Ships warned to avoid Red Sea, log Hormuz voyages
ATHENS: Merchant shipping is continuing to pass through the Strait of Hormuz despite Israel's attacks on Iran on Friday, the multinational, US-led Combined Maritime Force said, although some shipowners were looking to avoid the region.
Iran has in the past threatened to close the critical Strait of Hormuz to traffic in retaliation for Western pressure. Any closure of the Strait could restrict trade and impact global oil prices.
'The Strait of Hormuz remains open and commercial traffic continues to flow uninterrupted,' the Combined Maritime Force said in advisory, adding that events over the past day had increased the likelihood of regional conflict to 'significant'.
Greece and Britain have advised their merchant shipping fleets to avoid sailing through the Gulf of Aden and to log all voyages through the Strait of Hormuz following Israel's attacks on Iran, documents seen by Reuters showed.
'We have reports that more ship owners are now exercising extra caution and are opting to stay away from the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf,' said Jakob Larsen, chief safety & security officer with shipping association BIMCO.
If the United States is perceived to be involved in any attacks, 'the risk of escalation increases significantly', Larsen said. 'Such an escalation could include missile attacks on ships or laying of sea mines in the Strait (of Hormuz).'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
UNSC to meet on Iran as Pakistan, Russia and China push for a ceasefire
UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council will meet Sunday to discuss US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites as Russia, China and Pakistan proposed the 15-member body adopt a resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East. It was not immediately clear when it could be put to a vote. The three countries circulated the draft text, said diplomats, and asked members to share their comments by Monday evening. A resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Britain, Russia or China to pass. The US is likely to oppose the draft resolution, seen by Reuters, which also condemns attacks on Iran's nuclear sites and facilities. The text does not name the United States or Israel. The world awaited Iran's response on Sunday after President Donald Trump said the US had 'obliterated' Tehran's key nuclear sites, joining Israel in the biggest Western military action against the Islamic Republic since its 1979 revolution. Iran requested the UN Security Council meeting, calling on the 15-member body 'to address this blatant and unlawful act of aggression, to condemn it in the strongest possible terms.' Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement on Sunday that the US and Israel 'do not deserve any condemnation, but rather an expression of appreciation and gratitude for making the world a safer place.' UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday branded the US strikes on Iran as a 'dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.' 'At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace,' Guterres said in a statement.
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
Pro-Palestinian activist set free on US judge's orders
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Friday to release Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student who became a leader of pro-Palestinian campus protests, reported AFP. Khalil, a legal permanent US resident who is married to a US citizen and has a US-born son, has been in custody since March facing potential deportation. District Judge Michael Farbiarz ordered Khalil's release on bail during a hearing on Friday and he will be allowed to return to New York while his deportation case proceeds. "After more than three months, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief and know that Mahmoud is on his way home," his wife, Michigan-born dentist Noor Abdalla, said in a statement. "We know this ruling does not begin to address the injustices the Trump administration has brought upon our family and so many others the government is trying to silence for speaking out against Israel's ongoing genocide against Palestinians," added Abdalla, who gave birth to the couple's first child while her husband was in detention. Amol Sinha, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, which is among the groups representing Khalil, welcomed the release order. "This is an important step in vindicating Mr Khalil's rights as he continues to be unlawfully targeted by the federal government for his advocacy in support of Palestinian rights," Sinha said. "We're confident he will ultimately prevail in the fight for his freedom." Since his March 8 arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, Khalil has become a symbol of President Donald Trump's campaign to stifle pro-Palestinian student activism against the Gaza war, in the name of curbing anti-Semitism. At the time a graduate student at Columbia University in New York, Khalil was one of the most visible leaders of nationwide campus protests against Israel's war in Gaza. Following his arrest, US authorities transferred Khalil, who was born in Syria to Palestinian parents, nearly 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) from his home in New York to a detention centre in Louisiana, pending deportation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has invoked a law approved during the 1950s Red Scare that allows the United States to remove foreigners seen as adverse to US foreign policy. Rubio argues that US constitutional protections of free speech do not apply to foreigners and that he alone can make decisions without judicial review. Hundreds of students have seen their visas revoked, with some saying they were targeted for everything from writing opinion articles to minor arrest records.
