Trump efforts to rein in spy agencies hamper coronavirus response
4 years, 11 months ago

Trump efforts to rein in spy agencies hamper coronavirus response

Al Jazeera  

Washington, DC – United States President Donald Trump, adopting the mantle of “war-time president” in his struggle to contain the coronavirus outbreak, has – wittingly or not – opened an entirely new front in that war, one that critics of the president believe could hamper the US’s wider efforts to mitigate the pandemic. President Trump’s comments and competing leaks of intelligence reports coming out of the White House and Congress signal “there is just a deep undercurrent of distrust”, Roach told Al Jazeera. Trump said at the time Coats was sacked that his next pick for the top intelligence post would “rein in” US spy agencies that had “run amok”. US intelligence officials began warning the Trump administration as early as late November and December that contagion was sweeping through China’s Wuhan region, according to a report by ABC News on Wednesday. A bipartisan group of eight senators warned Trump in a letter on Wednesday against the removal of Atkinson “without clear substantial reasons” and said the president’s action “circumvented Congress’s role”.

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History of this topic

Trump intel officials testify on threat from drug cartels as Dems press them on leak of attack plans
1 day, 2 hours ago

Trump intel officials testify on threat from drug cartels as Dems press them on leak of attack plans

Associated Press  

▶ Follow live updates on President Donald Trump and his administration WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s top intelligence officials stressed to Congress the threat they said was posed by international criminal gangs, drug cartels and human smuggling, testifying in a hearing Tuesday that unfolded against the backdrop of a security breach involving the mistaken leak of attack plans to a …

As Trump flirts with Russia, allies grow wary of sharing intelligence with US: Report
2 weeks, 5 days ago

As Trump flirts with Russia, allies grow wary of sharing intelligence with US: Report

Firstpost  

According to the report, among the US allies considering scaling back intelligence co-operation are Saudi Arabia, Israel as well as members of the Five Eyes alliance, which consists of US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada Daily newspapers with covers, dedicated to the recent phone call of Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, are laid out at …

How Trump’s government-cutting moves risk exposing the CIA’s secrets
1 month ago

How Trump’s government-cutting moves risk exposing the CIA’s secrets

CNN  

Washington CNN — The CIA is conducting a formal review to assess any potential damage from an unclassified email sent to the White House in early February that identified for possible layoffs some officers by first name and last initial and could’ve exposed the roles of people working undercover, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. “They now assume …

CIA says ‘more likely’ COVID-19 originated from a lab
1 month, 3 weeks ago

CIA says ‘more likely’ COVID-19 originated from a lab

Al Jazeera  

The intelligence agency says it has ‘low confidence’ in the assessment and will continue to evaluate credible information. The CIA’s “low confidence” assessment comes after John Ratcliffe was on Thursday sworn in as director of the top intelligence agency under United States President Donald Trump. “We have low confidence in this judgement and will continue to evaluate any available credible …

CIA Shifts View on Covid-19 Cause to Lab Leak ‘More Likely’
1 month, 3 weeks ago

CIA Shifts View on Covid-19 Cause to Lab Leak ‘More Likely’

Live Mint  

-- The Central Intelligence Agency said the Covid-19 pandemic “more likely” originated from a lab leak than a natural source, shifting its stance after previously saying both scenarios were possible. “CIA assesses with low confidence that a research-related origin of the COVID-19 pandemic is more likely than a natural origin based on the available body of reporting,” a spokesperson for …

CIA on COVID origin: US Intelligence Agency believes virus came from lab in China, but has low-confidence in finding
1 month, 3 weeks ago

CIA on COVID origin: US Intelligence Agency believes virus came from lab in China, but has low-confidence in finding

Live Mint  

The CIA now believes the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated from a laboratory, according to an assessment released Saturday that points the finger at China even while acknowledging that the spy agency has “low confidence” in its own conclusion. The CIA "continues to assess that both research-related and natural origin scenarios of the COVID-19 pandemic remain …

US intelligence agency says Covid 'more likely' leaked from Chinese lab
2 months ago

US intelligence agency says Covid 'more likely' leaked from Chinese lab

India Today  

The Central Intelligence Agency has shifted its official stance on the origin of Covid-19, saying Saturday that the virus was "more likely" leaked from a Chinese lab than transmitted by animals. "CIA assesses with low confidence that a research-related origin of the COVID-19 pandemic is more likely than a natural origin based on the available body of reporting," a CIA …

