Photo FAO/A. Pierdomenico The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz could have a negative impact on food production. Top news of the day | Thursday: Migration Forum, Hantavirus, Strait of Hormuz, New Caledonia UN
Breaking news at the UN and in the world: the Forum on International Migration is being held in New York, the hantavirus outbreak on board a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean is not the “start of a new pandemic”, disruptions in ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz could lead to lower yields and higher food prices as early as the second half of 2026, France must guarantee the participation of the Kanak indigenous people in any political reforms affecting New Caledonia.
Migration Forum
Migration is not a crisis. The crisis lies in the fact that the world is not able to effectively manage it through joint efforts. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated this at the Forum on International Migration in New York, calling on the international community to stop politicizing this issue. The UN chief noted that no country can alone cope with the problem of mass displacement of people and called on states to cooperate.
Hantavirus outbreak
An outbreak of a deadly hantavirus aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean poses a low risk to global health and is not “the start of a new pandemic.” This statement was made by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday. So far, three people have died and several more have fallen ill. The outbreak is caused by a rare Andes strain. This is the only type of hantavirus that can be transmitted from person to person. However, the likelihood of such transmission is extremely low, WHO emphasizes.
Strait of Hormuz
Disruptions in shipping in the Strait of Hormuz are beginning to affect not only global oil and gas markets, but also food production. Fertilizer shortages caused by a crisis in one of the world’s key shipping corridors could lead to lower yields and higher food prices as early as the second half of 2026. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns about this. A significant part of global fertilizer supplies passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and disruptions in ship traffic have already led to shortages.
New Caledonia
France must ensure that any political and constitutional reforms affecting New Caledonia will only be carried out with the full participation of the Kanak indigenous people. This was stated on Thursday by experts from the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The Committee expressed serious concern that recent attempts by Paris to change electoral laws and political mechanisms without the consent of the Kanaks could negatively affect their right to participate in the political process.