The editorial Page: For iran’s third republic, america is the defining question 10 WEDNESDAY, JUlY 15, 2026 Journalism of Courage kolkata, late cIty, 18 pages ₹6.00 (₹12 in north east states, ₹20 in andaman) l www.indianexpress.com da I ly f R o m : a h m e da b a d , c h a n d I ga R h , d e l h I , j a I p u R , ko l k ata , l u c k n o w , m u m b a I , n ag p u R , pat n a , p u n e , va d o da R a After nearly 2 decades, author Taslima Nasrin set for Kolkata return Ravik Bhattacharya Kolkata, July 14 alMoSt tWo decades after she was forced to leave Kolkata following protests against her writing, Bangladesh-born author taslima nasrin is set to appear in a public event in the city on august 1. the programme at the city’s rabindra Sadan cultural centre is being organised by three organisations:SecularMission,Paschimbonger Jonno (For West Bengal), and human rights author Taslima nasrin Beyond Frontiers. the organisers said Chief Minister SuvenduadhikariandauthorShirshendu Mukhopadhyay were »COnTInUEd On PaGE 2 Bhojshala dispute: SC orders Friday prayers at alternative site Bench declines to pass order restoring status quo, will examine dispute in detail TRUMP U-TURn: nO HORMUz TRansIT fEE, wanT TRadE, InVEsTMEnT dEals InsTEad Another Indian killed as Iran hits UAE tankers in Hormuz Dashboard to monitor seafarers, liaison officers for families, says Govt MEA summons Iran’s deputy chief of mission, lodges protest shubhajit Roy Vikas Pathak New Delhi, July 14 aStheUSandiransteppedup attacks and battled for control over the Strait of hormuz, two Uae-flaggedoiltankerswithindian seafarers came under fire from tehran on tuesday, leavingonedeadand10injured.the Ministry of external affairs (Mea) summoned the iranian deputy Chief of Mission and lodged a strong protest. business as usual By EP UNNY a vessel at the strait of hormuz, as seen from oman, Tuesday. ReuteRs relaTed rePorTs, P 12 (Reuters adds: US President donald trump stepped back from a proposal to charge a 20% transit fee to guard the strait, saying he would instead seek investment deals with Gulf states. US forces carried »COnTInUEd On PaGE 2 New Delhi, July 14 With another indian seafarerbeingkilledintheUS-iran conflict,theCentreontuesday ordered a series of measures, including an operational dashboard to track every indian on everyvessel—regardlessofthe country it belongs to — and a dedicated liaison officer for every seafarer who is killed or injured, to act as the “single New Delhi, July 14 New Delhi, July 14 theSUPreMeCourtdeclined to pass any order restoring statusquoatthedisputedBhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh and directed that Muslim worshippers be provided an alternative space adjacent to the premisesforFridayprayersuntil itexaminesthedisputeindetail. on May 15, the Madhya Pradesh high Court had held that The Bhojshala-kamal maula mosque complex in mP the complex has a religious characterasatemple,following »COnTInUEd On PaGE 2 Satluj Director: Do not abDuct Khalra again… let uS tell hiS Story Page 8 »COnTInUEd On PaGE 2 Tough measures on table as Railways seeks to curb linen theft in AC coaches dheeraj Mishra Express news service point of contact” for the affected family. the decisions were taken at an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, soon afterthefreshattacksontwooil tankers with indian crew on tuesday. according to sources in the ministry, nine indian seafarers have died, one is presumed adayafterTheIndianExpress reported that about 1.27 crore linenitemswerestolenfromaC coaches of the indian railways over four years, railway Minister ashwini Vaishnaw directed officials to come up with a reform to curb such theft. turning to top railway officialsatapressconferencetuesday on railways’ “52 reforms in 52 weeks” initiative, Vaishnaw referred to The Indian Express The Indian Express report on linen theft published monday reportandsoughtatimelinefor the issue to be resolved. the officials responded by seeking two months to formalise a way to fix the issue. onMonday,TheIndianExpress reported that between January 2022, when bedroll services had fully resumed after thepandemic,andMay2026,at least 1.27 crore bedroll pieces were stolen from the aC coaches. a linen bedroll consists of two bedsheets, a blanket,apillow,apillowcover,and a face towel. the report was based on right to information (rti) »COnTInUEd On PaGE 2 IOB MEGA E AUCTION Good people to grow with Don’t miss your chance Own Your Dream Property Date 23.07.2026 SCAN HERE TO KNOW MORE Indian Overseas Bank Invites you to participate in the Mega E-Auction of SARFAESI Secured Properties. www.iob.bank.in @IOBIndia 1800 890 4445 | 1800 425 4445 +91 96777 11234 Kolkata Amid new US tariff plan, Govt prohibits import of goods made using forced labour Ravi dutta Mishra New Delhi, July 14 theCoMMerCeandindustry Ministryontuesdayprohibited the import of goods manufacturedusingforcedlabour,weeks after the United States trade representative (UStr) proposed 12.5 per cent tariffs on india linked to the issue. the US had launched two Section 301 probes on india in March and subsequently proposed fresh tariffs on June 3 after the outcome of its first investigation found that india failed to “effectively enforce” a forced labour import prohibition, which had purportedly hurt US commerce. the outcome of the second investigation relating to excess capacity is yet to be released. the directorate General of Foreign trade (dGFt), in an orderdatedJuly13,hasinserted a new paragraph in the Foreign trade Policy (FtP) regarding “forcedlabour”,statingthatthe Happening today lIndIa-UK fTa takes effect. It entails wide sectoral coverage and deep reduction in both tariff and non-tariff barriers. Track This and more on www.indianexpress.com E. explained global benchmark Experts say the notification on forced labour indicates India is tightening its domestic legal framework to match global benchmarks. The move could strengthen its position in trade negotiations and discussions on market access. import of goods produced or manufactured, “wholly or in part”, through the use of forced labour is “prohibited”. “the Central Government may,fromtimetotime,specify, by notification, the goods whose import shall be prohibited under this paragraph, having regard to the findings of such enquiry or such other material as it may consider appropriate. the procedure for »COnTInUEd On PaGE 2 THE BIg PIcTUrE ‘Counsel, you are on mute’ The world of virTual courTs Page 9