India seeks freedom of navigation, Beijing’s unimpeded trade in South China Sea ‘nine-dash line’ India on Tuesday reiterated its support for the 2016 international arbitral tribunal ruling that rejected China’s territorial claims over the South China Sea 14 others 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 dharmapuri l Wednesday l July 15, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l city EDITION claims rejected At the centre of the dispute is the ‘ninedash line’ — a vague depiction by China of its claims over 90% of the South China Sea 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 Turkey Three prison staff Seafarer killed in Iranian SC declines namaz plea in held in Nagercoil strike, India lodges protest disputed Bhojshala site custodial death hearing in 3 weeks J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi Nineteen years after she had to flee Kolkata amid violent protests over her controversial writings, exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin is gearing up to return to the city next month. Announcing the decision through social media, Nasrin said on Tuesday that she would be in Kolkata on August 1 to participate in an anti-fundamentalism literary event. The development makes an strong political statement for the BJP government in the state, given that she was quietly moved out by the erstwhile Left Front government in 2007 due to pressure from Islamic groups and was not allowed to come back by the subsequent Trinamool Cong ress gover nments. Sources said Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will attend the programme. The writer has been invited by Paschimbangar Jonno, Secular Mission, and the Human Rights and Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Foundation. The invitation is in recognition of her stand against fundamentalism and advocacy of freedom of expression. e x p r e ss r e a d SC slaps L3 lakh fine on Raina, Allahbadia for flouting orders New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday slapped a fine of `3 lakh each on comedian Samay Raina and YouTubers Ranveer Allahbadia and Ashish Chanchlani for not complying with earlier order in connection with a case on insensitive remarks about persons with disabilities. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant passed the order after learning that Raina had not invited any disabled persons to his show as directed by the apex court S ea S U BHEND U M A I T I @ Kolkata ed eR Taslima set to return to Kolkata after two decades 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 Today’s match U.S. strikes along Iran coast Kuwait 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 Th loud noises and caused a @ Kanniyakumari disturbance. A senior police officer said A day after the death of S the suspects were arrested afSabari Varman — a prisoner in ter holding an investigation judicial custody in Nagercoil — with eyewitnesses and after pedue to alleged custodial torture, rusing the CCTV recordings of three prison staff were the Nagercoil prison. arrested late on TuesDoctors from Kanniday and placed under yakumari, Tirunelveli suspension. The chargand Thoothukudi Goves under which they ernment Medical Colwere booked are not lege Hospitals conclear yet. ducted the postmortem The arrests came from noon to 2 pm on hours after a postmorTuesday after the vicS Sabari Varman tem report revealed 19 tim’s family on Moninjuries on the 35-yearday demanded that the old disabled victim’s body, in- autopsy be conducted by an including on his elbows, fore- dependent panel. arms, knees, and leg. Sources Sources identified the arrestsaid the arrested jail staff al- ed as chief jail warden Thirulegedly assaulted the man and malai Nambi Suresh and jail tied him up inside the prison wardens Jagen and Sivakumar on Sunday night after he made of the Nagercoil district jail. P7 E x pr e ss N e ws S e r v i c e 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 Iraq battle for supremacy In the second semifinals, England stand between Argentina and another WC final. A look... 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 Saudi Arabia Indian govt official 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 killed while another was injured. On MT Mombasa, nine Indian crew members sustained Yemen injuries, including two who are reported to be seriously hurt. 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 | P13 England vs Argentina 12.30 AM* | IST Thursday Abu Musa Gulf of Aden UAE Bandar Abbas Jask Konarak Chabahar Oman “The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi was summoned this morning by the Ministry of External Affairs and a strong protest against these attacks was lodged with him,” the statement said. India also called for an immediate end to attacks on commercial shipping. S U CH I T R A K A LYAN M OHANTY @ 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 reArabian fused to restore the status quo Sea 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 commu- Pakistan Israel Afghanistan Syria nity to offer prayers on Fridays between 1 pm and 3 pm. The bench described the arrangement as purely ad-hoc. It also restrained the ASI from carrying out any structural changes to the complex without the court’s permission. Noting the sensitivity, 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 issues. The court indicated the hearing could be gin in three weeks. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, for the Muslim side, said the arrangement since 2003 — worship by both communities on designated days — should continue till final adjudication. He said the high court had ousted Muslims from a site where prayers were offered for nearly 800 years.