun benefiting India, with U.S. buyers turning to Indian suppliers due to the previously imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese goods. China's exports to the U.S. fell over 20% in April, while overall exports rose 8.1% year-on-year, driven by strong performance in ASEAN and other markets. (PC: AP)

China is hosting the China-CELAC Forum this week, marking a decade since its inception, to strengthen ties with Latin American and Caribbean nations amid ongoing trade tensions with the U.S. Presidents from Brazil, Colombia, and Chile are attending. President Xi Jinping will address the summit, highlighting China's growing economic footprint in the region, with trade reaching $427 billion from January to September 2024. China aims to rally global opposition to U.S. tariffs and has advanced trade talks with the EU and expanded engagement with Southeast and Central Asia. Infrastructure collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative remains a key focus, with Colombia potentially joining. Geopolitical tensions persist, particularly around the Panama Canal. (PC: Reuters)

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for 71 attacks across 51 locations in Pakistan, targeting military and intelligence sites in Balochistan. Declaring itself a key player in South Asia's future, the BLA rejected labels of being a foreign proxy and called Pakistan’s peace efforts deceptive. The group accused Pakistan’s military and ISI of fostering terrorism and warned of nuclear risks if the current regime continues unchecked. Urging India and the global community for support, the BLA emphasized the need for political, diplomatic, and defense aid to establish a free and peaceful Balochistan. The attacks occurred during recent India-Pak tensions. (PC: India Today)