United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said the World Health Organisation was “irreplaceable". AFP
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said the World Health Organisation was “irreplaceable". AFP
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said the World Health Organisation was “irreplaceable". AFP
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said the World Health Organisation was “irreplaceable". AFP

World

UN chief: coronavirus pandemic is unleashing a 'tsunami of hate'

Health crisis has brought about increase in discrimination worldwide, Antonio Guterres says

Associated Press

May 08, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

The coronavirus pandemic is unleashing “a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering”, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Friday as he appealed for “an all-out effort to end hate speech globally".

The UN chief said “anti-foreigner sentiment has surged online and in the streets, anti-Semitic conspiracy theories have spread, and Covid-19-related anti-Muslim attacks have occurred”.

Migrants and refugees “have been vilified as a source of the virus — and then denied access to medical treatment”, Mr Guterres said.

“With older persons among the most vulnerable, contemptible memes have emerged suggesting they are also the most expendable,” he said. “And journalists, whistleblowers, health professionals, aid workers and human rights defenders are being targeted simply for doing their jobs.”

Mr Guterres called on political leaders to show solidarity with all people, on educational institutions to focus on “digital literacy” at a time when “extremists are seeking to prey on captive and potentially despairing audiences”.

The UN chief called on the media, especially social media, to “remove racist, misogynist and other harmful content”, asked civil society to strengthen their outreach to vulnerable people and urged religious figures to serve as “models of mutual respect.”

“And I ask everyone, everywhere, to stand up against hate, treat each other with dignity and take every opportunity to spread kindness,” Mr Guterres said.

He stressed that Covid-19 “does not care who we are, where we live, what we believe or about any other distinction”.

His global appeal to address and counter Covid-19-related hate speech follows his April 23 message calling the coronarivus pandemic “a human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis”.

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Coronavirus around the world

Medical personnel carry out the transfer of residents from a nursing home who tested positive for the COVID-19 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. EPA
Medical personnel carry out the transfer of residents from a nursing home who tested positive for the COVID-19 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. EPA
A nurse administers care to a patient in the acute care COVID unit at Harborview Medical Center on May 7, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. AFP
A nurse administers care to a patient in the acute care COVID unit at Harborview Medical Center on May 7, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. AFP
A member of a disinfection team walks along swabbing booths at a testing center for COVID-19 disease at the SM MOA Arena in Manila, Philippines. EPA
A member of a disinfection team walks along swabbing booths at a testing center for COVID-19 disease at the SM MOA Arena in Manila, Philippines. EPA
BBC Television Centre in London is lit up in tribute to the National Health Service workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. PA via AP
BBC Television Centre in London is lit up in tribute to the National Health Service workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. PA via AP
Members of a team dedicated to burying Muslim victims of the new coronavirus disinfect their tools at the Langata Muslim cemetery, in Nairobi, Kenya. AP Photo
Members of a team dedicated to burying Muslim victims of the new coronavirus disinfect their tools at the Langata Muslim cemetery, in Nairobi, Kenya. AP Photo
A soldier of French antiterrorist plan "Vigipirate Mission" patrols front of Sacre Coeur Basilica in the Montmartre district in Paris, France. AP Photo
A soldier of French antiterrorist plan "Vigipirate Mission" patrols front of Sacre Coeur Basilica in the Montmartre district in Paris, France. AP Photo
Commuters adhere to physical distancing measures while queueing at the Germiston Taxi Rank, near Johannesburg, South Africa. AFP
Commuters adhere to physical distancing measures while queueing at the Germiston Taxi Rank, near Johannesburg, South Africa. AFP
Visitors wear protective masks as they tour the Forbidden City, which recently re-opened to limited visitors, in Beijing, China. Getty Images
Visitors wear protective masks as they tour the Forbidden City, which recently re-opened to limited visitors, in Beijing, China. Getty Images
Women wearing face mask protection to prevent the spread of the coronavirus talk seated on a bench in a public park, in Pamplona, northern Spain. AP Photo
Women wearing face mask protection to prevent the spread of the coronavirus talk seated on a bench in a public park, in Pamplona, northern Spain. AP Photo
French singer Veronica Antonelli sings from her apartment window in Paris. AP Photo
French singer Veronica Antonelli sings from her apartment window in Paris. AP Photo
Rosa Leyva, right, and her nephew Viridiana wait for customers at her stall where she sells plastic flower arrangements and religious images, outside the San Rafael cemetery, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Reuters
Rosa Leyva, right, and her nephew Viridiana wait for customers at her stall where she sells plastic flower arrangements and religious images, outside the San Rafael cemetery, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Reuters
Australian residents returning from India are ushered towards waiting buses for the beginning of their 14-day mandatory quarantine, after arriving at Sydney International Airport in Sydney, Australia. EPA
Australian residents returning from India are ushered towards waiting buses for the beginning of their 14-day mandatory quarantine, after arriving at Sydney International Airport in Sydney, Australia. EPA
People, who were detained for violating El Salvador's nationwide lockdown measures, protest after authorities did not release them despite having served their mandatory quarantine at a detention center, in San Salvador, El Salvador. Reuters
People, who were detained for violating El Salvador's nationwide lockdown measures, protest after authorities did not release them despite having served their mandatory quarantine at a detention center, in San Salvador, El Salvador. Reuters
Protesters calling for Gov. Gavin Newsom to ease stay-at-home order caused by the coronavirus, gather at the Capitol in Sacramento, California, USA. AP Photo
Protesters calling for Gov. Gavin Newsom to ease stay-at-home order caused by the coronavirus, gather at the Capitol in Sacramento, California, USA. AP Photo

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Mr Guterres said then that the pandemic had seen “disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targeting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response”.

With “rising ethno-nationalism, populism, authoritarianism and a push back against human rights in some countries, the crisis can provide a pretext to adopt repressive measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic,” he warned.

In February, Mr Guterres issued a call to action to countries, businesses and people to help renew and revive human rights across the globe, laying out a seven-point plan amid concerns about climate change, conflict and repression.

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Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

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Started: established in 2016 and launched in July 2017
Based: Singapore, with offices in the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand
Sector: FinTech, wealth management
Initial investment: $500,000 in seed round 1 in 2016; $2.2m in seed round 2 in 2017; $5m in series A round in 2018; $12m in series B round in 2019; $16m in series C round in 2020 and $25m in series D round in 2021
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.

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What's in the deal?

Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024

India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.

India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.

Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments

India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery

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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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