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Indian authorities have suspended a police officer after he fired an AK-47 rifle into the air while attempting to disperse student protesters in the eastern state of Bihar. The incident has intensified criticism of the government’s handling of nationwide demonstrations that recently led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The confrontation took place on Saturday in the city of Siwan, where students were protesting against alleged irregularities in national examinations and broader concerns about unemployment. Videos shared on social media showed a police officer in riot gear running toward a crowd of protesters before pointing his assault rifle into the air and firing at least three rounds. Police later confirmed that the footage was authentic. Senior Bihar police official Nilesh Kumar said no one was injured during the incident. He explained that the suspended officer belonged to an intelligence unit that normally deals with dangerous criminals and had been issued the rifle as part of his official duties. However, Kumar said the weapon was used inappropriately because the protesters were students and did not pose a threat that justified such action. He said the officer’s conduct could not be defended under any circumstances and confirmed that disciplinary proceedings had begun. According to Kumar, further action will be taken following an investigation into the incident. The protests began after question papers for a national medical college entrance examination were leaked in May. More than two million students had taken the exam before authorities were forced to order a retest because of the security breach. The controversy sparked widespread anger among young people who accused the government of failing to protect the integrity of the examination process. As demonstrations grew larger, students also began raising concerns about rising unemployment and fears that artificial intelligence could reduce future job opportunities, especially in India’s information technology and outsourcing sectors. These issues helped expand the movement beyond the examination scandal, drawing support from students across different parts of the country. Public pressure eventually led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who stepped down after nearly five weeks of protests. Despite the resignation, demonstrations have continued as students demand broader reforms and greater accountability from the government. The police response has faced increasing criticism. Officers have been accused of using excessive force against demonstrators, including beating students with batons and firing tear gas during a large march toward India’s parliament in New Delhi earlier this month. Human rights advocates and opposition leaders argue that authorities have responded too aggressively to mostly peaceful protests. Speaking in parliament, Congress Party president Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the police action and described it as one of the most serious attacks on democratic rights in recent years. He said reports that an assault rifle had been used against student protesters in Bihar were deeply troubling and called for those responsible to be held accountable. Parliamentary proceedings were repeatedly disrupted as opposition lawmakers raised the issue and demanded answers from the government. Ministers did not immediately respond before both houses were adjourned amid heated exchanges. The controversy also drew attention from India’s judiciary. Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan expressed concern about what he described as the shrinking space for people to express different opinions in the country. In a public speech, he said the right to voice opinions and participate in peaceful demonstrations is a fundamental freedom guaranteed to every citizen. His remarks were seen as an unusual intervention by a sitting judge and added to growing calls for restraint in the handling of public protests.

Russia has raised concerns over reports that the United States and Türkiye may facilitate the transfer of a large stockpile of American-made weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said recently released documents from the US Congress indicate that the proposed shipment could include a substantial quantity of offensive weapons. According to her, the documents refer to 12 multiple rocket launch systems, more than 2,500 unguided cluster munitions for those systems, around 47,000 203mm cluster artillery shells and 70 ATACMS short-range missiles. Zakharova said Moscow was particularly concerned about what she described as unanswered questions surrounding the reported re-export arrangement. She questioned who initiated the proposal, how the weapons would be transported and when the reported shipment could reach Ukraine. The Russian spokeswoman also criticised Washington and Ankara for their alleged involvement, arguing that both countries have previously presented themselves as potential contributors to diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict. According to Zakharova, supplying additional weapons to Ukraine would not fundamentally alter the military situation but could increase the scale of destruction and casualties. She warned that further arms deliveries could also have broader consequences for Russia’s relations with both the United States and Türkiye. Moscow also questioned Türkiye’s position because Turkish authorities have previously made assurances about limiting the supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine. Zakharova said that adopting peace-oriented rhetoric while simultaneously facilitating military support for Kyiv could damage mutual trust between the countries involved. The Russian Foreign Ministry has reportedly sought explanations from both Washington and Ankara following the information contained in the US congressional documents. Zakharova urged the parties involved to reconsider the situation before any reported transfer moves forward. She said there was still an opportunity for the countries concerned to assess the potential consequences of the proposed arms shipment. The allegations come as international efforts to address the Ukraine conflict continue alongside ongoing military operations

US President Donald Trump has publicly rejected the findings of his own Justice Department after federal prosecutors concluded that construction problems, rather than vandalism, were responsible for damage to the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said he strongly disagreed with US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro and insisted that vandals were responsible for the damage. He argued that although there may have been issues with the construction work, the main cause of the deterioration was deliberate vandalism. The disagreement follows a court filing submitted on Friday by Jeanine Pirro and Assistant US Attorney Michael Spence, who asked a judge to dismiss the government’s case against David Hearn, a 67 year old former Olympian. Hearn had been accused of damaging the Reflecting Pool, an allegation that became part of a wider debate over the Trump administration’s renovation project in the nation’s capital. According to the filing, newly received documents from the Department of the Interior showed that the problems were linked to a rushed and defective installation process. Prosecutors said the pool’s lining experienced repeated failures during construction and that extensive peeling occurred across the surface because of installation defects rather than intentional damage. The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool underwent a renovation costing around 14.7 million dollars. Soon after the project was completed, the site experienced several problems, including algae growth that turned the water green and sections of the blue lining peeling away. The issues attracted public criticism and raised questions about the quality of the renovation work. Throughout the controversy, Trump repeatedly claimed that vandals had deliberately damaged the pool. Following the Justice Department’s decision to withdraw the case, he continued to defend that position. In another social media post, the president shared previously released video footage from the US Park Police that he said supported his claim. He argued that the footage showed people damaging the Reflecting Pool while maintenance workers were cleaning algae from the water. However, the video does not clearly show acts of vandalism. It remains unclear whether the individuals seen in the footage were intentionally damaging the lining or simply handling material that had already begun peeling because of the reported construction flaws. The Justice Department has not publicly responded to Trump’s criticism. Jeanine Pirro’s office also did not immediately comment on the president’s remarks. The dispute highlights a rare public disagreement between President Trump and his own administration’s legal team. While federal prosecutors have concluded that faulty construction caused the damage, the president continues to argue that criminal vandalism was primarily responsible, keeping the controversy surrounding the renovation project in the public spotlight.

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.