Colombia – EU-CELAC: press remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas upon arrival
Paralysis ticks prefer heads and necks of pets
University of Queensland research has shown the head and neck should be searched first if a dog or
Press briefings – General Affairs, Economic and Financial Affairs, and Economic and Financial Affairs (Budget) Council meetings
Press briefing ahead of upcoming General Affairs Council, Economic and Financial Affairs Council, and Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Budget), will take place on Tuesday 11 November 2024 starting at 09.15.
Rights chief warns ‘horrendous atrocities’ likely to continue in Sudan’s El Fasher
“Today, traumatized civilians are still stuck in El Fasher and cannot leave“, UN human rights chief Volker Türk said in a statement. statement released Friday.
“I fear that heinous atrocities such as summary executions, rape and ethnically motivated violence will continue. within the city. »
The statement comes amid growing reports from UN human rights watchdogs and other experts of widespread violence and war crimes following the fall of the town of El Fasher to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia on October 23 this year, which has been battling former allies-turned-rivals – the military government in Khartoum – for control of Sudan for more than two years.
The violence continues even for those who managed to flee the city, as the exit routes have become scenes of “unimaginable cruelty,” Mr. Türk added.
No sign of de-escalation
The High Commissioner said that since the capture of El Fasher, civilian casualties, destruction and mass displacement have increased.
He further warned that developments on the ground show “clear preparations for an intensification of hostilities, with all that this implies for its long-suffering people.”
In a interview with UN News On Thursday, the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Chaloka Beyani, raised concerns over allegations of war crimes in El Fasher.
“We see massive violations of international human rights law, direct attacks against civilians, failure to respect international humanitarian law, which regulates the conduct of hostilities, and the fact that the attacks largely target civilians,” he said.
Independent UN experts also expressed concern about the humanitarian situation on Friday, highlighting “sadistic levels” of violence and sexual abuse.
“We are appalled by credible reports of summary executions of civilians in El Fasher by the RSF, which are prohibited by international law and constitute war crimes and may also constitute crimes against humanity,” they said. “They must stop immediately and independent and rapid investigations are essential. »
Ceasefire agreement reported
The RSF reportedly agreed on Thursday to a ceasefire proposed by the United States and Arab countries – but the national army has not signed and attacks continue, according to media reports, including explosions around government-held Khartoum.
Meanwhile, UN agencies continue to press for an end to hostilities.
“THE Security CouncilThe arms embargo is clear: we must stop providing continued military support to parties committing serious violations.“, said Mr. Türk.
He reiterated his call for an “immediate end to the violence in Darfur and Kordofan,” adding that “bold and urgent action is required from the international community.”
The UN Human Rights Council will hold a special session on the situation in El Fasher and its surroundings, Friday November 14.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
Holding on to your country as the ocean swallows the Solomon Islands
Sikaiana, which covers less than two square kilometers, is surrounded by the sea and is home to only 300 inhabitants. It is also more than 200 kilometers from the main island of the Solomon archipelago.
Most homes are just steps from the shore, where high tides flood the tree line and seep into wells, making fresh water scarce.
Yet life continues with a sense of routine. Children walk barefoot to school, fishermen prepare their nets and families tend to their gardens as they always have.
At the island’s only school, principal Tuiao Kapule stops to draw rainwater from a storage tank, a precious resource on this isolated atoll where every drop counts.
“When I was a child, life in Sikaiana was not like that,” he says. “Now the tides are higher, salt water levels have increased and it’s harder to grow food like it used to be.”
He watches his students play nearby, their laughter echoing across the schoolyard. “Families are having a hard time coping with the changes,” he says. “Some students stay home when there is not enough to eat.”
As rising tides reshape life on Sikaiana, director Tuiao Kapule worries what the future holds for this small atoll.
Later that afternoon, Tuiao stands outside her house with her youngest in her arms.
“Sikaiana is my homeland,” he said softly. “But if we ever have to leave, I will go. Life on this island is not what it used to be.”
Her story mirrors that of Mary Maike, a community elder who lived by the sea all her life.
“When it rains a lot, we cannot harvest,” she says. “Our gardens depend on the weather. When the sun stays out too long, the reservoirs dry up, so we have to find wells, collect water and boil it before we can drink it.”
Mary Maike, a Sikaiana resident.
She watches her grandchildren play while the elders rest nearby; island life continues as always.
“If we have to move, it will be up to our leaders to decide,” she explains. “Even if we agree to move, we don’t know where we will go. We prefer to stay near the sea because we depend on fishing and shell collecting. Moving inland would make our lives very difficult.”
Across the Solomon Islands, stories like Tuiao’s and Mary’s are increasingly common as rising seas, stronger storms and climate change reshape daily life – flooding gardens, contaminating wells and eroding coastlines.
