Skip to main content

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...

Make Iran Great Again, says Trump as Tehran vows response to US strikes

Iran said on Monday that the United States' attack on its nuclear sites expanded the range of legitimate targets for its armed forces after US President Donald Trump hinted at a regime change in Tehran. Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, said the US should expect heavy consequences for its actions. "Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it," said Zolfaqari at the end of a recorded video statement. #BREAKING Spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya base: Powerful operations with heavy consequences await the US. pic.twitter.com/th83NlSOf8 — Tehran Times (@TehranTimes79) June 23, 2025 Iran and Israel traded air and missile strikes as the world braced for Tehran's response to the US attack on its nuclear sites over the weekend, which Trump suggested could lead to the overthrow of the Iranian government. Commercial satellite imagery indicated Saturday's attack on Iran’s Fordow nuclear plant far underground had severely damaged or destroyed the site and the uranium-enriching centrifuges it housed, but its status remained unconfirmed, experts said. In his latest social media comments on the US strikes, Trump said: "Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran." https://ift.tt/zmfc1rn "The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!" he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Earlier, he wrote, “It’s not politically correct to use the term ‘regime change,’ but if the current Iranian regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a regime change??? MIGA!!!”   https://ift.tt/kE5UmSl   His comments contradicted assurances from members of his administration with US Vice President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth both publicly stating that Washington is not pursuing the overthrow of the Iranian government. 'Operation Midnight' Entering the war early Sunday, the US bombed three Iranian nuclear sites — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — using the US Air Force's B-2 Spirit stealth bombers. The US launched 75 precision-guided munitions including bunker-buster bombs and more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles against three Iranian nuclear sites, the chairperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, told reporters. Iran condemned the attack and responded with a barrage of missiles aimed at Israeli targets, injuring civilians and causing significant destruction in Tel Aviv. Read: Iran vows self-defence with 'all force' after US strikes three nuclear installations Tehran, which insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful, claimed that most of its enriched uranium had been relocated before the strikes. The claim, made by an unnamed Iranian official, could not be independently verified. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported no rise in off-site radiation levels following the airstrikes. Director General Rafael Grossi told CNN that a full assessment of the damage, particularly underground, was still underway. Trump’s remarks came amid growing international calls for restraint and a return to diplomacy. His suggestion of regime change signalled a potentially more confrontational stance in US policy toward Iran. Iran’s vow to defend itself has heightened concerns of a wider regional conflict. Analysts warn that continued military exchanges could escalate into a broader confrontation involving global powers. Israeli attacks on airports The Israeli military has confirmed it launched airstrikes targeting at least six airports across western, eastern, and central Iran, according to a report by Al Jazeera. In a statement shared on its official Hebrew X (formerly Twitter) account, Israel said it used remotely-operated aircraft to destroy 15 Iranian planes and helicopters. The strikes reportedly damaged runways, underground shelters, a refuelling aircraft, and several military aircraft, including F-14s, F-5s, and AH-1 helicopters. IDF: The IDF Struck Six Airports in Iran: Remotely Piloted Aircraft Destroyed 15 Iranian Regime Fighter Jets and Attack Helicopters As part of the effort to expand air superiority over Iranian skies.#Iran #IranIsraelConflict #IranVsIsrael pic.twitter.com/1zP0mO3at1 — WBC Defenders (@WBCdefenders) June 23, 2025 Israel claimed the attacks disrupted Iran’s ability to launch aircraft from these airbases and weakened the operational capabilities of its air force. Missile sirens across Israel The Israeli military has detected new missile launches from Iran, prompting the activation of air raid sirens across central and southern Israel, Israeli media reported. According to The Times of Israel, sirens in Jerusalem caused lawmakers at the Knesset to quickly seek shelter. Read More: What to know about bunker bombs, US strike on Iran’s Fordow These alerts followed shortly after similar warnings were sounded in northern Israel due to another wave of Iranian missile attacks. Yemen officially joins war Yemen has announced its entry into the ongoing conflict following US airstrikes on Iran. Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, declared the move in a statement on his personal social media account: "Yemen is officially entering the war (against the United States and Israel). Keep your ships away from our territorial waters". Protest in Iran Residents of Qom assembled at the holy shrine of Hazrat Masumeh (SA) to condemn Israeli and American attacks on their country. Source: AFP Anti-war protests erupt across US After the US strikes on Iran, protests against Washington entering the war broke out in several cities across the country. A protestor holds a sign at Lafayette Square outside The White House in Washington, DC, on June 21, 2025. (AFP Photo) Pope Leo calls for peace Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV issued an urgent plea for peace in the Middle East, warning that recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and Iran’s missile retaliation against Israeli cities risk triggering uncontrollable escalation. Addressing the faithful from the Apostolic Palace following the Angelus prayer, the pontiff described the situation as “alarming” and “dramatic.” He expressed concern that the suffering of civilians, especially in Gaza and other conflict zones, might be overlooked amid ongoing violence. Also Read: World reacts to US bombing of Iran “We must halt the tragedy of war before it descends into an irreparable abyss,” he said, according to a Vatican statement. The Pope emphasised that humanity is crying out for peace and that this call must be met with “responsibility and reason,” rather than drowned out by “the noise of weapons and rhetoric that fuel conflict.” ICAN condemns US attack The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) also denounced the US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities as illegal. In a statement on Sunday, ICAN called on the United States to stop its "illegal" military actions against Iran and to return to diplomatic negotiations. Quoting ICAN Executive Director Melissa Parke, the statement said the US’s involvement alongside Israel in attacking Iran violates international law. Parke argued that military action is not the solution to concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme. She pointed out that US intelligence agencies have assessed Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons, making the strikes senseless and dangerous, potentially undermining global non-proliferation efforts.  