US intelligence report on COVID-19 origins rejects some points raised by lab leak theory proponents
1 year, 9 months ago

US intelligence report on COVID-19 origins rejects some points raised by lab leak theory proponents

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — U.S. officials released an intelligence report Friday that rejected some points raised by those who argue COVID-19 leaked from a Chinese lab, instead reiterating that American spy agencies remain divided over how the pandemic began. But the report says U.S. intelligence “has no information, however, indicating that any WIV genetic engineering work has involved SARS-CoV-2, a close progenitor, …

Coronavirus origins still a mystery 3 years into pandemic
2 years ago

Coronavirus origins still a mystery 3 years into pandemic

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — A crucial question has eluded governments and health agencies around the world since the COVID-19 pandemic began: Did the virus originate in animals or leak from a Chinese lab? “There is just not an intelligence community consensus.” The DOE’s conclusion was first reported over the weekend in the Wall Street Journal, which said the classified report was based …

Coronavirus origins still a mystery 3 years into pandemic
2 years ago

Coronavirus origins still a mystery 3 years into pandemic

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “There is just not an …

Covid Pandemic Likely Resulted From China Lab Leak, Say Reports Citing Confidential US Dept Study
2 years ago

Covid Pandemic Likely Resulted From China Lab Leak, Say Reports Citing Confidential US Dept Study

ABP News  

The Covid pandemic most likely resulted from a laboratory leak, concluded the US Energy Department in a classified intelligence report recently presented to the White House and key members of Congress. In a shift from its stance, the Energy Department which was previously not clear on the emergence of the virus, noted in an update to a 2021 document by …

COVID-19 pandemic most likely began with a lab leak, U.S. Department of Energy says
2 years ago

COVID-19 pandemic most likely began with a lab leak, U.S. Department of Energy says

LA Times  

Security personnel stand guard outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology as members of the World Health Organization team investigating the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic visit on Feb. 3, 2021. Now, the U.S. Department of Energy has assessed with “low confidence” that it began with a lab leak, according to a person familiar with the report who wasn’t authorized to …

US claims Covid likely emerged from China laboratory leak: Report
2 years ago

US claims Covid likely emerged from China laboratory leak: Report

Live Mint  

The coronavirus pandemic likely arose from a Chinese laboratory leak, the US Department of Energy now says according to media, although the White House maintained Sunday that American intelligence remained divided on the issue. The determination -- noted in a classified report by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines's office, The Wall Street Journal reported -- marks a shift by …

One year after Afghanistan, spy agencies pivot toward China
2 years, 7 months ago

One year after Afghanistan, spy agencies pivot toward China

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — In a recent closed-door meeting with leaders of the agency’s counterterrorism center, the CIA’s No. the way China can.” CIA spokesperson Tammy Thorp noted that terrorism “remains a very real challenge.” “Even as crises such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and strategic challenges such as that posed by the People’s Republic of China demand our attention, CIA will …

US intelligence still divided on origins of coronavirus
3 years, 6 months ago

US intelligence still divided on origins of coronavirus

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence agencies remain divided on the origins of the coronavirus but believe China’s leaders did not know about the virus before the start of the global pandemic, according to results released Friday of a review ordered by President Joe Biden. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a statement Friday that China “continues to …

Origins of COVID may never be definitively identified, says US Intelligence Community
3 years, 6 months ago

Origins of COVID may never be definitively identified, says US Intelligence Community

India TV News  

Origins of COVID may never be definitively identified, says US Intelligence Community According to results released Friday of a review ordered by President Joe Biden, the US intelligence agencies remain divided on the origins of the coronavirus but believe China’s leaders did not know about the virus before the start of the global pandemic. The US Intelligence Community assesses that …

‘Scapegoating China’: Beijing denounces US report on COVID origin
3 years, 6 months ago

‘Scapegoating China’: Beijing denounces US report on COVID origin

Al Jazeera  

Beijing says the US intelligence community report is based on the presumption of guilt on the part of China and is ‘political manipulation’. China has accused the United States intelligence community of “political manipulation” after a report accused Beijing of withholding key information about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. US President Joe Biden said on Friday that China was …

China slams US ‘scapegoating’ before COVID origin report release
3 years, 7 months ago

China slams US ‘scapegoating’ before COVID origin report release

Al Jazeera  

China decries the US ‘politicisation’ of efforts to trace the origin of the virus ahead of the release of a US intelligence report. China has criticised the “politicisation” by the United States of efforts to trace the origin of the coronavirus, demanding a US military laboratory be investigated, shortly before the release of a US intelligence community report on the …