On Sikaiana, the change is evident: the atoll rises only four meters above sea level, protected only by a narrow strip of mangroves.
For Tuiao, Mary and other Pacific lowland communities, there is no higher ground. Sea walls are too expensive and difficult to install, making resettlement the only viable option.
Sunset over Sikaiana, a remote atoll located more than 200 kilometers from the nearest main island.
The fate of small islands threatened by climate change is one of the issues to be discussed by delegates at the United Nations Climate Conference (COP30) which takes place in Belém, Brazil.
This is not a new challenge.
In 2022, the Solomon Islands Government, with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), launched the Planned Resettlement Guidelines – a framework for managing the resettlement of communities from high-risk areas as a last resort.
IOM is helping the government develop a standard approach for the planned move, ensuring it is transparent, inclusive and respects the dignity of the islanders while securing their long-term future.
As the sun sets in Sikaiana, the waves gently crash against the shore, a steady rhythm that has long defined life on the island. Yet beneath the calm surface lies uncertainty: how long can this lifestyle last?
Like many families in the Solomon Islands, Tuiao and Mary hope that their children will have a secure home and a future they can build with pride. Whether they stay on Sikaiana or move elsewhere, their unity and strength sustain them with dignity.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
Electronics in our clothing: Developing our future wardrobes
Clothes that can monitor our health, help us in our day-to-day lives and enhance our entertainment experiences are
UCLA Scientists Uncover How Gut Bacteria Rapidly Adapt to Support Human Health
Across Europe and beyond, scientists are increasingly discovering that the invisible world inside our bodies holds the key to better health. The human gut is home to trillions of microorganisms — a vast ecosystem known as the microbiome — that plays a central role in how we digest food, fight disease, and regulate our immune system. Research into this microbial community is transforming modern medicine, suggesting that nurturing a healthy gut could improve wellbeing in ways once thought impossible.
Every person carries a population of microbes in their gastrointestinal tract that outnumbers their body’s own human cells. Many of these microscopic residents help by producing essential vitamins, nutrients, and protective compounds, while others contribute indirectly by crowding out harmful bacteria. The balance of this internal ecosystem is crucial to our overall health and, as new research shows, its adaptability may be one of its most powerful traits.
A team of scientists from the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) at UCLA has uncovered a genetic mechanism that helps bacteria in the gut evolve at remarkable speed. The study, published in Science, focuses on what are known as diversity-generating retroelements, or DGRs — small clusters of genes that can deliberately introduce changes in bacterial DNA. These controlled mutations allow bacteria to adapt quickly to new conditions, giving them a competitive edge and a better chance to thrive.
Researchers discovered that DGRs are more abundant in the gut microbiome than in any other environment measured on Earth. Yet their impact inside the human body had not been fully understood until now. According to the study, about one-quarter of these elements target genes essential for bacteria to attach to surfaces and form new colonies — a key step in establishing a community within the digestive tract.
The scientists also found that DGRs are not confined to one organism. They can move between bacterial strains and are even passed from mothers to their infants, helping newborns populate their own digestive systems from the start. This ability to share adaptive traits may ensure that beneficial bacteria take hold early and stay resilient throughout life.
“One of the real mysteries in the microbiome is exactly how bacteria colonize us,” said Jeff F. Miller, senior author of the study, director of the California NanoSystems Institute, and professor of microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics at UCLA. “It’s a highly dynamic system intimately connected with human physiology, and this knowledge about DGRs could one day be applied for engineering beneficial microbiomes that promote good health.”
The research represents a significant step toward understanding how the microbial world within us evolves and maintains the delicate balance that supports human life. As efforts grow in Europe and around the world to develop probiotics and therapies that strengthen the microbiome, these findings offer a glimpse into how we might one day design microbial ecosystems that actively promote health and prevent disease.
For more information, visit the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA website.
Source: UCLA, Science Journal.
Rights chief warns ‘abominable atrocities’ likely continue in Sudan’s El Fasher
“Today, traumatised civilians are still trapped inside El Fasher and are being prevented from leaving,” said UN human rights chief Volker Türk in a statement released on Friday.
“I fear that the abominable atrocities such as summary executions, rape and ethnically motivated violence are continuing within the city.”
The statement comes amid mounting reports from UN human rights watchdogs and other experts of widespread violence and war crimes after the city of El Fasher fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia on 23 October this year, which has been battling former allies-turned-rivals – the military government in Khartoum – for control of Sudan for over two years.
Violence continues even for those who managed to flee the city, since exit routes have become scenes of “unimaginable cruelty,” Mr. Türk added.
No sign of de-escalation
The High Commissioner said that since the capture of El Fasher civilian casualties, destruction and mass displacement have been mounting.
He further warned that developments on the ground show “clear preparations for intensified hostilities, with everything that implies for its long-suffering people.”
