COVID-19 conjecture soars after latest report on origins
2 years, 1 month ago

COVID-19 conjecture soars after latest report on origins

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Within hours, online mentions of conspiracy theories involving COVID-19 began to rise, with many commenters saying the classified report was proof they were right all along. Far from definitive, the Energy Department's report is the latest of many attempts by scientists and officials to identify the origin of the virus, which has now killed nearly 7 million people after being first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. Everything we skeptics said was true.” Overall mentions of COVID-19 began to rise after The Wall Street Journal published a story about the Energy Department report on Sunday. While the lab leak theory has bounced around the internet since the pandemic began, references to it soared 100,000% in the 48 hours after the Energy Department report was revealed, according to Zignal's analysis, which combed through social media, blogs and other sites.

Energy China Pandemic Report Department Virus Lab  energy  virus  pandemic  department  theories  lab  covid19  soars  report  evidence  conjecture  origins  latest

History of this topic

One of the first to suggest Covid was created in a lab, biologist Alina Chan faced death threats and was branded a 'race traitor'. Now she tells IAN BIRRELL... 'There was a real conspiracy among very
2 weeks, 3 days ago

One of the first to suggest Covid was created in a lab, biologist Alina Chan faced death threats and was branded a 'race traitor'. Now she tells IAN BIRRELL... 'There was a real conspiracy among very

Daily Mail  

Soon after the start of the pandemic, as Covid-19 spread its trail of death and devastation around the planet, I came across the draft of a scientific paper online. Pictured: Disinfection of a residential community during Covid lockdown in 2022 in Shanghai, China Alina Chan, then 31, a Canadian molecular biologist, was daring to challenge some of the biggest names …

Germany had intelligence reports about laboratory origin of COVID-19 in 2020
3 weeks ago

Germany had intelligence reports about laboratory origin of COVID-19 in 2020

Op India  

According to Germany’s foreign intelligence service in 2020, there was an 80% to 95% possibility that the coronavirus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic was unintentionally released from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology. Last month, China’s foreign ministry declared that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was not engaged in the development or spread of the COVID-19 virus and that it never …

Did Covid-19 leak from Wuhan Lab? German spy agency thinks so
3 weeks ago

Did Covid-19 leak from Wuhan Lab? German spy agency thinks so

India Today  

Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the Bundesnachrichtendienst, has reportedly concluded that claimed there is an 80-90% chance that Covid-19 virus leaked accidentally from a Chinese laboratory. The intelligence agency collected evidence suggesting that the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China had been conducting research aimed at increasing the infectiousness of viruses in humans. China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that …

CIA says ‘more likely’ COVID-19 originated from a lab
2 months, 1 week 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’
2 months, 1 week 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 believes COVID most likely originated from lab but has low confidence in its own finding
2 months, 1 week ago

CIA believes COVID most likely originated from lab but has low confidence in its own finding

The Hindu  

The CIA now believes the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated from a laboratory, according to an assessment released on 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 …

CIA says Covid 'more likely' to have leaked from lab
2 months, 1 week ago

CIA says Covid 'more likely' to have leaked from lab

Hindustan Times  

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 agency says Covid 'more likely' leaked from Chinese lab
2 months, 1 week 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 …

CIA Believes COVID Likely Originated From A Lab, But Agency Has Low Confidence In Its Own Finding
2 months, 1 week ago

CIA Believes COVID Likely Originated From A Lab, But Agency Has Low Confidence In Its Own Finding

Huff Post  

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 15, 2025: John Ratcliffe speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing for CIA director on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on January 15, 2025. The Washington Post via Getty Images WASHINGTON — The CIA now believes the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic likely originated from a laboratory, according to an assessment released Saturday that …

CIA shifts stance on cause of COVID-19 pandemic, says lab leak 'more likely' than natural origin
Trending News
2 months, 1 week ago

CIA shifts stance on cause of COVID-19 pandemic, says lab leak 'more likely' than natural origin

Firstpost  

The Central Intelligence Agency has assessed that the COVID-19 pandemic is “more likely” to have emerged from a lab rather than from nature, an agency spokesperson said on Saturday The Central Intelligence Agency has assessed that the COVID-19 pandemic is “more likely” to have emerged from a lab rather than from nature, an agency spokesperson said on Saturday. But in …

