World News in Brief: Turk condemns Northern Ireland riots, jobs at risk over animal disease spread, heatwaves spark public health crisis in Europe
Tweet URL UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed alarm on Thursday over the rioting and destruction in Northern Ireland resulting from the
Tweet URL UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed alarm on Thursday over the rioting and destruction in Northern Ireland resulting from the attack which went viral on social media – and the release of police bodycam footage linked to the murder of a student in Southampton by a British-born Sikh. Offering sympathy to victims and their families, he welcomed ongoing investigations and stressed that accountability is essential. Public rhetoric At the same time, Mr. Türk warned that the incidents had been exploited by some to spread divisive narratives targeting communities based on race and ethnicity, contributing to the spread of racial hatred and violence. “Scapegoating and dehumanisation is totally unacceptable,” he said, condemning violence against individuals, the burning of homes, property damage and intimidation directed at affected communities. He also emphasised the responsibility of political leaders to avoid language that inflames tensions or stigmatises groups, warning that public rhetoric can further deepen divisions during periods of unrest. Social media platforms were urged to take their human rights responsibilities seriously by addressing hate speech and content that incites violence.
The UN called for restraint, accountability and efforts to prevent further escalation while protecting affected communities. FAO urges 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 screwworm continue to grow, as outbreaks increasingly threaten food security, trade and livelihoods worldwide, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Livestock sectors support more than one billion livelihoods and contribute trillions of dollars in economic value each year. Protecting animal health is therefore critical not only for farmers and livestock keepers, but also for food security, trade, economic stability, and rural prosperity. The increased movement of animals and people, environmental pressures and uneven access to veterinary services are accelerating the spread of disease across regions. New outbreaks Recent outbreaks underscore the urgency: New World screw 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 BriefWire