Aug 24 — UN Secretary-General Guterres said ongoing Middle East and Russia-Ukraine conflicts are disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Red Sea and Black Sea, constraining oil, fertilizer and food shipments and lifting oil, container freight and fertilizer costs. The UN has set up a task force that plans to establish a UN‑coordinated registry, verification, monitoring and de‑confliction mechanism, with an initial focus on safeguarding fertilizer and related raw-material shipments. Guterres said the mechanism would not alter states’ sovereignty or replace political efforts to restore freedom of navigation, but could serve as a pragmatic first step to reduce risk, secure essential supplies and rebuild trust.(金十数据)