"Houthi Bribery Scandal Shakes Shipping Industry"
Shares of Israeli shipping company Zim dropped over 17% after reports of their Chinese partner COSCO withdrawing from Israel, but the market is also unsettled by rumors of a containership line allegedly bribing Houthi officials to avoid targeting their vessels in the Red Sea. The alleged deal involves ensuring safe passage for certain carriers in exchange for avoiding Israeli goods and ports, but two major carriers have denied participating in any bribes. The US military and Federal Maritime Commission are being consulted for further insights, and US Central Command has referred inquiries to the ship owners.