The CIA believes COVID likely originated from a lab but has low confidence in its own finding
Top News
2 months, 1 week ago

The CIA believes COVID likely originated from a lab but has low confidence in its own finding

LA Times  

A view of the P4 lab inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, China. 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 assesses lab leak most plausible source of Covid-19, though with low confidence
2 months, 1 week ago

CIA assesses lab leak most plausible source of Covid-19, though with low confidence

CNN  

CNN — The CIA now assesses the virus that causes Covid-19 more likely originated from an accidental lab leak in China, rather than occurring naturally, according to a statement from the agency Saturday, just days after Director John Ratcliffe took the reins. The agency has for years said it did not have enough information to determine which origin theory was …

COVID-19 likely came from a lab, US committee finds
4 months ago

COVID-19 likely came from a lab, US committee finds

Al Jazeera  

A committee of the United States Congress has backed the theory that a lab leak caused the COVID-19 pandemic. In a report released on Monday, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis said it had concluded that the coronavirus “likely emerged because of a laboratory or research related accident”. However, the US Department of Energy assessed …

COVID-19: Why we're looking for the pandemic's origin
1 year ago

COVID-19: Why we're looking for the pandemic's origin

Hindustan Times  

Discovering COVID's origin will shape the next pandemic. Some experts say it's possible that the Wuhan lab had progenitor strains — ancestors — of SARS-CoV-2, but China's alleged withholding information on the origin of COVID makes this impossible to prove or disprove. "Every form of the lab leak theory involves some sort of cover up, which to me means that …

Revealed: US and China sought to create virus in 2018 similar to Covid
1 year, 2 months ago

Revealed: US and China sought to create virus in 2018 similar to Covid

Daily Mail  

Bombshell new documents shed light on a shady 2018 project between US and Chinese scientists to create a novel virus with the same rare features seen in Covid. In initial proposals for DEFUSE, the lab work was to be done in a biosafety-level 2 lab, which researchers said would appeal to federal grant-makers as 'highly cost effective' despite the fewer …

COVID-19 origins remain a mystery, declassified report shows
1 year, 9 months ago

COVID-19 origins remain a mystery, declassified report shows

LA Times  

Security personnel gather near the entrance of the Wuhan Institute of Virology during a visit by a team from the World Health Organization in 2021. U.S. intelligence agencies weren’t able to determine whether researchers at laboratory in Wuhan, China, who fell sick in the fall of 2019 were infected with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, the disease that soon spread …

Come clean on Covid origins, says WHO as lab leak theory gains momentum
2 years ago

Come clean on Covid origins, says WHO as lab leak theory gains momentum

India Today  

The WHO on Friday urged all countries to reveal what they know about the origins of Covid-19, following US claims of a Chinese lab leak and furious denials from Beijing. FBI director Christopher Wray told Fox News television on Tuesday that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation had now assessed the source of the Covid-19 pandemic was "most likely a …

US govt finally close to admitting what everyone knew, that Covid came from a lab in Wuhan
2 years, 1 month ago

US govt finally close to admitting what everyone knew, that Covid came from a lab in Wuhan

Op India  

The United Senate has unanimously voted to call for a bill to declassify all intelligence regarding the origins of Covid 19, more than 3 years after the pandemic broke and killed millions of people around the world. pic.twitter.com/liNdlhoKu1 — Disclose.tv March 2, 2023 The development comes a day after the US Department of Energy and later the FBI confirmed that …

COVID-19 conspiracies soar after latest report on origins
2 years, 1 month ago

COVID-19 conspiracies soar after latest report on origins

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — COVID-19’s origins remain hazy. On Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray told Fox News that the FBI “has for quite some time now” assessed that the pandemic’s origins are “most likely a potential lab incident in Wuhan.” But others in the U.S. intelligence community disagree, and there’s no consensus. Everything we skeptics said was true.” Overall mentions of COVID-19 …

Lab leak ‘most likely’ led to Covid pandemic, FBI director says
2 years, 1 month ago

