Maritime Security Escalation: India’s FM S. Jaishankar spoke directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio after US strikes on three largely Indian-crewed merchant vessels off Oman killed three seafarers, calling the attacks “not justified” and reiterating New Delhi’s strong protest. Air Safety Watch: India’s IAF said an Antonov An-32 transport plane crashed while landing at Jorhat airbase in Assam, killing five personnel; a court of inquiry is being set up. Inland Shipping Upgrade: China has started construction of the Three Gorges new waterway project, aiming to nearly double annual cargo capacity to 336 million tonnes and to manage ship-lock and vessel traffic using AI, big data and digital twins. Rail Connectivity: India and Nepal reviewed cross-border rail progress in Kathmandu, including Raxaul–Kathmandu and Janakpur–Ayodhya passenger service SOPs. High-Speed Rail Engineering: Tunnel hoods are being installed at mountain tunnel portals on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train corridor to reduce pressure waves and noise. Aviation Demand Signal: IATA forecasts global passenger demand growth in 2026 at just 2.1% as Middle East conflict and fuel costs weigh on travel. Port Efficiency Benchmark: A World Bank/S&P index highlights China’s ports dominating global efficiency rankings, with automation and infrastructure investment helping them absorb geopolitical shocks.