Transport Infrastructure

The Combined Maritime Force, a multinational force led by the United States, said that despite Israel's attack on Iran, merchant shipping continued to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, even though some shipowners wanted to avoid the area. Iran has threatened in the past to close down the Strait of Hormuz as a retaliation to Western pressure. The Strait of Hormuz could be closed, which would impact the global oil price and restrict trade. The Combined Maritime Force issued an advisory saying that the Strait of Hormuz was open, and commercial traffic continued to flow unhindered. It also said that...

The Federal Aviation Administration will suspend all flights at Reagan Washington National Airport between 6 and 9:30 p.m. The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that it would suspend flights at Reagan Washington National Airport from 6 p.m. to 9:30 pm ET on Saturday during President Donald Trump's Army Anniversary Parade. FAA expands the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area, Special Flight Rules Area. From 6 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., all arrivals and departing flights will be stopped at the airport outside Washington. Travelers can take advantage of flexibility offered by major airlines. United Airlines announced that it will offer a waiver of...

Sky News reported Wednesday that UK-based Long Harbour had secured funding to launch an alleged 700 million pound (944.5 million dollars) takeover bid of PRS REIT. Following the news, shares in PRS jumped 5.2% to reach a new record high of 125p. In February, the real estate investment trust that was created to invest in private rental sectors said it received multiple proposals from unnamed bidders. Sky News' report could not be verified immediately. PRS and Long Harbour have not responded to comments immediately. Sky News declined to comment on the companies' refusal to comment. The report said that Long...

In a Tuesday bulletin, the Panama Canal Authority reported that the number of ships passing through the canal fell from 34 to 31.4 on average per day. This was due to planned maintenance being performed at one of the locks. Despite an increase in traffic on the world's second-busiest interoceanic route since it lifted restrictions due to severe drought last year, it has not yet allocated all 36 slots available per day. The canal temporarily closed the west lane between May 27 and 31. Panama Canal Authority reported that the east lane was still operational. According to data from the...

U.S. president Donald Trump's nominee for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says that the agency has serious issues with leadership, culture and trust, according to the Senate questionnaire. Senate Commerce Committee to hold hearings on Trump's nomination for Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford as FAA head on Wednesday. After a series safety incidents the FAA has been under scrutiny, particularly after a mid-air collision on January 29, between an American Airlines regional plane and a U.S. Army chopper that killed 67. Bedford, in a questionnaire that was reviewed by. "A malaise is setting in, where managers feel helpless and rationalize...

According to Descartes, a supply chain technology company, U.S. imports from China by sea dropped 28.5% in May compared to the same month last year, marking the steepest drop since the pandemic. China is the largest U.S. importer of goods through the seaports. The busiest port in the country, Los Angeles/Long Beach, is one of the most important. These goods are essential to the operations of domestic businesses, from Walmart to Ford. The overall U.S. imports of seaborne goods in May fell 7.2% compared to the previous year to 2,18 million 20-foot units. This ended a string of near-record growth...

The British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office determined on Thursday that the work on the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Natural Gas Pipeline Project has already been substantially begun, according to the provincial government. B.C. said that the decision meant a certificate of environmental assessment for 2014 will remain valid indefinitely unless it is suspended or revoked under the Environmental Assessment Act. In a press statement, the government confirmed this. The PRGT project, which spans 900 km from Hudson's Hope to Lelu Island near Prince Rupert on Canada's Pacific Coast. The 900-kilometre PRGT project will run from Hudson's Hope in northeastern B.C....

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee announced on Wednesday that it will hold an 11th of June hearing to discuss President Donald Trump's nominee for the Federal Aviation Administration, Bryan Bedford, CEO of Republic Airways. Bedford, an industry veteran with more than 30 year's experience, was nominated for the position in March. He previously led two other carriers, and oversaw significant expansions of Republic Airways which operates regional flights on behalf of American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. Republic, based in Indiana, is one of North America's largest regional airlines. It operates a fleet of over 200 Embraer aircraft...