Lab leak ‘most likely’ led to Covid pandemic, FBI director says

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 FBI director Christopher Wray has said a laboratory leak in …

China says \'lab leak\' claims hurt US credibility
2 years, 1 month ago

China says \'lab leak\' claims hurt US credibility

Deccan Chronicle  

BEIJING: Beijing accused Washington on Wednesday of harming its own credibility after a top US intelligence official said his agency believed the pandemic "most likely" caused by a laboratory incident in Wuhan, China. FBI Director Christopher Wray told Fox News on Tuesday that the Bureau has now assessed the source of Covid-19 was "most likely a potential lab incident in …

Covid-19 'most likely' leaked from Chinese government controlled lab in Wuhan, says FBI director
2 years, 1 month ago

Covid-19 'most likely' leaked from Chinese government controlled lab in Wuhan, says FBI director

Firstpost  

Washington: Covid-19 pandemic “most likely” originated from a Chinese government controlled lab in Wuhan, said FBI Director Christopher Wray. ‘Covid origin likely a potential lab incident in Wuhan’ In an interview to Fox News, Wray said: “The FBI has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident in Wuhan.” …

No definitive conclusion on COVID-19 origin theory: White House
2 years, 1 month ago

No definitive conclusion on COVID-19 origin theory: White House

The Hindu  

There is no definitive conclusion that the COVID-19 pandemic originated from a lab in China, the White House has said. National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby’s remarks came following a report that the U.S. Energy Department has concluded the virus most likely leaked from a lab in China. The Wall Street Journal on Feb. 26, citing a …

No government consensus on COVID lab leak theory, says White House
2 years, 1 month ago

No government consensus on COVID lab leak theory, says White House

Firstpost  

New Delhi: Even as the Department of Energy determined that a lab leak was the most likely cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, the White House has downplayed and refused to acknowledge this information, claiming that there is still no government consensus on the origins of the outbreak. “The intelligence community and the rest of the government is still looking at …

‘No conclusion on Covid origin theory’: White House on lab leak report
2 years, 1 month ago

‘No conclusion on Covid origin theory’: White House on lab leak report

Live Mint  

A day after the US Department of Energy said the coronavirus pandemic likely arose from a Chinese laboratory leak, the White House on Monday asserted that there is no definitive conclusion on the origin of Covid-19, according to the news agency ANI. Speaking to media persons at a daily White House news conference, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications …

The latest in the COVID 'lab leak' theory: What we know and don't know about the origins of the pandemic
2 years, 1 month ago

The latest in the COVID 'lab leak' theory: What we know and don't know about the origins of the pandemic

Firstpost  

Washington: The US Energy Department’s conclusion, with “low confidence,” that an accidental laboratory leak in China most likely caused the coronavirus pandemic has renewed questions about what sparked the worst public health crisis in a century — and whether the virus at the heart of it was somehow connected to scientific research. Scientists who have studied the genetics of the …

Lab-leak theory: What the evidence actually says now.
2 years, 1 month ago

Lab-leak theory: What the evidence actually says now.

Slate  

On Feb. 26, the Wall Street Journal ran a story that looked, at first glance, like a bombshell: “Lab Leak Most Likely Origin of Covid-19 Pandemic, Energy Department Now Says.” So, did something big just happen? But we do know that the DOE has “low confidence” in its assessment that the virus came from a lab, as the WSJ reported, …

Animal origins or lab leak? How Covid started remains a mystery after 3 years
2 years, 1 month ago

Animal origins or lab leak? How Covid started remains a mystery after 3 years

India Today  

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 on new …

Another blow to China: COVID-19 likely came from lab leak in Wuhan, claims US study
2 years, 1 month ago

Another blow to China: COVID-19 likely came from lab leak in Wuhan, claims US study

India TV News  

China virus: The virus that drove the COVID-19 pandemic, killing close to 7 million people globally, most likely emerged from a laboratory leak in China, according to a US media report, citing a classified intelligence report recently provided to the White House and key members of Congress. The Central Intelligence Agency and another agency that officials would not name remain …

White House says there is STILL no 'consensus' on how COVID began
2 years, 1 month ago

