<h1>BRICS warn against rising protectionism and tariff hikes; condemn warfare starvation, note defense pact, protests and denials</h1> BRICS foreign ministers urged protection of the multilateral trading system amid rising protectionism and tariff volatility, warning that indiscriminate tariff hikes and coercive trade measures risk marginalising developing countries; a trilateral grouping condemned an ongoing military campaign and deplored tactics amounting to starvation as warfare, and voiced concern about unilateral trade coercion. At the UN, one country accused another's military of pleading for a cessation during a recent operation and asserted no third-party intervention is warranted. Separately, a strategic defence pact between two states was described as formalizing a formerly transactional relationship; a deposed prime minister denied ordering force during protests; security forces killed militants in a northwest operation; protests over an alleged schoolgirl rape prompted paramilitary deployment.