A CBS News reporter told X on Wednesday that President Donald Trump intends to end the Transportation Security Administration’s “Quiet Skies” surveillance program. The source was unidentified. CBS reported that the closure of this program could happen as soon as Thursday, as officials have been discussing how to close it without compromising security. The TSA declined comment. The White House and Department of Homeland Security didn't immediately respond to requests for comments. Earlier this year, some Republican legislators had questioned the program when U.S. director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabriel was put on its watchlist. CBS reported on Tuesday that...

Acting Federal Aviation Administration head said he was not considering lifting a cap on Boeing 737 MAX production of 38 planes a month imposed in January 2024 after a mid-air accident involving a brand new Alaska Airlines Boeing aircraft missing four bolts. After a hearing in the U.S. House, Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said to reporters: "Not right now." He said he wasn't discussing a change in the FAA's policy to inspect all Boeing 737 MAXs or 787 Dreamliners prior to issuing individual airworthiness certificates. Boeing has not yet commented. FAA extended for three years last week, in a...

Acting Federal Aviation Administration head said he was not considering lifting a cap on Boeing's 737 MAX production of 38 planes per monthly imposed in January 2024 after a mid-air accident involving a brand new Alaska Airlines Boeing aircraft missing four bolts. After a hearing in the U.S. House, Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said to reporters: "Not right now." He said he wasn't discussing a change in the FAA's policy to inspect all Boeing 737 MAXs or 787 Dreamliners prior to issuing individual airworthiness certificates. FAA extended for three years last week a program that lets Boeing perform certain...

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that on Wednesday, the West had been involved both directly and indirectly in Ukrainian "terrorist" attacks against civilian targets within Russia. The U.S. President Donald Trump’s Ukraine envoy stated that the risk of an escalation in the war in Ukraine had "gone way up" since Ukrainian forces used drones against nuclear-capable aircraft at several airbases inside Russia. The Russian State Investigative Committee accused Ukraine on Tuesday of "acts" of terrorism by blowing two railway bridges up in Russia at the weekend. The explosion of a highway overpass in Russia was a...

On Wednesday, Iran and Israel both accused one another of endangering the commercial activity around the Gulf and Red Sea in the UN's Shipping Agency as their military conflict escalated. Iran's delegation said at a meeting of the International Maritime Organization security committee that Israel has recently extended its "unlawful attack" to include petrochemicals and gas infrastructures in Asalouyeh, along Iran's Gulf Coast. Iran's livestreamed statement to delegates of the IMO said that "These actions directly threaten international maritime security as well as the global energy supply chains." If the international community does not take immediate and concrete steps to...

Pasifik Eurasia Lojistik announced that it had signed a railway transportation agreement with a subsidiary China Railway for the launch of cargo train services on a corridor connecting China to Europe via Turkey, bypassing Russia. The initial plan is to operate 10 train services, and eventually 1,000. It is anticipated that the Middle Corridor will see a significant increase in freight volume thanks to the partnership with China's state-owned railway logistics company. The Middle Corridor, a China-Europe freight route that is promoted by the West, includes Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as Turkey. Fatih Erdogan, Chairman of Pasifik Holding's...

Israel's Airlines said Tuesday that the government had given them permission to begin flights to bring people back who were stranded overseas during the conflict with Iran. Israel's airspace is closed after Israel and Iran started trading attacks on Friday. Tens of thousands were stranded when their flights to Tel Aviv cancelled. El Al Airlines, Israel’s flag carrier, announced that it will operate flights from Larnaca to Israel on Wednesday, as well as to Athens, Rome and Milan. It added that there would be no more passenger flights departing Israel. El Al has canceled all scheduled flights until June 23....

Israel launched attacks against Iran on 13 June, claiming that it was the beginning of a long-term operation to stop Tehran from developing an atomic bomb. Iran has threatened in the past to close the Strait of Hormuz to traffic as a retaliation for Western pressure. Experts say that a closure of the Strait of Hormuz could impact on global oil prices and restrict trade. Here are some details on the Strait. The Strait is located between Oman, Iran and the Gulf of Oman. It connects the Gulf of Oman in the north with the Arabian Sea to the south....

