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India says border peace critical to ties with China amid reports of military tensions

India's foreign ministry said peace along its disputed border with China is critical to ties between the Asian neighbours, amid reports of renewed military tensions between the two countries' troops in a remote corner of the Himalayas. New Delhi's comment is its second in less than a week and comes as the Asian giants, who share a long and disputed frontier, mend ties following deadly clashes in 2020. It also comes ahead of a BRICS summit in New Delhi from September 12 to 13 that Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend. "In matters relating to the border areas between India and China, we have always emphasised in discussions with the Chinese side that we consider these issues as most serious," Indian foreign ministry ⁠spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday at a regular media briefing. "We have also stated that the state of...

Iraq arrests commentator who claimed radar system supported Israel

A political commentator was arrested by Iraqi authorities on Wednesday over a post alleging that a military radar system struck by a drone had been used to help Israel in its war against Iran. After a court issued a warrant, the defence ministry said that Iraqi forces arrested Abbas al-Ardawi for sharing content online that included "incitement intended to insult and defame the security institution". In a post on X, which was later deleted but has circulated on social media as a screenshot, Ardawi told his more than 90,000 followers that "a French radar in the Taji base served the Israeli aggression" and was eliminated. Early Tuesday, hours before a ceasefire ended the 12-day Iran-Israel war, unidentified drones struck radar systems at two military bases in Taji, north of Baghdad and in southern Iraq, officials have said. The Taji base hosted US troops several years ago and was a frequent target of rocket attacks. Read: Iran's parliament passes bill to halt cooperation with IAEA There has been no claim of responsibility for the latest drone attacks, which also struck radar systems at the Imam Ali airbase in Dhi Qar province. A source close to Iran-backed groups in Iraq told AFP that the armed factions have nothing to do with the attacks. Ardawi is seen as a supporter of Iran-aligned armed groups who had launched attack US forces in the region in the past, and of the pro-Tehran Coordination Framework, a powerful political coalition that holds a parliamentary majority. The Iraqi defence ministry said that Ardawi's arrest was made on the instructions of the prime minister, who also serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, "not to show leniency towards anyone who endangers the security and stability of the country". It added that while "the freedom of expression is a guaranteed right... it is restricted based on national security and the country's top interests." Iran-backed groups have criticised US deployment in Iraq as part of an anti-jihadist coalition, saying the American forces allowed Israel to use Iraq's airspace. The US-led coalition also includes French troops, who have been training Iraqi forces. There is no known French deployment at the Taji base. The Iran-Israel war had forced Baghdad to close its airspace, before reopening on Tuesday shortly after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire.  

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