BHUBANESWAR l wednesday l july 15, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l JEYPORE EDITION India seeks freedom of navigation, unimpeded trade in South China Sea 14 other nations back tribunal ruling New Delhi’s remarks came two days after the US, UK and a dozen other countries reminded China about the tribunal’s landmark verdict that its expansive claims on the resource-rich region are illegal. The ruling came on a case filed by the Philippines in 2013 in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague challenging China’s claims and activities in South China Sea India on Tuesday reiterated its support for the 2016 international arbitral tribunal ruling that rejected China’s territorial claims over the South China Sea Beijing’s ‘nine-dash line’ claims rejected ■ ■ ■ At the centre of the dispute is the ‘nine-dash line’ — a vague depiction by China of its claims over 90% of the South China Sea Several countries in the region including Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei, have counterclaims over the disputed resource-rich region India has been pitching for a rules-based maritime order | P7 July 12, 2016 When The Permanent Court of Arbitration released the ruling CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Turkmenistan Caspian Sea Seafarer killed in Iran strike on UAE tankers, India lodges strong protest Turkey Afghanistan Syria 10 other mariners hurt, 2 of them serious; MEA summons Tehran’s Deputy Chief of Mission J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi Iraq Kuwait U.S. strikes along Iran coast Third consecutive day of attacks on Iranian targets. Tehran responded with strikes on Bahrain, Jordan and 3 tankers travelling through the strait Bushehr Areas attacked by US IRAN Bandar Abbas Th India on Tuesday summoned Iran’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Mohammad Javad Hosseini, and lodged a strong protest after Iranian strikes on two UAE-linked commercial tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz killed an Indian seafarer and injured several others, including Indian nationals. The diplomatic protest came amid a sharp escalation in West Asia after Iran targeted commercial shipping in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest energy corridors through which nearly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass. The External Affairs Ministry condemned the attacks and confirmed casualties among Indian crew. “India is deeply concerned by the attacks on two vessels, MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa, during their transit through the Strait of Hormuz today Both the vessels were car. rying 30 Indian seafarers among their combined crew of 46,” the MEA said. One Indian national onboard MT Al Bahiyah was ed eR S ea hearing in 3 wks SC declines namaz plea in disputed Bhojshala site SUCHITRA KALYA N MOHA N TY @ New Delhi The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to expeditiously examine the Muslim parties’ challenge to the Madhya Pradesh High Court verdict declaring the Bhojshala complex in Dhar as a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, but declined to allow namaz inside the disputed site on Fridays. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notices to the Centre, the Madhya Pradesh government and the Archaeological Survey of India. The court refused to restore the status quo ante under which Muslims were allowed Friday prayers at the site. However, it suggested that an open area adjacent to the premises could be earmarked for the Muslim community to offer prayers on Fridays between 1 pm and 3 pm. The bench described the arrangement as purely ad-hoc, subject to the final outcome of the case and without prejudice to the rights of either party It . also restrained the ASI from carrying out any structural changes to the complex without the court’s permission. Noting the sensitivity of the matter, the Bench said, “We have to be very careful about every expression used.” It added that it did not wish to pass any order that could create tension or law and order problems. The court said it was willing to hear the matter expeditiously and indicated the hearing could begin in three weeks. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, for the Muslim petitioners, said the arrangement since 2003 — worship by both communities on designated days — should continue till final adjudication. He said the high court order had ousted Muslims from a site where prayers were offered for nearly 800 years. About 148 seafarers are onboard 7 Indian-flagged qatar vessels in the Persian Gulf. Given the current situation, they are not planning to come out of the region as of now Abu Musa Saudi Arabia Indian govt official killed while another was injured. On MT Mombasa, nine Indian crew members sustained injuries, including two who are reported to be seriously hurt. “The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi was summoned this Yemen morning by the Ministry of External Affairs and a strong protest against these attacks was lodged with him,” the statement said. India alsoof Aden for Gulf called an immediate end to attacks on commercial shipping