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
Express Tribune
33 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
A drop of hope: Securing water
In the heart of the towering Karakoram Mountain range, at an elevation of nearly 9,000 feet, lies the remote valley of Tholdi — a land as breathtaking as it is unforgiving. Part of the underserved district of Khaplu in Baltistan, the people of Tholdi face daily struggles shaped by the harsh terrain and unpredictable climate. Here, water is more than just a resource — it is the community's lifeline. A Community in Crisis For generations, the people of Tholdi have relied on glacial melt water for crop irrigation. However, climate change and inefficient irrigation channels have made this water source increasingly unreliable. According to the Mountain and Glacier Protection Organization (MGPO), previously, nearly 50% of the water was lost due to transmission inefficiencies, leaving fields dry and limiting agricultural productivity. The inadequate water supply also prevented the community from utilizing existing land to its full potential. As a result, declining yields, food insecurity, and limited crop diversification became pressing concerns. Many men were forced to migrate to urban centers in search of work, adding to the social and emotional burdens of an already struggling community. The Transformative Change Recognising this urgent need, The Coca-Cola Foundation partnered with MGPO and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Pakistan to launch the 'Water Security and Building Resilience for Mountain Communities' initiative. This partnership aims to help ensure sustainable water access for agriculture and daily use, integrating water resource management for food security, ecosystem restoration, and community stewardship to promote sustainable use of water. With a generous contribution of US$120,000 from The Coca-Cola Foundation — covering more than 80% of the project cost — a robust irrigation system was developed to serve not only Tholdi but also neighboring areas, including Daghoni and Siksa. A 9,900-foot-long water transmission system now delivers water through 7,700 feet of underground piping and 2,200 feet of open, paved channels, minimising water loss, and significantly improving agricultural productivity. Sourced from glacial melt, snow, and a perennial spring, the water is stored in a 7,000-gallon covered catchment chamber before being distributed through a gravity-fed irrigation system. As a result, 238 hectares of land are now irrigated, including 91 hectares that were previously barren, enabling the cultivation of wheat, corn, barley, onions, tomatoes, and potatoes. Taking a holistic approach to Water Stewardship While the core objective of the project was sustainable water management, its impact extends far beyond irrigation. The initiative has: Empowered 2,100 people with reliable water access for agriculture, helping improve their chances for better livelihoods and household income Economically uplifted 1,000 people, by expanding farming opportunities Transformed barren land into productive fields, contributing to environmental restoration Developed community-led afforestation initiatives, with plans to plant over 20,000 trees across the region. The life-changing water pipeline is ensuring year-round water availability for non-potable domestic use, a critical need during the harsh winter months when other water sources freeze. To guarantee long-term sustainability, the project has established and trained community-led Monitoring and Maintenance Committees to manage the infrastructure. A flow meter at the intake points tracks seasonal water availability, enabling adaptive planning. According to Ms Aisha Khan, CEO of MGPO: I would say that with this new irrigation, previously barren lands are now producing crops. There has also been tree plantation. The local community has access to around 800 canals in the valley and every year they say they will plant more trees to increase forest cover and counter climate change. Fruit trees mean more nutrition and money for them. The 'Water Security and Building Resilience for Mountain Communities' project is more than just an infrastructure investment — it is a pivotal step toward empowering communities and building climate resilience. This project brings hope for a future where water is managed efficiently, crops flourish, and communities stay resilient in the face of climate challenges.
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
Fury among Canadian Sikhs as Modi invited to G7 despite alleged threats
PM Carney invites Modi to G7 as guest; first Canada visit in 10 years seen as diplomatic test for the new leader. PHOTO: REUTERS Listen to article Members of Canada's Sikh community who were warned by police that their lives were at risk and allege the Indian government is responsible for the threat are incensed by Ottawa's invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit in Alberta. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney invited Modi, although India is not a G7 member, to attend the summit that starts on Sunday as a guest. It will be Modi's first visit to Canada in a decade and a diplomatic test for Carney, a political neophyte. Canada's relationship with India has been tense since former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2023 accused India's government of involvement in the June 18, 2023, murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader in Canada. Modi's government has denied involvement in Nijjar's killing and has accused Canada of providing a safe haven for Sikh separatists. "'Outrage' is the kind of term that I've heard from people," Sikh activist Moninder Singh, a friend of Nijjar, said of the invitation. He and other Sikh leaders plan to hold a protest in Ottawa on Saturday. Carney, locked in a trade war with the United States, is trying to shore up alliances elsewhere and diversify Canada's exports. Carney told reporters he invited India due to its importance in global supply chains. India's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a Thursday press briefing that a meeting between Modi and Carney "will offer an important opportunity for them to exchange views on bilateral and global issues and explore pathways to set or reset the relationship." Sikhs faces threats That rationale rings hollow for Singh, who lives in British Columbia. He has received multiple warnings from police that his life was at risk. One such warning forced him from his home for months in 2023 for his children's safety. "On a personal level, and on a community level, as well, it was deeply insulting ... Sikh lives aren't as important as the fifth-largest economy in the world that needs to be at the table," he said. A spokesperson for Carney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in October they had communicated more than a dozen threats to people like Singh who are advocating for the creation of a Sikh homeland carved out of India. In October, under Trudeau, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, linking them to Nijjar's murder and alleging a broader government effort to target Indian dissidents in Canada through killings, extortion, use of organized crime and clandestine information-gathering. India retaliated by ordering the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats and called the allegations preposterous and politically motivated. Canada has said it does not have evidence linking Modi to the threats. The tension has thrust Canada's Sikh community - the largest outside India's Sikh-majority Punjab state - into the spotlight. Singh said there should have been conditions on Modi's invitation. "Any meetings with them should have been under the conditions that Mr. Modi and his government would take responsibility for what has been uncovered and cooperate, but none of that happened." Carney told reporters Modi had agreed to "law enforcement dialogue." Jaiswal said Indian and Canadian law enforcement agencies will continue to cooperate in some ways. Some activists and politicians in Canada have accused Carney of putting economic issues ahead of human rights concerns. But Sanjay Ruparelia, a Toronto Metropolitan University politics professor, said the prime minister is simply being practical. "(Carney's) watchword since he's come to office is pragmatism. And this is very much a pragmatic, realpolitik decision."
