All hypotheses on Covid-19 origins 'remain on the table': WHO chief
"As things stand, all hypotheses must remain on the table, including zoonotic spillover and lab leak," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference, adding that much of the required information requested, notably from China, had not been provided.
AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
L'Orient-Le Jour
a day ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
UN says record 383 aid workers killed in 2024
A record 383 aid workers were killed in 2024, the United Nations said Tuesday, branding the figures and lack of accountability a "shameful indictment" of international apathy — and warned this year's toll was equally disturbing. The 2024 figure was up 31 percent on the year before, the U.N. said on World Humanitarian Day, "driven by the relentless conflicts in Gaza, where 181 humanitarian workers were killed, and in Sudan, where 60 lost their lives." It said state actors were the most common perpetrators of the killings in 2024. The U.N. said most of those killed were local staff and were either attacked in the line of duty or in their homes. Besides those killed, 308 aid workers were wounded, 125 kidnapped and 45 detained last year. "Even one attack against a humanitarian colleague is an attack on all of us and on the people we serve," said U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher. "Attacks on this scale, with zero accountability, are a shameful indictment of international inaction and apathy." "As the humanitarian community, we demand — again — that those with power and influence act for humanity, protect civilians and aid workers and hold perpetrators to account." Provisional figures from the Aid Worker Security Database show that 265 aid workers have been killed this year, as of August 14. The U.N. reiterated that attacks on aid workers and operations violate international humanitarian law and damage the lifelines sustaining millions of people trapped in war and disaster zones. "Violence against aid workers is not inevitable. It must end," said Fletcher, the U.N. emergency relief coordinator and under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs. Meanwhile, the U.N.'s World Health Organization said it had verified more than 800 attacks on health care in 16 territories so far this year, with more than 1,110 health workers and patients killed and hundreds injured. "Each attack inflicts lasting harm, deprives entire communities of life-saving care when they need it the most, endangers health care providers, and weakens already strained health systems," the WHO said. World Humanitarian Day marks the day in 2003 when U.N. rights chief Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 other humanitarians were killed in the bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad.
L'Orient-Le Jour
12-08-2025
- L'Orient-Le Jour
WHO wants more aid in Gaza before Israeli occupation
The U.N. health agency on Tuesday said Israel should let it stock medical supplies to deal with a "catastrophic" health situation in Gaza before it seizes control of Gaza City. Israel has said its military would "take control" of Gaza City in a plan approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet that sparked a wave of global criticism. "We want to stock up, and we all hear about 'more humanitarian supplies are allowed in.' Well, it's not happening yet, or it's happening at a way too low a pace," said Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization's representative in the Palestinian territories. Fifty-two percent of medicines were running at zero stock, Peeperkorn said, speaking from Jerusalem. U.N. agencies warned last month that famine was unfolding in Gaza, with Israel severely restricting aid entry. Peeperkorn said the WHO was able to bring in fewer supplies than it wanted "due to the cumbersome procedures" and products "still denied" entry, a topic of constant negotiation with the Israeli authorities. "We want to quickly stock up hospitals... following the news. The whole discussion about an incursion in Gaza," he said. "We currently cannot do that... We need to be able to get all essential medicines and medical supplies in." Peeperkorn said only 50 percent of hospitals and 38 percent of primary health care centres were functioning, and that too partially. Bed occupancy has reached 240 percent capacity in the Al-Shifa hospital and 300 percent in the al-Ahli Hospital in northern Gaza. "The overall health situation remains catastrophic," he said. "Hunger and malnutrition continue to ravage Gaza." Peeperkorn said 148 people died from the effects of malnutrition this year, citing Aug. 5 as the cut-off date. Nearly 12,000 children aged under five were identified to be suffering from acute malnutrition in July, the highest monthly figure recorded to date in Gaza, Peeperkorn said. These include 2,562 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, of whom 40 were hospitalised at stabilization centres.
L'Orient-Le Jour
07-08-2025
- L'Orient-Le Jour
One killed in Israeli strike on Baalbeck district; Cabinet discusses Hezbollah disarmament in Baabda
Israeli army kills one in Baalbeck district drone strike One person has been killed in an Israeli drone strike that hit the Baalbeck district village of Kfar Dan, near the shrine of prophet Joseph, our correspondent in the Bekaa reports. According to our information, the victim was targeted while walking through the village. The Bekaa has come increasingly under attack in recent days amid Israel's ongoing aggressions against Lebanon, despite the cease-fire in place since November 2024. Cabinet meeting: 'I will never accept that the state abandons its own' Labor Minister Mohammad Haidar, part of Hezbollah's quota in the government, spoke out against any attempt to disarm the party before the Israeli army ends its attacks and occupation of southern Lebanon. 'I am a son of this people," Haidar said. "How could I face the mother of a martyr, a father still living in a tent, or a young man who lives every day in existential anguish, and tell him that he must submit and give up the only guarantee that protects him?' "We cannot talk about disarming 'The Resistance' until the enemy has withdrawn, our prisoners have returned, the attacks have stopped, and reconstruction has begun," he continued. "Otherwise, I am sorry, but I cannot take responsibility for an unjust decision against my people, and I will never accept that the state abandons its own." Gaza sees highest yet acute malnutrition rates in children Gaza has seen its highest monthly figure of acute malnutrition in children, with hunger-related deaths rising in the enclave, the Director General of the World Health Organization said, as Israel continues its suffocating blockade of the Strip, inducing a man-made famine. "In July, nearly 12,000 children under five years were identified as having acute malnutrition in Gaza, the highest monthly figure ever recorded," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said from WHO's headquarters in Geneva. At least 99 people have died, including 64 adults and 35 children, including 29 below 5-years old since the start of this year to July 29, Tedros said. Some 2,500 of those children are suffering from severe malnutrition, according to the WHO. 17:01 Beirut Time Cabinet meeting: Hezbollah says disarmament 'free service' to Israel Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, 'Loyalty to the Resistance,' issued a statement in parallel with the ongoing Cabinet meeting at Baabda Palace, describing the government's decision to disarm Hezbollah as a 'free service' rendered to Israel. 