Israeli Army Radio reported on Tuesday that the Israeli Navy carried out attacks against Yemen's Red Sea Port of Hodeidah in a campaign that is usually airstrikes. Al Masirah TV, a Houthi-run channel, said that Israel had struck the docks at Al Hodeidah Port with two strikes. No immediate reports have been made of any casualties. After the Israeli military called for the evacuation of Houthi-controlled port cities of Ras Isa and Hodeidah on Monday, the strikes came. The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, have been firing at Israel since the beginning of the Gaza war in October 2023....

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, openly questioned on Wednesday the purpose of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. He accused Kyiv of ordering terrorist attacks in Russia on bridges that resulted in seven deaths and 115 injuries. Russian investigators have said that Ukraine detonated a bridge on a railroad on Saturday, just as 388 passengers were on a train. The attacks occurred ahead of Monday's peace talks in Turkey. Putin claimed that the attack on the Bryansk bridge and the one in Kursk were clearly directed against civilians and that these attacks are evidence that Kyiv's government is "degenerating into...

Panama's Maritime Authority said that it has removed more than 650 ships from its registry since 2019, as part of a campaign to comply with U.S. sanction and enforce stricter regulations for the vessels it flags. The authority said that since last year, 214 ships have been removed from Panama's register, which is among the largest in the world with over 8,500 vessels. Once removed from the registry, ships cannot sail under Panamanian flag. Panama has responded to criticism from non-governmental group United Against Nuclear Iran. UANI, which said last week that Panama had taken insufficient action against sanction violations...

Transport Minister Kamel al Wazir stated on Sunday that Egypt is working towards integrating the country into an international railway network. However, a long-planned link between Saudi Arabia and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, which was to connect them, has not yet been finalised. He said that Egypt is expanding its railways on seven different axes. Three high-speed railways would link Sokhna Port, on the Red Sea, with Alexandria and the Mediterranean in the north as well as Aswan in far southern Egypt. Israel and Iraq are also investing billions in rail lines to tap the east-west market. All plans include loading...

Celebi of Turkey, which is a provider of airport ground handling services in India, has filed a lawsuit against New Delhi for its decision to revoke the clearance. Celebi argues that New Delhi cited "vague" concerns about national security without any reasoning. In the interest of "national security", the Indian government revoked Celebi’s security clearance on Thursday, amid growing anger among Indians over Turkey's position on Pakistan during the India-Pakistan Conflict. Celebi Airport Services India asked the Delhi High Court, in a filing dated May 16, to overturn the decision. The company argued that it would have a negative impact...

Air India has asked Indian officials to stop IndiGo's leasing deal with Turkish Airlines. They cited business impacts as well as concerns about security sparked by Istanbul’s support of Pakistan. Indians are canceling holidays due to the growing anger of Indians against Turkey's position on Pakistan during the India-Pakistan Conflict. Celebi is a Turkish ground handling services firm that was denied security clearance by the Indian government, citing national safety. IndiGo, since 2023, has a leasing agreement with Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines has provided IndiGo with two planes, pilots, and crew for the New Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul routes....

Sudan has accused the United Arab Emirates of being responsible for an attack in Port Sudan last month. This is the first time the Gulf state has been directly involved in a conflict between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Sudan severed diplomatic ties with the UAE in this month. The UAE denied the charge, which claimed that the Gulf nation was supplying advanced weapons to the RSF during the two-year conflict. It did not comment immediately on Tuesday's remarks. Al-Harith Idris, Sudan's ambassador to the United Nations, claimed in New York, on Monday, that the attack...

Indian small grocery stores and online fashion retailers have boycotted Turkish products, including chocolates, coffees, jams, cosmetics and clothing, amid growing anger over Turkey's support of Pakistan in the confrontation with India. After India launched military strikes against islamist attackers in Indian Kashmir, Turkish President Tayyip Erdoan expressed his public solidarity with Pakistan. The fighting across the border continued for four full days before a truce was declared. The All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation, which supplies 13,000,000 mom-and-pop stores with groceries, announced on Monday that it would launch an "indefinite, total boycott" against all Turkish products. This includes chocolates,...