from Latest World News, International News | Breaking World News https://ift.tt/pCeSMNk

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

At least 32 miners dead after bridge fails at cobalt site in southeast DR Congo

A bridge collapsed at a cobalt mine in southeast Democratic Republic of Congo killing at least 32 wildcat miners, a regional government official said Sunday. The bridge came down Saturday onto a flooded zone at the mine in Lualaba province, Roy Kaumba Mayonde, the provincial interior minister, told reporters. He said 32 bodies had been recovered and more were being searched for. The DRC produces more than 70 percent of the world supply of cobalt, which is essential for batteries used in electric cars, many laptop computers and mobile phones. More than 200,000 people are estimated to be working in giant illegal cobalt mines in the giant central African country. Local authorities said the bridge collapsed at the Kalando mine, about 42 kilometres (26 miles) southeast of the Lualaba provincial capital, Kolwezi. "Despite a formal ban on access to the site because of the heavy rain and the risk of a landslide, wildcat miners forced their way into the quarry," said Mayonde. He said ...

Indian devotees splurge on jets, gold idols as Hindu temple opens

The private jet parking lots at airports near the Indian city of Ayodhya are full and the shops have run out of gold-plated idols, as wealthy devotees prepare for the invite-only opening ceremony of one of Hinduism's holiest temples. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani are among the 8,000 or so attendees at Monday's inauguration event for the Ram Temple, which devotees believe is built on the birthplace of Lord Ram, a sacred Hindu deity. The construction of the temple, which began after the Supreme Court awarded the site to Hindus in 2019 more than two decades after a Hindu mob razed a mosque there, triggering deadly riots, fulfils a key campaign promise of Modi and his Hindu nationalist party. Read BJP-promised temple transforms Ayodhya: Muslims, locals feel neglected The opening ceremony, organised by the trust that built the temple, comes months before a national election which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is widely expected to w...

Arab countries, Pakistan likely to observe Eid on same day

The International Astronomy Centre confirmed on Wednesday that the crescent moon of Shawwal will be impossible to sight on Saturday, March 29, across all regions of the Arab and Islamic world. This is due to the moon setting before the sun, with the conjunction occurring after sunset. As a result, observing the crescent moon, whether by the naked eye, telescopes, or other means, will be unfeasible on March 29. For countries requiring an actual sighting to mark the start of Shawwal, Ramadan will likely extend to 30 days, with Eid Al Fitr falling on Monday, March 31. However, in some regions where the conjunction occurs before sunset, allowing the moon to set after sunset, some countries may choose to declare Eid on Sunday, March 30, following traditional moon-sighting practices. Notably, a partial solar eclipse will be visible at noon on Saturday in parts of the western Arab world, including Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. This event serves as definitive proof that the cresce...