US Republicans release report saying coronavirus leaked from Wuhan lab
3 years, 7 months ago

US Republicans release report saying coronavirus leaked from Wuhan lab

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A preponderance of evidence proves the virus that caused the …

Coronavirus leaked from China lab, says report by US Republicans
3 years, 7 months ago

Coronavirus leaked from China lab, says report by US Republicans

India Today  

A preponderance of evidence proves the virus that caused the Covid-19 pandemic leaked from a Chinese research facility, said a report by US Republicans released on Monday, a conclusion that US intelligence agencies have not reached. The report also cited "ample evidence" that Wuhan Institute of Virology scientists - aided by US experts and Chinese and US government funds - …

'Fauci's Emails Has A Lot of Useful Information': Chinese Virologist Who Claimed Covid Leaked from Wuhan Lab
3 years, 9 months ago

'Fauci's Emails Has A Lot of Useful Information': Chinese Virologist Who Claimed Covid Leaked from Wuhan Lab

News 18  

Dr Li-Meng Yan, a Chinese virologist who was among the first to claim that coronavirus had leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan city, said US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci’s emails prove that she was right all along. Speaking to an American news and opinion website Newsmax, she said Fauci’s emails has “a lot of useful information” which suggested …

US-China row intensifies over Covid origins probe
3 years, 9 months ago

US-China row intensifies over Covid origins probe

Hindustan Times  

A global row intensified amid renewed calls for an investigation into the origins of the Covid pandemic on Thursday, with Beijing accusing the Biden administration of playing politics and shirking responsibility, even as the US President pledged to release the findings of the US intelligence community’s probe into the matter. On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden ordered intelligence officials to …

China says politics behind US call for virus origin probe
3 years, 9 months ago

China says politics behind US call for virus origin probe

Associated Press  

BEIJING — China on Thursday accused the Biden administration of playing politics and shirking its responsibility in calling for a renewed investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic that was first detected in China in late 2019. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a daily briefing that President Joe Biden’s order showed the U.S. “does not care about …

Politics behind US call for coronavirus origin probe, says China
3 years, 9 months ago

Politics behind US call for coronavirus origin probe, says China

Hindustan Times  

China on Thursday accused the Biden administration of playing politics and shirking its responsibility in calling for a renewed investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic that was first detected in China in late 2019. Biden told US intelligence officials to redouble their efforts to investigate the origins of the pandemic, including any possibility the trail might lead to …

Redouble efforts to investigate Covid origin, submit report in 90 days: Joe Biden tells intelligence
3 years, 9 months ago

Redouble efforts to investigate Covid origin, submit report in 90 days: Joe Biden tells intelligence

India TV News  

Redouble efforts to investigate Covid origin, submit report in 90 days: Joe Biden tells intelligence President Joe Biden has asked the US intelligence community to redouble its efforts to investigates the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. US President Joe Biden asked his intelligence agencies on Wednesday to redouble their efforts to find out the origins of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic …

Wuhan: Biden tasks intelligence community to report on Covid origins in 90 days
3 years, 10 months ago

Wuhan: Biden tasks intelligence community to report on Covid origins in 90 days

CNN  

CNN — President Joe Biden said Wednesday he has directed the US intelligence community to redouble their efforts in investigating the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic and report back to him in 90 days. The President said: “The failure to get our inspectors on the ground in those early months will always hamper any investigation into the origin of COVID-19.” …

US to create center targeting foreign election interference
3 years, 10 months ago

US to create center targeting foreign election interference

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration said Monday that it will establish a new center responding to what the U.S. intelligence community has assessed as attempts by Russia and other adversaries to interfere with American elections. The Foreign Malign Influence Center will be housed in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which coordinates information sharing among U.S. spy agencies. …

China fires back at US allegations of lack of transparency
4 years, 1 month ago

China fires back at US allegations of lack of transparency

Associated Press  

BEIJING — China fired back at the U.S. on Sunday over allegations from the White House that Beijing withheld some information about the coronavirus outbreak from World Health Organization investigators. In a statement on Saturday, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington had “deep concerns about the way in which the early findings of the COVID-19 investigation were …

White House cites 'deep concerns' about WHO Covid-19 report, demands early data from China
4 years, 1 month ago

