| Greetings from India! You're reading Meanwhile, Back Home, our daily newsletter specially curated for our overseas readers. While you were asleep, it was a whirlwind of a day here in India. We've got the top highlights lined up for you.
Welcome back, reader Before we start with the day's bulletins, let me whisk you to the picturesque Kashmir valley where houseboats sit empty, resorts have been shuttered down, and Gurez looks deserted. In the wake of the deadly Pahalagam terror attack, hoteliers and the tourism industry at large are dealing with a cascade of cancellations. The highest cancellations are reportedly pouring in from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. Stakeholders estimate losses to the tune of ₹5,000-6,000 crore. But amid the slump, there’s a silver lining as travellers from South India have been holding on to their reservations for some time, providing much-needed relief and contributing 20-25% of the arrivals. While summer bookings have nosedived, fresh inquiries for May-June offer a glimmer of hope. Whether Kashmir’s scenic charm will win back travellers remains to be seen. However, for now, the South is holding the fort.
 Spotlight
In a rare closed-door session, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) turned the spotlight on Pakistan, as global concerns mounted over the deadly terror attack in India’s Jammu and Kashmir. Scheduled by Greece—UNSC president for May—at Pakistan’s request, here's a quick rundown of what went down: 📌 Tough questions, no statement Despite Pakistan’s hope to sway global opinion, the UNSC meeting ended without an official statement. Diplomats instead focused on de-escalation and accountability. 📌 Push for peace UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari described the situation as "volatile" and stressed the need for “dialogue and peaceful resolution.” Member nations echoed this, urging calm on both sides. 📌 Pak’s nuclear posture Several UNSC members raised alarms over Pakistan’s missile tests and nuclear rhetoric. 📌 Partial success for Islamabad? Pakistan’s envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmad insisted the country’s goals were “largely served.”
☕ Spill the Expresso Diljit Dosanjh & the lost necklace Punjabi pride took centre stage at the Met Gala as Diljit Dosanjh made his debut in a showstopping ensemble inspired by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh—complete with a jewelled turban, kirpan, and an emerald necklace echoing the legendary Patiala Necklace. However, the original Cartier masterpiece, commissioned in 1925 with a 234-carat diamond and nearly 3,000 gems, vanished after 1948. Fragments later resurfaced in London, but their fate remains a mystery. While Diljit’s version (crafted by Indian jewellers) dazzles, the lost necklace—worth $50 million today—still captivates history buffs. Don deja vu! Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra turned heads at the Met Gala 2025, but fans could not help but notice something familiar about their looks. SRK’s sleek black Sabyasachi suit and Priyanka’s polka-dot Olivier Rousteing dress bore an uncanny resemblance to their outfits from Don (2006) promotions! While SRK admitted he’s "shy" about red carpets (and only agreed for his kids), Priyanka glided in with Nick Jonas—marking her fifth Met appearance. Fans, however, exclaimed: "Don and Roma are back for a mission!" Coincidentally, the looks were a stylish callback to their iconic duo.
🚨 Must Read Anti-India floats India has lodged a strong diplomatic protest with Canada over "threatening" pro-Khalistan imagery targeting Indian leaders, including PM Modi, displayed during a Toronto parade. Calling the content "unacceptable," New Delhi urged Canadian authorities to act against "anti-India elements promoting extremism." The protest came days after newly elected Canadian PM Mark Carney took office. Relations have been tense since 2023, when ex-PM Trudeau accused India of involvement in a Khalistani separatist's killing—a claim India dismissed as "absurd."
📚 Book Nook Writing a Pulitzer winner: Percival Everett's James, a reimagining of Mark Twain’s The Adventures Huckleberry Finn, has won the 2025 Pulitzer Award for fiction. The Pulitzer Board praised its "agency and absurdity." The novel gives voice to Twain's enslaved character Jim, creating a world where African Americans hide their intelligence from the White, putting on a performance for their benefit, subverting expectations. Everett, a prolific satirist known for works such as Erasure, risks here what few dare: dismantling an American classic.
📰 In Other News March of time Ever wondered why spilt milk never jumps back into the glass or why we remember yesterday but not tomorrow? The answer lies in entropy, nature’s preference for disorder. From a melting ice cube to aging cells, everything evolves toward chaos because there are infinitely more disordered states than ordered ones. Physicists call this the Second Law of Thermodynamics: energy disperses, systems break down, and time marches irreversibly forward. While we can’t reverse entropy’s effects, understanding it helps engineers build efficient engines, doctors study aging, and scientists unravel cosmic mysteries. That’s all for now. Until next time, Aishwarya Khosla
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