White House says there is STILL no 'consensus' on how COVID began

Daily Mail  

Other agencies think the virus mutated in the environment The White House on Monday was forced to admit the lack of a consensus between disparate U.S. agencies about the origins of COVID-19 following a report that Energy Department Scientists believe a laboratory leak in China was the likely cause. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended infectious disease expert Dr. …

After FBI, US Energy Dept Says Lab Leak Likely Led to Covid-19 Pandemic
2 years, 1 month ago

After FBI, US Energy Dept Says Lab Leak Likely Led to Covid-19 Pandemic

News 18  

The US Energy Department in a report concluded that the Covid-19 pandemic most likely happened due to laboratory leak, the Wall Street Journal reported citing a classified intelligence report which was given to the White House and key members of the US Congress. According to the report, different parts of the intelligence community have differing opinions on the origin of …

Covid Pandemic Likely Resulted From China Lab Leak, Say Reports Citing Confidential US Dept Study
2 years, 1 month 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 …

US agency believes COVID-19 likely emerged from lab leak in China, say reports
2 years, 1 month ago

US agency believes COVID-19 likely emerged from lab leak in China, say reports

Firstpost  

Washington: 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 …

US says Chinese lab leak most likely caused Covid-19: Report
2 years, 1 month ago

US says Chinese lab leak most likely caused Covid-19: Report

Hindustan Times  

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 …

China rejects US lab-leak theory news report on Covid-19 origin
2 years, 1 month ago

China rejects US lab-leak theory news report on Covid-19 origin

India Today  

China on Monday rejected a new US report that claims the Covid-19 virus may have leaked from a bio laboratory in Wuhan, saying the origins-tracing of the pandemic "is about science and should not be politicised." The USDE has assessed in the intelligence report that it had “low confidence” that the Covid-19 virus accidentally escaped from a lab in Wuhan, …

US claims Covid likely emerged from China laboratory leak: Report
2 years, 1 month 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 …

It’s confirmed! China Lab leak triggered Covid pandemic, but was it an accident?
2 years, 1 month ago

It’s confirmed! China Lab leak triggered Covid pandemic, but was it an accident?

Live Mint  

The coronavirus pandemic most likely was caused by a leak in a Chinese laboratory, a classified intelligence report of the US Energy Department has revealed, according to the Wall Street Journal. This report nonetheless, affirms that the covid pandemic was a leak, an accident and not part of Chinese biological-weapons program, the people who have read the classified report said …

WHO has not abandoned COVID-19 origin investigation
2 years, 1 month ago

WHO has not abandoned COVID-19 origin investigation

The Hindu  

On February 14, Nature News reported that the World Health Organization has “shelved the second phase” of COVID-19 origin investigation “citing ongoing challenges over attempts to conduct crucial studies in China”. Two years after the WHO’s visit to China to investigate the origin of COVID-19, the WHO has “abandoned” the second phase of the investigation, it said and quoted WHO’s …

Has WHO quietly shelved investigation into COVID-19 origins?
2 years, 1 month ago

Has WHO quietly shelved investigation into COVID-19 origins?

India TV News  

Has WHO quietly shelved investigation into COVID-19 origins? COVID-19 origins: Research into the root cause of coronavirus outbreak was important as it could have helped scientists prepare better to tackle any such future outbreaks. COVID-19 Origins: The world may never know the origins of COVID-19, the virus that wreaked havoc across the world killing 6,784,392 people, as the World Health …

UK scientists dismissed Covid lab leak theory despite knowing it may be true: Report
2 years, 4 months ago

UK scientists dismissed Covid lab leak theory despite knowing it may be true: Report

Op India  

According to reports, experts in the United Kingdom aided in shutting down covid lab leak theory back in 2020. The article “The proximal origin of SARS-CoV-2,” published in Nature Medicine in March 2020, stated that the pandemic was triggered by a natural breakout event, and was crucial in dampening debate about the virus’s origins. However, by the time the article …

COVID-19 origin theories: Was there a lab leak in Wuhan or the US?
2 years, 5 months ago

COVID-19 origin theories: Was there a lab leak in Wuhan or the US?