White House cites 'deep concerns' about WHO Covid-19 report, demands early data from China

India Today  

The White House on Saturday called on China to make available data from the earliest days of the Covid-19 outbreak, saying it has “deep concerns” about the way the findings of the World Health Organization’s Covid-19 report were communicated. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement that it is imperative that the report be independent and …

US: Hack of federal agencies ‘likely Russian in origin’
4 years, 2 months ago

US: Hack of federal agencies ‘likely Russian in origin’

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Top national security agencies confirmed Tuesday that Russia was likely responsible for a massive hack of U.S. government departments and corporations, rejecting President Donald Trump’s claim that China might be to blame. It said the hacks appeared to be intended for “intelligence gathering,” suggesting the evidence so far pointed to a Russian spying effort rather than an attempt …

Trump’s purge of defense agencies comes at a vulnerable time for U.S. national security
4 years, 4 months ago

Trump’s purge of defense agencies comes at a vulnerable time for U.S. national security

Salon  

President Donald Trump's recent firing of Defense Secretary Mark Esper and subsequent resignations from the department of four more top civilian officials — either in protest or under pressure — are raising alarms in Washington. Major personnel changes at America's defense and intelligence agencies make it difficult for these departments to maintain the daily operations that oversee military forces and …

The Latest: Trump takes aim at China in UN address
4 years, 6 months ago

The Latest: Trump takes aim at China in UN address

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Latest from the UN …

Wuhan Officials Kept Beijing in Dark About Coronavirus for Weeks, Find US Intel Agencies
4 years, 7 months ago

Wuhan Officials Kept Beijing in Dark About Coronavirus for Weeks, Find US Intel Agencies

News 18  

US intelligence has gathered information showing that officials in Wuhan, China, kept senior officials in Beijing in the dark for weeks about the virus that resulted in the Covid-19 pandemic, according to US officials familiar with the intelligence. The Trump administration has repeatedly made that accusation and US officials say the Chinese conduct fits a pattern that was While the …

Coronavirus: How Trump killed tens of thousands of Americans.
55 years, 2 months ago

Coronavirus: How Trump killed tens of thousands of Americans.

Slate  

On July 17, President Donald Trump sat for a Fox News interview at the White House. “We have a great relationship with China right now, so I don’t want to speak badly of anyone,” Trump told Laura Ingraham in a Fox News interview on Jan. 10. “They say, ‘Oh, he should do more.’ There’s nothing more you can do.” — …

State Department releases cable that helped spread claims coronavirus emerged from Chinese lab
4 years, 8 months ago

State Department releases cable that helped spread claims coronavirus emerged from Chinese lab

CNN  

CNN — The State Department has released a 2018 diplomatic cable noting that the Wuhan Institute of Virology had “a serious shortage of appropriately trained technicians and investigators needed to safely operate this high-containment laboratory.” Contents of the 2-year-old cable, which were leaked earlier this year, provided fodder for unproven allegations from members of the Trump administration and Congress that …

Was the coronavirus outbreak an intelligence failure?
4 years, 9 months ago

Was the coronavirus outbreak an intelligence failure?

Salon  

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to unfold, it's clear that having better information sooner, and acting more quickly on what was known, could have slowed the spread of the outbreak and saved more people's lives. The role of traditional US intelligence agencies The U.S. intelligence community has for many years considered the possible threat of disease among the potential risks …

WHO approves inquiry into global coronavirus response
4 years, 10 months ago

WHO approves inquiry into global coronavirus response

CNN  

London CNN — The World Health Organization has agreed to hold an inquiry into the global response to the coronavirus pandemic, adopting a resolution a summit that has been overshadowed by President Donald Trump’s threat to permanently cut US funding to the agency. The part of the resolution that had been considered contentious called for “a stepwise process of impartial, …

Pompeo backs away from theory he and Trump were pushing that coronavirus originated in Wuhan lab
4 years, 10 months ago

Pompeo backs away from theory he and Trump were pushing that coronavirus originated in Wuhan lab

CNN  

Washington CNN — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appears to be backing away from a theory he and President Donald Trump were pushing that the coronavirus pandemic may have originated at a lab in Wuhan, China. Pompeo said in an interview with Breitbart that aired Saturday that “we know it began in Wuhan, but we don’t know from where or …

US claims China stealing coronavirus vaccine info fit with Donald Trump's re-election plan
4 years, 10 months ago

