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Global Scans · Life Below Water · Weekly Summary


In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

  • [New] Tensions between China and the Philippines have sharply escalated in recent months over territorial disputes in the South China Sea that could draw in the United States. United States Institute of Peace
  • [New] The drone revolution is on display in the Red Sea, where Houthi rebels have been able to threaten commercial shipping through one of the world's busiest sea routes by launching almost daily drone or cruise missile attacks. Washington Examiner
  • [New] The IEA raised its view on 2024 oil demand growth for a fourth time since November as Houthi attacks disrupt Red Sea shipping, but warned that the global economic slowdown acts as an additional headwind to oil use. Irishexaminer.com
  • [New] Global oil demand is forecast to grow more than expected due to the rising fuel needs of ships rerouted away from the Red Sea amid attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels and a brighter economic outlook in the United States, the International Energy Agency has said. Al Jazeera
  • [New] The ongoing attacks on ships in or near the Red Sea are affecting trade routes and, if they escalate, they could limit the ability to freely or economically move oil to global markets. Energi Media
  • [New] Months of Houthi Red Sea attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to reroute to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa, and stoking fears that the Israel-Hamas war could spread to destabilize the wider Middle East. The Times of Israel
  • [New] The leader of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis says in a televised speech that Houthis' operations targeting vessels will prevent Israel-linked ships from even passing through the Indian Ocean towards the Cape of Good Hope. The Times of Israel
  • [New] The naval base at Agalega could serve India's needs and can monitor China's gray-zone activities in the Indian Ocean. The Diplomat
  • [New] Mediterranean Sea - The marine heatwave will diminish in extent and intensity across the whole basin, with the majority of the basin moving into moderate categories. Mercator Ocean
  • [New] Israel will be challenged by Hamas for years to come and warns continuing Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and on Israel create a real risk of broader escalation. The Times of Israel
  • [New] Monetary authorities need to remain on guard as incidents in the Red Sea and the drought in the Panama Canal are affecting shipping routes and freight costs that could fuel inflationary pressures-making things more expensive. Antara
  • [New] The Houthi attacks, threatening freedom of navigation and global commerce, have led many shipping lines to take the longer Europe-Far East route round South Africa, avoiding the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Eurasia Review
  • [New] The attacks on vessels using the Red Sea have resulted in ships diverting around southern Africa rather than using the Suez Canal between Europe and Asia, adding to costs and creating a potential global economic risk. Witney Gazette
  • [New] The severity of the Houthi dual attack - regardless of its precise size - will be disturbing to the US-UK force, which has been patrolling the Red Sea and seeking to destroy the source of the Houthi land attacks. The Guardian
  • [New] China's expanding political reach has sparked friction on multiple fronts, with Wang's press conference coming after Southeast Asian and Australian leaders warned this week against Chinese actions that endanger peace in the South China Sea. BSS
  • [New] The U.S. military will build a temporary port in the coming weeks on Gaza's Mediterranean coast to enable delivery of humanitarian aid by sea. Unofficial Networks LLC
  • [New] Meadway Shipping & Trading's Dubai office will dominate the Middle East, Red Sea, South and East Africa, and India. HandyBulk
  • [New] The continuing, albeit weaker, El Nino and predicted above-normal sea-surface temperatures over much of the global oceans are expected to lead to above-normal temperatures over almost all land areas in the next three months, and influence regional rainfall patterns. NDTV
  • The disruption of maritime traffic in the Red Sea is another factor hampering humanitarian aid delivery to Sudan, mostly via Port Sudan. EL PAIS English
  • Iran would probably use an expanding military presence around the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea to threaten commercial traffic, as Iran has long done so around the Persian Gulf and is currently supporting Houthi attacks on global commerce. Institute for the Study of War
  • Particular risks arise from any further escalation of Putin's illegal war in Ukraine or the conflict in the Middle East, including the attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. GOV.UK
  • Unlike the ice sheet in Greenland that took thousands of years to build, even if we melt all the Arctic sea ice, if we can then figure out how to take CO 2 back out of the atmosphere in the future to reverse warming, sea ice will come back within a decade. ScienceDaily
  • China's Foreign Ministry has long defended the behaviour of its vessels in the South China Sea and said Beijing will firmly safeguard what it views as its territorial sovereignty. CNN

Last updated: 17 March 2024



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