and urged UAE Today’s match Konarak Chabahar Oman all sides to return to dialogue. “We strongly condemn these attacks... We reiterate our deep concern over the resumption of attacks and escalation of hostilities in the West Asian region and call for immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue and diplomacy .” The UAE Ministry of Defence said the strikes triggered fires and caused material damage to both vessels, though the blazes were later brought under control. Describing the in- Kane-Bellingham influence Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are two of the most in-form players currently and England are still alive thanks to them. The pair, between them, has registered 12 goals and two assists. Like Messi, they have come up with big moments when needed Jask battle for supremacy In the second semifinals, England stand between Argentina and another WC final. A look... Trump U-turn on 20% Hormuz toll US President Donald Trump on Tuesday did a U-turn on plans to charge a 20% toll on cargo going through the Hormuz, saying the West Asia will instead make trade deals with the US. “Based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership, I have decided to replace the 20% US Reimbursement Fee with Trade and Investment Deals,” he said | P9 Pakistan Israel cident as a “serious violation of international law,” the ministry said that the attacks posed a Arabian threat to regional secugrave Sea rity and stability . The attacks came hours after the US carried out strikes on Iran following President Donald Trump’s announcement that Washington was “reinstating” a blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hor muz. Iran launched retaliatory attacks targeting Bahrain, Jordan and the two UAE-linked tankers. Eyes on Messi It’s impossible to look beyond Argentina games without mentioning the 39-year-old. If they lose, it could easily be his last ever meaningful game for Albiceleste. His eight goals in the tournament have helped in taking defending champions this far | P11 England vs Argentina 12.30 AM* | IST Thursday Cabinet approves new farm marketing law to replace OAPM Act E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar The state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday approved proposal to repeal the Odisha Agricultural Produce Markets (OAPM) Act, 1956 and replace it with a new agricultural marketing law for creating a competitive, transparent and farmer-centric marketing system. This reform is aimed at liberalising agricultural trade and boosting farmers’ incomes, said chief secretary Anu Garg in her post-cabinet briefing. She said the OAPM Act, in force since 1957, was originally enacted to protect the farmers from exploitation and ensure fair price discovery “However, . the framework had become restrictive and monopolistic over time, discouraging competition and private investment while creating inefficiency, inadequate market infrastructure and a wide gap between the price received by the farmers and those paid by consumers. The new legislation aims to align state’s agricultural mar- The reforms aim to enhance marketing freedom for farmers, improve price realisation, reduce costs and dependence on intermediaries and attract greater private investment Anu Garg, chief secretary keting system with contemporary market requirements and the Centre’s Model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Act, 2017,” she said. Among the key reforms proposed in the new law is removal of geographical restrictions on the sale and purchase of agricultural produce and livestock for creating a unified statewide market. It will promote direct marketing, electronic trading and e-auctions to expand market access and improve price discovery she informed. , The legislation will provide for a single-point levy of market fees and a single trading licence valid across the state while facilitating inter-state trade and encouraging participation by private market yards, processors, exporters and bulk Continued on P5 buyers.  Drunk student rams biker to death, arrested E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar A 20-year-old law student driving under the influence of alcohol rammed his Mercedes-Benz into a motorcyclist, killing him on the spot, at Sashtri Nagar area of the city on Monday night. The accused Soumya Ranjan Rath has been arrested by police. The deceased was identified as Debi Prasad Routray of Nischintakoili in Jagatsinghpur district. Rath, a student of a private law university in the city, has been booked under section 281, 105 and 106(1)of BNS and 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, police said. As per reports, the incident occurred near Shastri Nagar in Unit III at around 10.30 pm on Monday when the West Bengal-registered MercedesBenz driven by Rath rammed into Routray’s motorcycle. Locals, who rushed to the spot immediately after the incident, alleged that Rath was driving the car at high-speed. Such was the force with which he hit Routray’s motorcycle that the two-wheeler was completely mangled. Routray was rushed to the Capital hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arContinued on P5 rival.