World News Brief: Türkiye condemns unrest in Northern Ireland, jobs threatened by spread of animal disease, heatwave triggers public health crisis in Europe

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed his concerns on Thursday over the unrest and destruction in Northern Ireland following an attack that went viral on social media – and the circulation of police bodycam footage relating to the murder of a student in Southampton by a British-born Sikh.

Offering sympathy to the victims and their families, he welcomed the ongoing investigation and stressed that accountability was essential.

Public rhetoric

At the same time, Türk warned that the incident had been exploited by some parties to spread divisive narratives targeting communities based on 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, burning of homes, destruction of property and intimidation directed at affected communities.

He also emphasized the responsibility of political leaders to avoid language that inflames tensions or stigmatizes groups, and warned that public rhetoric could further deepen divisions during times of unrest.

Social media platforms are 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 countries

The risk of animal diseases, including avian influenza – or bird flu – African swine fever, foot and mouth disease, and tapeworm disease in the New World continues to increase, as increasing outbreaks threaten food security, trade and livelihoods around the world, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (F.A.O).

The livestock sector supports more than one billion livelihoods and contributes trillions of dollars in economic value each year.

Therefore, protecting animal health is critical not only for farmers and livestock keepers, but also for food security, trade, economic stability and rural prosperity.

Increased movement of animals and humans, environmental pressures and unequal access to veterinary services accelerate the spread of disease in various regions.

New outbreak

Recent outbreaks underscore the urgency: New World screwworms have reappeared in the United States after decades of containment, while foot-and-mouth disease has spread beyond its traditional range in Africa to parts of Asia and the Middle East.

“The impacts of these outbreaks go 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’s Chief Veterinary Officer.

Addressing these threats requires stronger surveillance, early detection, greater information sharing, and closer international cooperation.

FAO emphasized that prevention and preparedness remains the most effective and least expensive response and is working with partners to strengthen early warning systems, surveillance and rapid response efforts around the world.

Heat has killed 200,000 people in Europe in just four years

Extreme heat has claimed more than 200,000 lives across Europe over the past four years, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), which warns that heat waves are becoming an increasingly frequent and deadly public health emergency due to climate change.

“We need a coordinated, strong and institutional response,” said WHO Regional Director Dr. Hans Kluge at the launch of the latest vaccine. Heat-Health Action Plan Guide in Berlin on Thursday.

The new guidance outlines evidence-based steps governments can take to reduce heat-related illnesses and deaths, including early warning systems, cooling centres, urban greening initiatives and targeted support for vulnerable populations.

Prepare for temperature rise

WHO stressed that individual actions such as staying hydrated and avoiding direct heat exposure remain important but are not enough to face 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 other continents, putting the elderly, those with pre-existing health conditions and other vulnerable groups at higher risk.

“Our goal is clear and our ambition is huge: no heat-related deaths,” said Dr. Kluge.