India Steps Up Seafarer Safety Amid Strait of Hormuz Crisis; Spain Stuns France in World Cup Semifinal
In response to escalating maritime violence in the Strait of Hormuz, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday ordered a comprehensive 'Seafarer-First' response, including real-time monitoring of Indian sailors operating in the conflict-hit region. The directive comes after attacks on two merchant vessels in the strait claimed more lives, worsening the security situation in West Asia.
Meanwhile, Spain secured a place in the World Cup final for the first time since 2010, defeating France 2-0 in a semifinal held in Texas. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro showcased Spain's dominant performance, nullifying the French attack and setting up a final against the winner of the other semifinal.
On the diplomatic front, the Ministry of External Affairs clarified that an Indian passport is a document meant to 'regulate the departure from India of citizens of India,' following confusion over its status. The statement came weeks after a government official referred to the passport as a 'travel document' and not a 'citizenship document.'
In trade news, the India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and Double Contribution Convention (DCC) are set to come into force on July 15. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal described the agreements as a 'gold standard' and among the 'most ambitious and aspirational free trade agreements' signed by India.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the Central Board of Secondary Education's classification of English as a 'non-native language' under the three-language scheme, noting that English has been spoken in India for over 300 years and is used for official communication in at least five states. The court asked why it should not be considered an indigenous Indian language.
In a separate hearing, the Supreme Court reprimanded comedian Samay Raina for failing to comply with earlier directions to host persons with disabilities on his digital platforms and raise awareness for rare disorders. The court imposed costs of ₹3 lakh each on Raina and four other social media influencers for violating its orders.
On the geopolitical front, U.S. President Donald Trump backtracked on plans to levy a 20% charge on ships using the Strait of Hormuz, announcing that Gulf countries would instead invest in the United States. Meanwhile, intensified U.S. strikes on Iran and Iranian attacks on shipping have left an interim peace deal in tatters.
In sports, India defeated England by six wickets in the first ODI at Edgbaston, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Shubman Gill and Axar Patel played key roles in the victory, with Gill earlier promising a marked improvement in the team's performance after a disappointing T20I series.
India also blamed Pakistan for protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, calling for accountability as demonstrations intensified across multiple districts. Iran meanwhile slammed a British plan to ban support for the Revolutionary Guards, escalating diplomatic tensions.
