Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s latest push to rename transit charges as a “service fee” is intensifying the fee debate as China urges uninterrupted passage and warns against disruptions. Maritime Operations: Qatar says all maritime navigation activities can resume normally, while port data shows strong H1 throughput with 493,105 TEUs handled and 866 vessel calls. Trade Corridors: Kazakhstan and the EU are moving from transit to a broader strategic partnership, positioning the country as a transport and supply-chain hub via the Middle Corridor. Express & Cross-Border Growth: Dubai Chambers and FedEx sign an MoU to help local firms export faster with customs advisory and ATA Carnet support. Central Asia Logistics: FESCO launches a China-to-Kazakhstan-and-Uzbekistan container shuttle using Dostyk and Altynkol crossings to capture Central Asia demand. Inland Port Buildout: Malaysia breaks ground on the RM300m Melaka Inland Port, targeting AI-enabled multimodal logistics with bonded areas and rail-container handling. Food Supply Chains: Malaysia explores land-and-rail durian exports to China to cut costs versus air freight. Cold-Chain Disruption: Mumbai dabbawalas suspend lunchbox deliveries as monsoon flooding and rail delays disrupt daily logistics.