(1) India launches Operation Sindoor
After the Pahalgam terror attack killed 26 people in April 22, India launched a targeted anti-terror exercise – Operation Sindoor – using precision strikes to destroy nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir where operational terrorist infrastructure. was found
These nine sites were selected out of 21 identified, and acted as training centres, weapon storages and control centres for JeM and LeT terrorists. The strikes on May 7 killed at least 100 terrorists, according to the government, and five top terror leaders.
There are 10 active terrorist and insurgent groups in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal.
(2) India-Pakistan face-off
Following Operation Sindoor, Pakistan escalated cross-border firing at multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of several civilians.
Drones were spotted across several states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana, amid widespread blackout orders. In retaliation, India launched a counteroffensive targeting Pakistani military infrastructure, including the neutralisation of an air defence base in Lahore.
Initial reports indicated that Pakistan deployed between 300 and 400 drones to target Indian sites. These drones were identified as Asisguard Songar models from Turkey. The drones were primarily used to test Indian air defence capabilities and gather intelligence. In response, Indian forces carried out strikes on four Pakistani air defence systems.
(3) Robert Prevost of the United States named Pope Leo XIV
The Chicago-born missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and took over the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops was elected the first pope from the United States in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church. Cardinal Robert Prevost has taken the name Leo XIV.
In his first words as Pope Francis’ successor, uttered from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo, 69, said, “Peace be with you,” and emphasized a message of peace, dialogue and missionary evangelization. He wore the traditional red cape of the papacy — a cape that Francis had eschewed on his election in 2013. He spoke to the crowd in Italian and Spanish, but not English.
The 69-year-old Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo, Peru, was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023 after being named prefect of the dicastery, one of the Vatican’s most important departments — and a post that introduced him to all key players in the Church.
Vatican watchers had given Prevost the highest chances among the group of U.S. cardinals of being pope, given his pastoral bent, global view and ability to navigate the central bureaucracy.
Italian newspaper La Repubblica called him “the least American of the Americans” for his soft-spoken touch.
(4) Rohit Sharma ends Test career
Indian captain Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket on Wednesday (May 7, 2025) through an Instagram story. Having already retired from T20Is, Rohit will continue to play in ODIs.
At 38, and after a poor tour of Australia (31 from five innings), a series during which he dropped himself from the final Test at Sydney, the curtains were drawing close on the Mumbaikar’s days in Tests.
In the blue-shade, Rohit is one of cricket’s greats. Prolific with the bat and a mind-boggling strike-rate to boot, he dominated ODIs (11,168 runs), and on March 9, led India to an ICC Champions Trophy title in Dubai.
Hailing from the illustrious Bombay school of batsmanship that was lit up by Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Sachin Tendulkar at varying points, Rohit was seen as their natural successor. He found his mark in T20Is and ODIs instantaneously and was part of the squad that won the 2007 ICC World T20 in South Africa.
In Tests, he had to bide his time as a freak injury scuppered his debut in 2010. Eventually, his maiden foray happened in 2013 against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens and he struck a 177 while stepping in at number six.
(5) AfD classified as a ’right-wing extremist’ party
The German domestic intelligence service has classified the Alternative for Germany party, which placed second in national elections in February, as a “right-wing extremist effort” — making it subject to greater and broader surveillance of its activities.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution cited the “extremist character” of the party, known as AfD, and said it “disregards human dignity” — in particular by taking aim at those who moved to Germany from mostly Muslim countries.
The party criticized the move, with deputy chairman Stephan Brandner saying that it “is complete nonsense, has absolutely nothing to do with law and order, and is purely political in the fight of the cartel parties against the AfD.”
The AfD has already been under enhanced surveillance by authorities in some regions, but the announcement by the domestic spy agency means the agency’s officials can use informants and other tools such as audio and video recordings to monitor the party’s activities nationwide.
The office, which has warned of growing extremism in Germany, cited court decisions in two German regions in recent years that detailed party efforts to undermine a free and democratic order.
Published – May 13, 2025 02:03 pm IST