HYDERABAD l Wednesday l July 15, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late cITY 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 hearing in 3 wks Turkmenistan Caspian Sea Seafarer killed in Iran strike on UAE tankers, India lodges strong protest Turkey @ New Delhi Th ed eR S ea 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. 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 Today’s match IRAN About 148 seafarers are onboard 7 Indian-flagged vessels in the Persian Gulf. Given the current situation, they are not planning to come qatar out of the region as of now Areas attacked by US Saudi Arabia 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 battle for supremacy In the second semifinals, England stand between Argentina and another WC final. A look... Veteran Kapu leader Mudragada passes away Kakinada: Veteran politician and Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham, who was known as Padmanabha Reddy in his later years, passed away at a private hospital in Hyderabad on Tuesday after battling pulmonary and kidney-related ailments. A fourtime MLA, one-time MP and former minister, his political career spanned five decades | P5 inside Congress urges EC to extend SIR deadline in telangana I P4 DGP to probe cop’s illegal occupation of house: HC I P4 Bandar Abbas Abu Musa Indian govt official UAE England vs Argentina 12.30 AM* *IST Thursday ACB unearths a gold mine during raids on HMDA chief engineer Kondakal, Kistapur and Pasamala; four residential flats valued at `2.07 crore in Narsingi Anti-Cor r uption Bureau and Nanakramguda; four acres (ACB) sleuths on Tuesday raid- of agricultural land worth `6 ed 11 locations linked to Hy- lakh at Gudur village in Kothur derabad Metropolitan Develop- mandal and Shamshabad; a ment Authority chief engineer semi-finished villa valued at B Ravinder in a disproportion- `1.33 crore at Srivari Meadows ate assets (DA) case. in Mokila village, The ACB searched Shankarpally mandal; his residence in Nanaand a G+4 residential kramguda and 10 other building wor th `3 locations linked to his crore at Masjid Banda relatives, associates and in Kondapur. benamidars after regisThe ACB also seized tering a case under Sec`3.82 lakh in cash, bank tions 13(1)(b) read with deposits of about `45.05 B Ravinder 13(2) of the Prevention lakh, 1.44 kg of gold orof Corruption Act, 1988, naments worth around as amended in 2018. `2 crore, 12.5 kg of silver ornaDuring the searches, the ACB ments valued at about `29 lakh, unearthed assets with an offi- household articles worth `17.24 cial value of about `9.24 crore, lakh, electronic gadgets valued while estimating the market at `9.32 lakh, and four luxury value of the immovable proper- vehicles worth `1.16 crore. ties at `50 crore to `100 crore. Verification was under way The assets include five open to ascertain whether Ravinder plots worth `38.89 lakh at owns additional assets. Rich yield n  open plots Five at Kondakal, Kistapur and Pasamala worth `38,89,700 n  Four residential flats at Narsingi and Nanakramguda worth over 2 cr n  acres of Four agricultural land at Gudur village, in Kothur mandal and Shamshabad worth `6,00,000 n semi-finished A residential villa (300 sq. yards) at Srivari Meadows in Mokila worth `1,33,58,800 n G+4 A residential building Kondapur, worth `3,00,00,000 * Official values Poetic justice Taslima to return to Kolkata after 19 yrs S U B H E N D U M A I T I @ Kolkata 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 a 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 press u re f ro m I s l a m i c groups and was not allowed to come back by subsequent governments led by the Tri- Taslima Nasrin namool Congress. Sources said C h i e f M i n i s t e r S u ve n d u Adhikari will attend the event and share stage with Nasrin. The writer has been invited by Paschimbangar Jonno, Secular Mission, and the Human Rights and Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Foundation. The organisers said the invitation is in recognition of her long-standing stand against fundamentalism and advocacy of freedom of expression. Konarak Chabahar 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- 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 E x p r ess N ews S e r v i c e Jask Oman Eyes on Messi @ Hyderabad express read Third consecutive day of attacks on Iranian targets. Tehran responded with strikes on Bahrain, Jordan and 3 tankers travelling through the strait Bushehr 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 U.S. strikes along Iran coast Iraq There is no politics behind this event. But her security is a major issue. The state govt has offered security arrangements Mohit Roy, Paschimbangar Jonno 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 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 J ayanth J a c o b @ New Delhi S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y Afghanistan SC declines Syria namaz plea in disputed 10 other mariners hurt, 2 of them serious; MEA summons Tehran’s Deputy Chief of Mission Bhojshala site 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. CM asks Gadkari to get Cabinet nod for RRR E x p r ess N ews S e r v i c e @ Hyderabad Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday urged Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to secure Union Cabinet approval for the pending northern section of the Regional Ring Road (RRR) and begin work at the earliest. During a meeting at Gadkari’s residence in New Delhi, Revanth informed the Union minister that 95% of the land acquisition for the northern section had already been completed. He said simultaneous execution of the northern and southern sections would reduce costs and enable faster completion of the project. Revanth also sought approval for the proposed greenfield highway connecting Hyderabad with Andhra Pradesh’s capital region, saying the project was envisaged under the AP Reorganisation Act. He highlighted the proposed 12-lane highway linking Bharat Future City with Bandar Port via Amaravati, saying it would reduce the Hyderabad-Vijayawada travel distance by about 100 km and shorten freight transportation time between Hyderabad and Bandar Port. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy meets Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Tuesday Revanth also raised the issue of pending forest clearances for the proposed Mannanur-Srisailam elevated c o r r i d o r, wh i c h p a s s e s through the Nallamala Sanctuary and provides connectivity to the Srisailam temple and reservoir. He urged Gadkari to expedite approvals for the project. Revanth also requested sanction for a six-lane alternative highway between Mancherial and Hyderabad to ease traffic on the existing Rajiv Highway He assured Gadkari . that the state government would undertake the required land acquisition and said the new highway would create opportunities for agriculture and business.