Firstpost  

While the Wuhan lab leak theory is in vogue in some quarters, others are pointing the finger at the US. Let’s take a look at the different theories about the origins of COVID-19 Wuhan lab leak hypotheses This, of course, is the origin theory in vogue in some quarters. “The available evidence appears to be inconsistent with both historic precedent …

Covid a result of China 'lab leak’, hints US Senate report
2 years, 5 months ago

Covid a result of China 'lab leak’, hints US Senate report

Hindustan Times  

Republicans in the US Senate on Thursday presented a report on how Covid-19 virus could have started from a laboratory leak, although underscoring that the findings still lack indisputable evidence. The report is seen as an attempt by the Republican party to pressurise the Biden administration and congressional Democrats to take the Covid virus lab leak theory more seriously, reported …

How did COVID-19 start? Another report supports ‘Lab Leak’ theory
2 years, 5 months ago

How did COVID-19 start? Another report supports ‘Lab Leak’ theory

Live Mint  

It seems like everyone has an opinion on how COVID-19 came to exist. Republicans in the US Senate who looked into the origin of the virus speculate that COVID-19 might have originated from a lab leak, however they stress that there isn't conclusive proof of this. It’s concerning since the lab leak theory is “not motivated by scientific fact”, said …

China calls COVID ‘lab leak’ theory a lie after WHO report
2 years, 9 months ago

China calls COVID ‘lab leak’ theory a lie after WHO report

Associated Press  

BEIJING — China on Friday attacked the theory that the coronavirus pandemic may have originated as a leak from a Chinese laboratory as a politically motivated lie, after the World Health Organization recommended in its strongest terms yet that a deeper probe is needed into whether a lab accident may be to blame. “The lab leak theory is totally a …

Covid origin mystery: WHO probe stalled, experts ‘allergic’ to lab theory
2 years, 9 months ago

Covid origin mystery: WHO probe stalled, experts ‘allergic’ to lab theory

Live Mint  

Another blow to two-year-long efforts to understand how Covid-19 began. Jean-Claude Manuguerra, a co-chair of the 27-member international advisory group, acknowledged that some scientists might be “allergic” to the idea of investigating the lab leak theory, but said they needed to be “open-minded” enough to examine it. He also accused WHO of “ colluding” with China to cover up the …

COVID origin | WHO says it’s unclear but lab leak theory needs study
2 years, 9 months ago

COVID origin | WHO says it’s unclear but lab leak theory needs study

The Hindu  

Over two years after the coronavirus was first detected in China, and after at least 6.3 million deaths have been counted worldwide from the pandemic, the World Health Organisation is recommending in its strongest terms yet that a deeper probe is required into whether a lab accident may be to blame. Yet in a report released on Thursday, WHO's expert …

COVID-19's origins obscured by lack of Chinese data, says WHO panel
2 years, 9 months ago

COVID-19's origins obscured by lack of Chinese data, says WHO panel

ABC  

The World Health Organization says its latest investigation into the origins of COVID-19 was inconclusive, largely because data from China is missing, another blow to its years-long effort to determine how the pandemic began. Key points: The WHO expert panel says all available data showed the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 likely came from bats They say missing data meant …

Covid-19: WHO says lab-leak theory needs further investigations; China responds
2 years, 9 months ago

Covid-19: WHO says lab-leak theory needs further investigations; China responds

India TV News  

Covid-19: WHO says lab-leak theory needs further investigations; China responds Even after two years, WHO's recent report states that key pieces of data that can explain how the pandemic began are still missing. Highlights WHO's recent data states that key pieces of how the pandemic began is still missing China stated that WHO's statement was a politically motivated lie Covid …

WHO: COVID origins unclear but lab leak theory needs study
2 years, 9 months ago

WHO: COVID origins unclear but lab leak theory needs study

Associated Press  

GENEVA — Over two years after the coronavirus was first detected in China, and after at least 6.3 million deaths have been counted worldwide from the pandemic, the World Health Organization is recommending in its strongest terms yet that a deeper probe is required into whether a lab accident may be to blame. Yet in a report released Thursday, WHO’s …

Discover Related