'We call on the Lebanese government to correct the situation it has put Lebanon in, having bowed to American demands that serve the interests of the enemy,' the statement reads. 15:48 Beirut Time U.S. President Donald Trump said it was very important to him that all 'Middle Eastern countries adhere to the Abraham Accords, ' according to Reuters. In 2020, the Abraham Accords, negotiated by Donald Trump during his first term, led to the normalization of relations between several Arab countries, including Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. 15:41 Beirut Time Israeli minister announces reconstruction of settlement in occupied West Bank Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced Thursday that the Sa-Nur settlement in the West Bank — evacuated by Israel in 2005 — will be rebuilt, according to AFP. 'We are correcting the sin of the expulsion,' said Smotrich, who accompanied a group of families preparing to resettle the ruins of the northern West Bank outpost. 'Even back then, we knew that even if the expulsion sadly happened, one day we would return to every place we were driven out of. That includes Gaza, and it's even more true here,' he added. 15:41 Beirut Time Cabinet convenes in Baabda The Cabinet meeting has started in Baabda Presidential Palace. Of the Hezbollah-Amal ministers, only Yassine Jaber (Finance, Amal) is absent. 15:40 Beirut Time Cabinet meets on state weapons monopoly As the Cabinet meets to continue discussing the state's exclusive control over arms, ministers Tamara Elzein (Amal, Environment), Mohammad Haidar (Hezbollah, Labor), and Rakan Nasreddine (Hezbollah, Health) have arrived at Baabda Presidential Palace, according to our reporter on site. Before the session began, President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam held a private meeting, the presidency announced. Earlier in the day, the president told Saudi outlet Al-Hadath that today's session would 'finalize decision-making on the weapons monopoly.' 13:42 Beirut Time The Lebanese Army recovered two defective Israeli drones in Yaroun, in the district of Bint Jbeil, in southern Lebanon, according to our correspondent. He specifies that these are two robotic drones, which means that they are remotely piloted to carry out missions such as detonating mines or surveilling locations. 13:42 Beirut Time Flotilla off the coast of Gaza to demand release of hostages The families of Israeli hostages boarded several boats this morning and set sail for the coast of the Gaza Strip in order to get 'as close as possible' to their loved ones held captive by Hamas, according to an AFP videographer on board one of the boats. 'Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! We need all the international help we can get to rescue the hostages,' said Yehouda Cohen, the father of a hostage and a member of the group that set sail from the Israeli port of Ashkelon, on the northern border of the Gaza Strip, and was joined at sea by several other boats. 13:41 Beirut Time Four new deaths due to starvation, malnutrition in Gaza Hospitals in the Gaza Strip have recorded four new deaths 'due to starvation and malnutrition in the last 24 hours,' Al Jazeera reported, citing the enclave's Health Ministry. This brings the total number of starvation-related deaths to 197, including 96 children. 'The latest victim of starvation is a two-year-old girl who died in the al-Mawassi area,' near Khan Younis, the channel reported. 12:45 Beirut Time Famine, displacement, killings in Gaza 'very much resemble' genocide: Senior European official A senior European Union official told Politico that famine, displacement and killings in Gaza 'very much resemble' genocide. According to the newspaper, this is one of the 'strongest condemnations of Israel by Brussels since the start of the war.' European Commission Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera emphasized: "What we are seeing is a population being targeted, killed, and condemned to starve. A population is confined, homeless — their homes destroyed — without food, water, or medicine — denied access — and subjected to bombing and shooting even when trying to obtain humanitarian aid. All humanity is absent, and no witnesses are allowed. She added: 'If this is not genocide, it very much resembles the definition used to express its meaning.' Ribera also said that the EU should consider suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which is the basis of their trade and economic relations. 11:01 Beirut Time Israeli strikes targeted Hezbollah weapons, construction equipment: Army Commenting on this series of strikes, the Israeli army said, through its Arabic-speaking spokesman Avichay Adraee, that it had attacked 'Hezbollah targets, including weapons warehouses, a missile launch pad,' and 'construction equipment intended for the reconstruction of terrorist infrastructure.' 11:01 Beirut Time Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon last night killed 1 person The Lebanese Health Ministry and our local correspondent reported one death in the series of 20 Israeli nighttime strikes on southern Lebanon. According to our correspondent, the victim was a Syrian worker who was maintaining construction equipment in a garage that was hit by an Israeli missile. 11:01 Beirut Time 23 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since dawn At least 23 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombings on Gaza since the early hours of the day, according to medical sources cited by Al-Jazeera. Among the casualties, at least six Palestinians were killed in a strike on a tent in the al-Mawassi area, west of Khan Younis. Earlier, 17 other people were killed in the besieged enclave, according to the Qatari media outlet. 11:01 Beirut Time Humanitarian situation in Gaza remains 'very serious': European official The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains 'very serious,' an EU official told Reuters after EU foreign policy and humanitarian aid officials briefed member countries last night on the progress of an agreement reached last month with Israel to facilitate humanitarian access to Gaza. The official noted that there had been 'some positive developments' regarding fuel deliveries, the reopening of some roads, an upward trend in the number of trucks entering the enclave daily, and the repair of some vital infrastructure. However, he added that 'significant obstacles continue to hamper humanitarian operations and the delivery of aid to Gaza, including the lack of a secure operating environment that would allow for the large-scale distribution of aid.'