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Iran says US, UK, France will be targeted if they intervene
Photo: Iranian flag flies in front of the UN office building, housing IAEA headquarters, in Vienna, Austria, May 24, 2021. REUTERS Listen to article Iran has warned the United States, United Kingdom and France that their bases and ships in the region will be targeted if they help stop Tehran's strikes on Israel, while calling continuing Iran-US nuclear talks 'unjustifiable' amid persisting Israeli attacks on the country. Iran state media reported on Saturday that Tehran issued this warning to the US, UK and France over any potential involvement in intercepting Iranian attacks. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Saturday called the continuing Iran-US nuclear talks unjustifiable while "barbarous" Israeli attacks persist on the country. Read More: Israel's Katz warns 'Tehran will burn' if missile strikes persist On Friday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the dialogue with the US over Tehran's nuclear programme is "meaningless" after Israel's biggest-ever military strike against Iran, accusing Washington of supporting the attack. US President Donald Trump has lauded Israel's strikes and warned of much worse to come unless Iran quickly accepts the sharp downgrading of its nuclear programme that the US has demanded in talks that had been due to resume on Sunday. But with Israel saying its operation could last weeks, and urging Iran's people to rise up against their Islamic clerical rulers, fears have grown of a regional conflagration dragging in outside powers. The United States, Israel's main ally, helped shoot down Iranian missiles, two US officials said. "If (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn," Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said. Iran and Israel traded missiles and airstrikes on Saturday, the day after Israel launched a sweeping air offensive against its old enemy, killing commanders and scientists and bombing nuclear sites in a stated bid to stop it from building an atomic weapon. In Pictures: Iran's retaliatory strikes on Israel In Tehran, Iranian state TV reported that around 60 people, including 20 children, had been killed in an attack on a housing complex, with more strikes reported across the country. Israel said it had attacked more than 150 targets. This number may differ from the Israeli count, as the ambulance service said three people, including a man and a woman, were killed and dozens wounded. An Israeli official said Iran had fired around 200 ballistic missiles in four waves, and also claimed to have intercepted surface-to-surface Iranian missiles and drones, while two rockets were fired from Gaza. In the western suburb of Ramat Gan, near Ben Gurion Airport, Linda Grinfeld described her apartment being damaged: "We were sitting in the shelter, and then we heard such a boom. It was awful." Iran had vowed to avenge Friday's Israeli onslaught, which gutted Iran's nuclear and military leadership and damaged atomic plants and military bases. However, 20 months of war in Gaza and a conflict in Lebanon last year have decimated Tehran's strongest regional proxies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, reducing its options for retaliation. WATCH: Iran missile strike hits IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv Gulf Arab states that have long mistrusted Iran but fear coming under attack in any wider conflict have urged calm, as worries about disruption to the Gulf region's crucial oil exports boosted the price of crude by about 7% on Friday. Iranian general and parliament member Esmail Kosari said the country was seriously reviewing whether to close the Strait of Hormuz, the outlet for oil shipped from the Gulf. Iranian Nuclear Sites Damaged Israel sees Iran's nuclear programme as a threat to its existence and said the bombardment was designed to avert the last steps to production of a nuclear weapon. A military official on Saturday said Israel had caused significant damage to Iran's nuclear facilities at Natanz and Isfahan, but had not so far operated in another uranium enrichment site, Fordow. The official said Israel had "eliminated the highest commanders of their military leadership" and had killed nine nuclear scientists who "were main sources of knowledge, main forces driving forward the (nuclear) programme." Also Read: Pakistan denounces Israeli attack on Iran at UNSC Tehran insists the programme is entirely civilian in line with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and that it does not seek an atomic bomb. However, it has repeatedly hidden parts of its programme from international inspectors, and the International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday reported it in violation of the NPT. Iranian talks with the United States to resolve the nuclear dispute have stuttered this year, with the next meeting set for Sunday. Tehran implied it would not attend but stopped short of pulling out. "The other side (the US) acted in a way that makes dialogue meaningless," state media quoted foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying. "It is still unclear what decision we will make on Sunday in this regard."
