Questions mount over funding as violence mars London Kashmir protest

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the joint defence agreement signed by Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will strengthen security cooperation and contribute to peace and stability in the region. In a statement posted on his X account, Erdogan said he visited Makkah at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. During the visit, Erdogan said he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The three leaders subsequently signed a joint defence agreement, according to Erdogan. He said the agreement is based on the principle of collective defence and would further strengthen security and military cooperation among the three countries. Erdogan said the pact would also encourage joint projects in the defence industry and facilitate stronger cooperation in combating terrorism. The Turkish president said the agreement reaffirmed the right to self-defence recognised under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. He stressed that the agreement was not directed against any country. Instead, Erdogan said the pact remained open to brotherly countries that seek peace, prosperity and stability in the region. He added that Türkiye would continue to pursue its principled position of resolving conflicts and crises through dialogue and diplomacy. Erdogan also expressed hope that the visit to Makkah and the agreement reached by the three countries would bring peace, stability and prosperity to the wider region. The agreement marks a significant step in defence cooperation between Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and establishes a framework for closer coordination against shared security threats.

Indian political commentator and social activist T.G. Mohandas has been detained by police over controversial remarks about students taking part in a protest. Police reportedly took Mohandas into custody from his residence on Sunday evening. A cybercrime police team reached his home with local police officers. He was present when the team arrived. Authorities are investigating remarks made by Mohandas in a video shared on his YouTube channel. Police also collected information about his YouTube account and digital devices allegedly used to record and upload the video. A complaint has reportedly been registered against him. The complaint alleges that the videos published on his channel were capable of disturbing public order. It also accused him of creating fear and unrest through his statements. The controversy began after Mohandas commented on a student protest in Delhi linked to an alleged examination paper leak. In the video, he made offensive remarks about female protesters and claimed that the demonstrations could lead to incidents of sexual violence. He further made a derogatory statement about women participating in the protest. His comments triggered criticism because they appeared to blame or demean potential victims of sexual violence. Mohandas also spoke about how authorities should respond to the demonstrations. He said that if he were in government, he would impose a curfew to disperse the protesters. He further suggested that force could be used if demonstrators refused to leave. His remarks included references to people potentially being killed or permanently injured during a violent crackdown. The comments have drawn attention from law enforcement authorities. Police are now examining the video and other digital material connected to the case. Officials are also questioning Mohandas as part of the investigation. The authorities are expected to determine whether his statements and online content violated laws relating to public order and the spread of fear or unrest. The case has sparked wider discussion over the limits of political commentary and responsibility for statements made on social media. The investigation is continuing, while further details about the allegations and possible legal action are awaited.

Sudanese refugees who escaped violent conflict in Darfur are facing an severe water shortage in eastern Chad’s overcrowded displacement camps. Over 938,000 people have fled into Chad since fighting erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Settlements such as the Goudrane refugee camp, which accommodates roughly 50,000 refugees, frequently go days without water tank deliveries, leading to desperate scrambles when limited supplies arrive. The extreme scarcity forces many families to survive on less than half of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) recommended daily minimum water allocation. At local medical clinics, doctors report an inability to effectively administer treatments for bacterial infections because patients lack access to clean drinking water. Aid agencies, including Solidarités International, caution that existing funding levels cannot keep pace with the growing capacity requirements for boreholes, sanitation, and water treatment infrastructure. Refugees arriving at transit sites such as Adré and long-term camps like Metche describe systematic violence in Sudan, particularly targeting the Masalit community. Reports detail mass killings, sexual violence, heavy shelling, and deliberate destruction of vital supplies by RSF fighters during escapes from towns like el-Fasher and el-Geneina. With the conflict entering its fourth year and diplomatic resolution remaining distant, displaced families face prolonged instability alongside severe resource shortages.