UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Thursday expressed concern over rioting and destruction in Northern Ireland resulting from the attack which went viral on social media – and the release of police body camera footage linked to the murder of a student in Southampton by a British-born Sikh man.
Extending his sympathy to the victims and their families, he welcomed the ongoing investigations and stressed that accountability is essential.
Public rhetoric
At the same time, Türk warned that some incidents had been exploited by some to spread divisive rhetoric targeting communities on the basis of race and ethnicity, thereby contributing to the spread of racial hatred and violence.
“Scapegoating and dehumanization are completely unacceptable,” he said, condemning violence against individuals, house burnings, property damage and intimidation directed against affected communities.
He also stressed the responsibility of political leaders to avoid language that could inflame tensions or stigmatize groups, warning that public rhetoric can further deepen divisions during times of unrest.
Social media platforms have been urged to take their human rights responsibilities seriously by tackling hate speech and content inciting violence.
The UN called for restraint, accountability and efforts to prevent further escalation while protecting affected communities.
FAO calls for stronger global action as animal diseases spread across borders
Risks from animal diseases including avian influenza – or bird flu – African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease and New World luctose continue to grow, as outbreaks increasingly threaten food security, trade and livelihoods around the world, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Livestock sectors support more than a billion livelihoods and contribute billions of dollars in economic value each year.
Protecting animal health is therefore essential not only for farmers and ranchers, but also for food security, trade, economic stability and rural prosperity.
Increased movements of animals and people, environmental pressures and unequal access to veterinary services accelerate the spread of diseases between regions.
New epidemics
Recent outbreaks underscore the urgency: New World butcher worm has re-emerged in the United States after decades of containment, while foot-and-mouth disease has spread beyond its traditional range in Africa into parts of Asia and the Middle East.
“The impacts of these outbreaks extend well beyond animal health. They disrupt agricultural production, trade and tourism, threaten livelihoods, increase food security risks and, in some cases, pose direct risks to human health,” said Dr Tiensin Thanawat, FAO Chief Veterinarian.
Addressing these threats requires stronger surveillance, earlier detection, greater information sharing and closer international cooperation.
FAO stressed that prevention and preparedness remains the most effective and least costly response and is working with partners to strengthen early warning systems, surveillance and rapid response efforts worldwide.
Heat has killed 200,000 people in Europe in just four years
Extreme heat has claimed more than 200,000 lives in Europe over the past four years, according to the United Nations’ World Health Organization (WHO), which has warned that heat waves have become an increasingly frequent and deadly public health emergency due to climate change.
“We need a coordinated, powerful and institutional response,” WHO regional director Dr Hans Kluge said at the launch of the updated guide to heat-health action plans in Berlin on Thursday.
The new guidance outlines evidence-based actions governments can take to reduce heat-related illness and death, including early warning systems, cooling centers, urban greening initiatives and targeted support for vulnerable populations.
Prepare for rising temperatures
The WHO stressed that individual actions such as staying hydrated and avoiding direct exposure to heat remain important but are not enough to address what it describes as a growing systemic challenge.
Heat health action plans are designed to help cities and countries anticipate, prepare for and respond to periods of extreme heat in a coordinated and effective way.
Europe is warming faster than any other continent, putting older people, those with pre-existing health conditions and other vulnerable groups at increased risk.
“Our goal is clear and our ambition is bold: zero heat-related deaths,” said Dr. Kluge.
