Oil prices have soared to record levels since the 2008 recession. The main reason is restrictions on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Top news of the day | Wednesday: Middle East, Strait of Hormuz, Human Rights Council UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has decreased by 95 percent, the conflict in the Middle East is accompanied by increasing repression, the 61st session of the Human Rights Council has ended, 39 Lebanese cultural sites have received temporary UNESCO enhanced protection status.
Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has come to a virtual standstill, with daily vessel passages down by 95 percent over the past month. This is stated in the new report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Global merchandise trade growth is projected to slow by at least one percentage point and inflation to rise amid a surge in oil prices. The organization expects global economic growth to slow to about 2.6 percent by the end of the year, with stock markets falling and currencies in developing countries depreciating. UNCTAD calls for a package of measures to curb price increases and expand the capacity of development banks to provide emergency loans.
Repression in the Middle East
Since the start of the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, pressure on civil space and freedom of expression in the Middle East has increased significantly, exacerbating the already existing climate of fear amid numerous conflicts and crises. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned about this on Wednesday. In Iran, an estimated 2,345 people have been arrested on national security-related charges including terrorism, dissent, alleged espionage and “collaboration with the enemy” since the conflict began. session, adopting 38 resolutions. The decisions included the extension of 19 country and thematic mandates. In particular, the Council extended for another year the mandates of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus and the Group of Independent Experts on Belarus, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, as well as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.
Cultural Heritage Lebanon
UNESCO today held an emergency meeting to strengthen the protection of Lebanon’s cultural heritage. During an extraordinary session of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, it was decided to grant temporary enhanced protection status to 39 cultural heritage sites, as well as allocate emergency financial assistance in the amount of more than $100 thousand. Sites included in the enhanced protection regime will receive technical and financial support from UNESCO to strengthen their legal protection, improve risk management measures, and provide additional training for specialists.