The Hindu Morning Digest: Key Highlights from July 2, 2025

Trump says Israel has agreed to finalise 60-day Gaza ceasefire, urges Hamas to accept deal

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Israel had agreed “to the necessary conditions to finalise” a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza during which efforts will be made to end the U.S. ally’s war in the Palestinian enclave. “Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War,” Mr. Trump said on social media.“The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal. I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.”

Confusion reigns as Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision of rolls gets underway

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls that began on June 28, the first intensive revision since 2003, is scheduled to conclude on September 30 with the publication of the updated voter rolls. The process, however, has got off to a bumpy start courtesy of the immense confusion among voters about the exercise. Chandra Mohan Singh, 65, a resident of Mahmada village in Bihar’s Saran district and a voter from booth no. 240, is an exemplar of this confusion. Given a form for the special intensive revision of the State’s electoral rolls on Monday, it still remains blank. Asked about the purpose of the form, he says, “It is given to me to find out whether I am dead or alive.”

A more focused Quad will help deliver better, says Jaishankar

India has “every right” to defend its people against terrorism, and the partners of the Quad grouping should “appreciate” that, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Washington D.C., where he participated in the Quad Foreign Ministers-level meeting on Tuesday. Mr. Jaishankar said a “more focused Quad” will “help deliver better”, while Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, in her opening remarks, made the mention of the March 28 earthquake in Myanmar where the Quad partners mobilised “quickly” to help the affected communities.

Pharma factory blast: Evidence suggests dust explosion, say experts about the blast

Safety protocols in pharmaceutical industries of the city have come into sharp focus yet again in the context of the latest blast in the manufacturing facility of Sigachi Industries in Pashamylaram on Monday in which dozens were killed. While the Factories Department is still collecting evidence, experts who have observed the footage of the blast site conclude that it is a ‘dust explosion’. They contend the version of the Factories Department, which, based on prima facie evidence, explains it as the ‘Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion’ (BLEVE), a technical term to mean that the pressure build up inside the reactor led to the blast.

Sivaganga custodial death case transferred to CBI; Stalin assures full cooperation in probe

The investigation into the alleged custodial death in Thirupuvanam police station in Sivaganga district was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) within a day after it was transferred to the CB-CID. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin recommended the transfer and further made a promise that his government would extend full cooperation to the investigation by the central agency.

Judiciary should not override executive’s decision to deport a foreign national: Home Ministry

The Union Home Ministry’s (MHA) appeal against a Jammu and Kashmir High Court order to repatriate a 62-year-old housewife who was deported to Pakistan post Pahalgam terror attack said the “judiciary should not override” the executive’s decision to deport a foreign national. It said the High Court order was constitutionally impermissible and unsustainable, as it directed the enforcement of a judicial writ beyond the sovereign territory of India to Pakistan, where she was deported and was thus ultra vires.

Drive on to identify persons with multiple voter IDs: Chief Election Commissioner

With the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls underway in Bihar, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Tuesday said that a person is entitled to vote only in the Assembly constituency where he or she is ordinarily a resident and not in one where they own a house. Government officials have begun distributing enumeration forms to all registered voters in Bihar from Saturday. The SIR exercise began on June 25 with the printing of the forms and is scheduled to end on September 30 with the publication of the updated voter rolls.

31 dead, 151 injured in monsoon-related disasters in Nepal

At least 31 people died and 151 others were injured in monsoon-related disasters in Nepal within a month since the onset of the rainy season on May 28, officials said on Tuesday. Between May 28 and June 30, the country experienced 682 incidents linked to the monsoon, including floods, landslides, lightning strikes, and windstorms, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) Suresh Sunar spokesperson said.

Justice Department says 2 Chinese nationals charged with spying inside the U.S. for Beijing

Two Chinese nationals have been charged with spying inside the United States on behalf of Beijing, including by taking photographs of a naval base, coordinating a cash dead-drop and by participating in efforts to recruit members of the military who they thought might be open to working for Chinese intelligence.

Djokovic passes Muller test to reach Wimbledon second round

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic was made to work hard after a strong start as he began his bid for a 25th Grand Slam title by beating unseeded Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-1 6-7(7) 6-2 6-2 to reach the second round on Tuesday. The sixth seed, who is aiming to equal Roger Federer’s haul at the All England Club and move past Margaret Court in the all-time list of major champions, will take on British wild card Dan Evans in the next round.

Kylian Mbappé makes his Club World Cup debut in Real Madrid’s win over Juventus

Kylian Mbappé jogged, clapped his hands together and waved to a crowd of excited fans before checking into the Club World Cup for the first time. From there, the Real Madrid star didn’t need to do much for his club to advance past Juventus into the tournament’s quarterfinals. Gonzalo García, who had started Madrid’s four matches while Mbappé dealt with an illness, scored what turned out to be the winning goal on a header Tuesday afternoon before subbing out of the match.