In an interview with UN News on Thursday, UN Special Adviser on genocide prevention Chaloka Beyani raised concerns over allegations of war crimes in El Fasher.
“We see massive violations of international human rights law, direct attacks on civilians, non-compliance with international humanitarian law, which regulates conduct in relation to hostilities, and that the attacks are largely on civilians,” he said.
On Friday, UN independent experts also voiced concern over the humanitarian situation, pointing out “sadistic levels” of sexual violence and abuse.
“We are appalled by credible reports of ethnically targeted summary executions of civilians in El Fasher by the RSF, which are prohibited under international law and constitute war crimes and may also amount to crimes against humanity,” they said. “They must cease immediately and prompt independent investigations are critical.”
Reported ceasefire agreement
The RSF reportedly agreed to a ceasefire on Thursday, proposed by the United States and Arab countries – but the national army has not signed on and attacks are continuing, according to news reports, including explosions around government-held Khartoum.
Meanwhile, UN agencies continue to push for an end to hostilities.
“The Security Council’s arms embargo is clear: the provision of continuing military support to sustain parties committing serious violations must stop,” said Mr. Türk.
He repeated his plea for an “immediate end to the violence both in Darfur and Kordofan,” adding that “bold and urgent action is required by the international community.”
The UN Human Rights Council will hold a special session on the situation in and around El Fasher, on Friday 14 November.
World News in Brief: Russian rights abuses in Ukraine, US a no-show for rights review, Orlando Blooms highlights Rohingya plight
During their mission from 2 to 6 November, the three members of the Human Rights Council-mandated Commission of Inquiry met survivors, families of victims and human rights groups in Kyiv.
“People spoke of unimaginable suffering – homes destroyed, loved ones killed, and lives upended,” said chairperson Erik Møse.
The investigators – who are not UN staff and receive no salary for their work – said they documented continuing violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, mostly committed by Russian forces and officials, including indiscriminate attacks, torture, deportations and sexual violence.
These, they concluded, amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The team also investigated abuses by Ukrainian forces, such as arbitrary detention and ill-treatment of people accused of collaboration, though limited access prevented full inquiries.
Justice must prevail
After hearing victims’ testimonies, the investigators renewed their call for accountability and reparations. “Justice must honour those whose lives were deliberately cut short,” they said, stressing the need for mental health and psychosocial support for survivors.
The visit follows the investigators’ latest report to the UN General Assembly, which detailed Russia’s coordinated actions to drive out Ukrainian civilians from occupied areas and forcibly transfer them elsewhere.
UN rights body regrets US withdrawal from human rights review
The UN Human Rights Council has expressed regret over the United States’ decision not to take part in a key review of its human rights record, scheduled for this week in Geneva.
The review, known as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), is a process in which all UN Member States have their human rights performance examined by their peers.
The US was due to appear before the Council’s Working Group on Friday but declined to do so – the first time the country has refused to take part in its own review.
Jürg Lauber (centre), President of the UN Human Rights Council, presides the meeting of the scheduled universal periodic review of the United States of America.
Postponed
Council members urged Washington to resume cooperation with the UPR and said they would reschedule the review for 2026, though it could take place earlier if the US re-engages.
The decision follows the Trump administration’s recent disengagement from the Human Rights Council itself, although all UN Member States that are not among the 47 members of the Council remain observers, able to represent themselves during proceedings.
The previous US withdrawal, in 2018 under the first Trump administration, did not prevent the country from taking part in its 2020 UPR – making this year’s absence unprecedented.
Documents compiled for the planned review, including reports by UN experts and civil society groups, remain available online. The US did not submit its own national report before the deadline.
The council said it would continue efforts to persuade the US to return to the process, stressing that the UPR system relies on equal participation by all 193 UN Member States.
Orlando Bloom highlights plight of Myanmar’s Rohingya
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom visited Bangladesh this week to see the impact of severe cuts to aid work on children living in camps in Cox’s Bazar.
The star actor met some of the 500,000 children in the vast camp, along with their families.
They are “100 per cent dependent on aid”, but it is shrinking, he warned.
At risk from the funding cuts are education, health, protection and survival for people in the camps who are mainly ethnic Rohingya who fled persecution in neighbouring Myanmar – most of them following an systematic military operation in August 2017.
“It’s a very transient environment, there are so many people coming and going,” the veteran British actor and UNICEF champion observed.
Precarious and unstable
“We met a mother who has just arrived who still feels you just had to flee the conflict. It felt very unstable and unsafe. So, this is really, a lifeline for these families in these communities and without their support, they have nothing.”
In June, UNICEF had to temporarily close most schools in Cox’s Bazar because of funding shortages; almost 150,000 children were affected.
And although youngsters of all ages recently went back to class after a fundraising push, the threat of an imminent funding shortfall in early 2026 risks closing all schools again, potentially impacting more than 300,000 children.