US claims China stealing coronavirus vaccine info fit with Donald Trump's re-election plan

ABC  

According to Hollywood, when planet Earth faces an existential threat, be it an asteroid or alien invasion, adversarial nations set aside their differences to unite for a common cause. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says it's an extension of China's "counterproductive actions" throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. "There's some classical espionage going on, but I think all of these governments …

The coronavirus whistleblower outlined Trump's failings today, and it was painful to hear
4 years, 10 months ago

The coronavirus whistleblower outlined Trump's failings today, and it was painful to hear

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Ahead of Dr Rick Bright's highly …

Coronavirus: Trump to look into legislation proposing sanctions on China
4 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus: Trump to look into legislation proposing sanctions on China

The Hindu  

US President Donald Trump has said that he will look into the legislation introduced in the Senate a day earlier that proposes sanctions on China if it fails to cooperate and provide a full accounting of the events leading up to the novel coronavirus outbreak. The legislation is co- “While the Chinese Communist regime has inflicted harm on the US …

China tried to prevent WHO from declaring global emergency on coronavirus, says CIA: Report
4 years, 10 months ago

China tried to prevent WHO from declaring global emergency on coronavirus, says CIA: Report

India Today  

The US intelligence agency body CIA believes China had tried to pressurise the World Health Organisation to prevent it from declaring the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency. According to the report, CIA has said in one of its own intelligence reports that China had threatened WHO of stopping cooperation with the global health watchdog if coronavirus is declared a …

Trump urges China to reveal all about origin of coronavirus
4 years, 10 months ago

Trump urges China to reveal all about origin of coronavirus

The Hindu  

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged China to be transparent about the origins of the novel coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than a quarter of a million people since it started in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. On Tuesday, General Mark Milley, the top U.S. general, said it was still not known whether the coronavirus …

Coronavirus: China hid severity of outbreak so it could hoard medical supplies, says US intelligence report
4 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus: China hid severity of outbreak so it could hoard medical supplies, says US intelligence report

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy US officials believe Chinese representatives covered up the severity of …

China hid coronavirus severity to hoard supplies, says US intelligence report
4 years, 10 months ago

China hid coronavirus severity to hoard supplies, says US intelligence report

ABC  

US officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Key points: The Department of Homeland Security claims China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies The Department of Homeland Security claims China increased imports …

Trump says intelligence told him coronavirus was 'non-threatening' in January as criticism of his early response persists
4 years, 10 months ago

Trump says intelligence told him coronavirus was 'non-threatening' in January as criticism of his early response persists

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trump pushed back on Sunday against reporting that intelligence …

Trump claims intelligence officials did not raise coronavirus until late January
4 years, 10 months ago

Trump claims intelligence officials did not raise coronavirus until late January

CNN  

CNN — President Donald Trump claimed Sunday that the US intelligence community “did NOT bring up the CoronaVirus subject matter until late into January” and that “they only spoke of the Virus in a very non-threatening, or matter of fact, manner.” CNN and other news outlets have reported that the President’s daily intelligence briefing included information about the coronavirus outbreak …

US says ‘significant evidence’ coronavirus came from China lab
4 years, 10 months ago

US says ‘significant evidence’ coronavirus came from China lab

Al Jazeera  

Putting blame on China, United States reportedly looking to punish Beijing over coronavirus outbreak. While some individual states have already filed lawsuits against China, the administration of US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering measures against Beijing for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday said “enormous evidence” showed the new coronavirus originated …

Coronavirus: Trump seeks to pin blame on China, yet reprisal is uncertain
4 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus: Trump seeks to pin blame on China, yet reprisal is uncertain

Live Mint  

President Donald Trump is escalating efforts to pin blame on China for unleashing a pandemic that has killed over 60,000 Americans and is exploring ways to hold Beijing accountable, though his options are limited because of the potential economic consequences. Trump says the WHO took Chinese claims about the virus at “face value.” Economic worries But Congress and many of …

Trump’s claim he’s seen evidence coronavirus originated in China lab contradicts US intel community
4 years, 10 months ago

Trump’s claim he’s seen evidence coronavirus originated in China lab contradicts US intel community

CNN  

Washington CNN — President Donald Trump contradicted a rare on-the-record statement from his own intelligence community by claiming Thursday that he has seen evidence that gives him a “high degree of confidence” the novel coronavirus originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, but declined to provide details to back up his assertion. The comments undercut a public statement fromthe Office …

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