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistan's governance crisis impedes prosperity
Listen to article What is a state? According to Ibn Khaldun, it is an entity that restricts, controls, and strives to eliminate injustice. It builds a governance system that upholds human equality, dignity, and liberty. Through fair governance, the state strives to provide basic necessities, growth opportunities, education grounded in values, and secure living conditions. It ensures the rule of law for all, including the government, institutions, and individuals. In a nutshell, a state depends on a governance system that is people-centric, rooted in the rule of law, and committed to justice and prosperity. Pakistan was envisioned as such a state. It was promised that the government would establish a social justice system, a welfare economy, and dignity for all. It would ensure peace and a people-centric system grounded in Islamic principles, achieved through inclusivity and democratic participation. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah emphasised the need for a fair governance system, saying the very justification of the state would depend on it. Unfortunately, after Jinnah's death, that vision began to fade. The ruling elite failed to understand his vision, denied the people their right to elect leadership, and became embroiled in power struggles. Bureaucratic interference took root early, sidelining democratic processes. In 1955, Ghulam Muhammad dissolved the assembly, seizing control and strengthening bureaucracy's grip. It marked the first major betrayal of the people's will and paved the way for martial law. Pakistan soon became an experimental lab for imported governance models. Rulers introduced policies shaped by Western institutions. From Ghulam Muhammad onwards, the leadership kept experimenting – implementing liberal economic policies without liberal democracy, and introducing socialism under the control of feudals and the ultra-rich. Religion, especially Islam, was repeatedly used to manipulate people but never implemented in its true spirit. This misuse goes against Quaid-e-Azam's vision of an Islamic system grounded in justice and equity. Another defining feature of Pakistan's governance is elitism and exploitation. Though numerically small, the elite have captured the entire system. They enjoy vast privileges funded by the average taxpayer. Their grip on power is so deep that retirement is no longer an end - "post-retirement parking" has become common, with senior officials securing perks even after leaving office. In recent years, this process has accelerated. The elite have abandoned merit and institutionalised favouritism. Now, the system has moved beyond capture to outright exploitation. Ironically, these elite deny their exploitative behaviour and instead blame each other – politicians fault the military, and military rulers blame politicians. Neither offers solutions. The governance model has also become exclusionary. This exclusion starts in education and extends to jobs, social mobility, and access to justice. Education, which should be a tool for empowerment and nation-building, is riddled with inequality. The Constitution promises free education for every child through Articles 25-A and 37-B, but the state has failed to deliver. Instead of strengthening public education, the government enabled the rise of private institutions. Since the 1980s, private schools have mushroomed, now comprising 38% of all institutions and educating 44% of children. These institutions often follow foreign curricula, diverging from the national framework. State neglect – lack of investment in infrastructure, teacher training, and quality control – has further degraded public education. Consequently, many middle-class families are forced to turn to expensive private schools, while the elite send their children abroad or to top-tier private schools in Pakistan. Since policymakers' children don't attend public schools, they remain indifferent to the sector's decay. This has long-term consequences. It creates deep societal divisions and undermines nation-building by denying equal opportunity. The job market is similarly flawed. It is rigged in favour of those with power. Merit is often irrelevant. Instead, elite families pull strings to get their children high-paying jobs in public institutions, think tanks, NGOs, or international agencies. These organisations oblige, hoping to curry favour with decision-makers. This culture of nepotism shuts out qualified candidates from ordinary backgrounds. Bribery is another barrier. Additionally, a damaging narrative has taken hold: only private university graduates are employable. Public university graduates are sidelined, worsening inequality and fuelling resentment among youth. Moreover, retired officials – both domestic and international – further distort the job market. Former employees of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, or local government use their networks to bypass competitive hiring processes, denying opportunities to younger, deserving candidates. Many of these retired individuals sell themselves as visionary consultants or leaders. If they were truly dedicated, one might ask, why didn't they perform during their tenure? And if their intentions are noble, why not work pro bono instead of drawing large salaries and enjoying high-level perks? Many have also entered the consulting business. In theory, there's nothing wrong with that – if it's based on merit. In reality, however, these consultancies operate through networks of influence. Former officials use their ties within the bureaucracy and military to secure contracts. They promise future favours to juniors who help them now. This has given rise to a class of "on-the-job consultants" – individuals who leverage their government roles to position themselves for future consultancies. They exploit their access to training programmes and higher education to build credentials and connections while still in office, and later transition into lucrative consulting roles. This system entrenches inequality and marginalises the very citizens the state was supposed to empower. The way forward must start with restoring the people's role in decision-making. A state is not simply a government – it is a collective promise to its people. Pakistan must return to that promise. The writer is a political economist and a visiting reserach fellow at Hebei University, China
