The World Health Organization said on Wednesday its newly formed advisory group on dangerous pathogens may be “our last chance” to determine the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and urged China to provide data from early cases. The first human cases of COVID-19 were reported in the central Chinese city …

Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have warned Western diplomats that insisting on sanctions as a means to pressure their governance could undermine security and trigger a wave of economic refugees. The acting foreign minister of the Taliban government, Amir Khan Muttaqi, told the US and European envoys during recent talks in Qatar …

Hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons have launched a hunger strike in protest against the regime’s intensified crackdown on detainees. The Palestinian Prisoners Club said in a statement on Wednesday that some of the Islamic Jihad captives were on a hunger strike, demanding an end to repressive measures imposed …

Facebook Inc will now count activists and journalists as “involuntary” public figures and so increase protections against harassment and bullying targeted at these groups, its global safety chief said in an interview this week. The social media company, which allows more critical commentary of public figures than of private individuals, …

Researchers in the Netherlands are developing laser technology to enable “virtually painless” injections without needles in what they call a breakthrough that will ease fear and lower the threshold for vaccinations. The “Bubble Gun” uses a laser to push tiny droplets through the outer layer of the skin, said David …

A massive fire broke out in the main hall of the El Gouna Film Festival site in Egypt on Wednesday, one day ahead of the opening ceremony of the fifth edition, according to social media videos and local media reports. The festival will go on as scheduled on Thursday, organizers …

The State of Law coalition confirmed today, Tuesday, that these elections were not at the level of transparent, fair and secure elections. In an interview with Al-GhadeerTv, a former coalition member, Ali Al-Ghanimi, said that “the technical aspects of the elections are not secured, as there are large numbers of …

The Iraqi military intelligence raided a facility for manufacturing Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) from the remnants of the ISIS terrorist organization in al-Shora sub-district, 45 kilometers to the southeast of Mosul, Nineveh’s capital city. A press release of the military intelligence directorate said that the intelligence of the 16th division …

Huqooq (Rights) movement and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq movement lambasted the poll’s results announced by the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), warning of escalation if it insists to refrain from the manual recount. In a joint press conference with Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq leader Hasan Salim, the head of the Huqooq movement, …

Russian President Vladimir Putin has brushed off allegations that Moscow is using energy as a “weapon,” saying Europe’s gas shortage is largely caused by “systematic flaws” in the continent’s energy market. Speaking at a forum in the Russian capital, Moscow, the president blamed the “flaws” in the European energy market, …

Fighting has escalated between Ethiopia’s national army and rebels from Tigray, days after Addis Ababa launched a new major offensive in the restive northern region. Getachew Reda, a spokesman for the rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), said on Wednesday that there had been fresh clashes between the Tigrayan rebels …

A shooting incident has left three US Postal Service employees at a Memphis postal facility dead, authorities said. The shooting happened on Tuesday afternoon at the East Lamar Carrier Annex, according to the Memphis Police Department. One of the victims was identified as 37-year-old Demetria Dortch by WHBQ and another …

Climate activists have filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, accusing him of “crimes against humanity” for his alleged role in the destruction of the Amazon. In an official complaint filed at The Hague-based court on Tuesday, activists with the Austrian environmental advocacy …

France says one of its soldiers has been killed during a “maintenance operation” in northern Mali. French Defense Minister Florence Parly said on Wednesday that non-commissioned officer Adrien Quelin “died [on Tuesday] following an accident that occurred during a maintenance operation in Timbuktu.” According to French Government Spokesperson Gabriel Attal, an investigation …

China says recent military drills near Chinese Taipei were a “just” move aimed at protecting the country’s sovereignty and integrity against Taipei’s “collusion” with foreign forces. China carried out beach landing and assault drills in the province directly across the sea from Chinese Taipei on Monday, one week after former …

Japan’s ruling conservative party has presented its campaign on a platform of increasing the country’s defense spending to counter alleged threats from China and North Korea. Announcing the pledge on Tuesday, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) also promised to “seek responsible actions” over alleged human rights issues related to Uyghurs, Tibet, ethnic …

US Vice President Kamala Harris has said the United States must face up to its “shameful past” with tribal nations. According to Press TV, Harris was speaking at the National Congress of American Indians 78th Annual Convention, held this year in Portland, Oregon. She called on Americans of all backgrounds …

The United States has launched an investigation to find out whether some aides to former President Donald Trump took gifts that were meant to be given to foreign officials. The State Department Office of Inspector General is reportedly on the case to see if they took thousands of dollars’ worth …

Al-Fateh Alliance issued a new comment on the results of the Independent High Electoral Commission on Wednesday. The Alliance said in a brief statement, a copy of which was received by Al-Ghadeer, that a large number of entities and candidates are challenging the election results due to the loss of their votes …

A record number of Americans quit their jobs in the month of August, says the US Labor Department, with walkouts mostly hitting the food and retail sector. Over 4.3 million workers left their jobs, breaking a record that had stood since the  year 2000. “As job openings and hires fell …