What Matters: The origin of Covid is now an intelligence operation
3 years, 7 months ago

What Matters: The origin of Covid is now an intelligence operation

CNN  

A version of this story appeared in CNN’s What Matters newsletter. Complicating Biden’s new review is this news, first reported by CNN on Tuesday: Biden’s team shut down a closely held State Department effort launched late in the Trump administration to prove that Covid-19 originated in a Chinese lab over concerns about the quality of its work, according to three sources familiar with the decision. It’s important to note here that the Biden administration did not shut down any intelligence community review earlier this year, but only the State Department effort, which was viewed as political. I don’t see any other way for the World Health Organization to restore its credibility in the eyes of Americans and many across the world, who have seen them, frankly, place more trust in the Chinese Communist Party leadership and more deference to them than they to the Western world.” The origin theories for Covid, like so much about the disease, have evolved repeatedly. “In the absence of explanation, and we weren’t able to get it from the chief health policy advisers of the Biden administration, then one can only assume these – these other motives, and that’s unfortunate when you’re talking about the health of the American people here and now, but also thinking about how we might prepare for another pandemic, which is almost a certitude the way the Chinese Communist Party carries on their activities with wet markets, seemingly with poorly attended labs and other problems, including not reporting the outbreak of a pandemic to the world, violating international law over a year ago.” Turnarounds aplenty.

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History of this topic

Was Biden kept in the dark about Covid Lab Leak theory? Spy chiefs allegedly 'suppressed' strong evidence
1 week, 6 days ago

Was Biden kept in the dark about Covid Lab Leak theory? Spy chiefs allegedly 'suppressed' strong evidence

India Today  

Top US intelligence officials reportedly “silenced” researchers from the Department of Defense and FBI who uncovered strong evidence pointing to a lab leak as the origin of COVID-19, The New York Post has reported. As part of a report on COVID’s origins delivered to President Biden in August 2021, evidence supporting the lab leak theory was allegedly suppressed. However, research …

COVID lab leak evidence: Biden kept in dark as spy chiefs 'silenced' FBI and scientists from briefing, report says
2 weeks ago

COVID lab leak evidence: Biden kept in dark as spy chiefs 'silenced' FBI and scientists from briefing, report says

Hindustan Times  

A new report reveals that the FBI, which had strong evidence suggesting that COVID-19 likely originated from a lab leak, was reportedly excluded from briefing President Biden. Despite being the only U.S. intelligence agency to conclude a lab leak was the most probable cause, the FBI was reportedly left out of the National Intelligence Council’s August 2021 briefing. Defense and …

Did the CIA bribe its officials to cover up COVID-19 lab-leak theory?
1 year, 3 months ago

Did the CIA bribe its officials to cover up COVID-19 lab-leak theory?

Firstpost  

A CIA official has made claims about the origins of COVID-19 to a congressional hearing. He alleges that the US agency offered six of its own analysts ‘a significant monetary incentive’ to change their position – that the virus didn’t leak from the Wuhan lab and jumped from animals to humans It’s been three years since COVID-19 struck the globe; …

No evidence COVID-19 created in Chinese lab: U.S. intelligence
1 year, 6 months ago

No evidence COVID-19 created in Chinese lab: U.S. intelligence

The Hindu  

The head of U.S. intelligence said on Friday that there was no evidence that the COVID-19 virus was created in the Chinese government's Wuhan research lab. Drawing on intelligence collected by various member agencies of the U.S. intelligence community, the ODNI report said some scientists at the Wuhan lab had done genetic engineering of coronaviruses similar to COVID-19. The report …

No evidence Covid created in Chinese lab: US intelligence
1 year, 6 months ago

No evidence Covid created in Chinese lab: US intelligence

Deccan Chronicle  

WASHINGTON: The head of US intelligence said Friday that there was no evidence that the Covid-19 virus was created in the Chinese government's Wuhan research lab. Drawing on intelligence collected by various member agencies of the US intelligence community, the ODNI report said some scientists at the Wuhan lab had done genetic engineering of coronaviruses similar to Covid-19. ODNI said …

US intelligence report on COVID-19 origins rejects some points raised by lab leak theory proponents
1 year, 6 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, …

Biden signs bill on COVID-19 origins declassification
1 year, 9 months ago

Biden signs bill on COVID-19 origins declassification

The Hindu  

President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill on Monday that directs the federal government to declassify as much intelligence as possible about the origins of COVID-19 more than three years after the start of the pandemic. The legislation, which passed both the House and Senate without dissent, directs the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to declassify intelligence related …

Biden signs bill on Covid-19 origins declassification
1 year, 9 months ago

Biden signs bill on Covid-19 origins declassification

India Today  

US President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill Monday that directs the federal government to declassify as much intelligence as possible about the origins of Covid-19 more than three years after the start of the pandemic. The legislation, which passed both the House and Senate without dissent, directs the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to declassify intelligence related …

Biden signs bill on COVID origins declassification
1 year, 9 months ago

Biden signs bill on COVID origins declassification

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill Monday that directs the federal government to declassify as much intelligence as possible about the origins of COVID-19 more than three years after the start of the pandemic. The legislation, which passed both the House and Senate without dissent, directs the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to declassify intelligence …

Biden signs bill to declassify information on COVID origins
1 year, 9 months ago

Biden signs bill to declassify information on COVID origins

LA Times  

President Biden speaks during a Nowruz celebration in the East Room of the White House on March 20, 2023. President Biden signed a bipartisan bill Monday that directs the federal government to declassify as much intelligence as possible about the origins of COVID-19 more than three years after the start of the pandemic. The legislation, which passed both the House …

China says it's been 'open and transparent' on COVID origins
1 year, 10 months ago

China says it's been 'open and transparent' on COVID origins

The Hindu  

China on February 28, 2023 said it has been “open and transparent” in the search for the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and dismissed U.S. criticism as politicising the issue. China had “shared the most data and research results on virus tracing and made important contributions to global virus tracing research," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning Mao told reporters at …

No definitive conclusion on COVID-19 origin theory: White House
1 year, 10 months 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
1 year, 10 months 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
1 year, 10 months 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 …

Science 'should not be politicised': China rejects US report's lab-leak theory on COVID-19 origin
1 year, 10 months ago

Science 'should not be politicised': China rejects US report's lab-leak theory on COVID-19 origin

Firstpost  

Beijing: 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.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the international experts have considered the theory that the pandemic might have leaked from a Chinese laboratory …

Another blow to China: COVID-19 likely came from lab leak in Wuhan, claims US study
1 year, 10 months 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 …

Animal origins or lab leak? How Covid started remains a mystery after 3 years
1 year, 10 months 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 …

White House says there is STILL no 'consensus' on how COVID began
1 year, 10 months 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. …

US agency believes COVID-19 likely emerged from lab leak in China, say reports
1 year, 10 months 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
1 year, 10 months 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 …

Column: Contrary to latest claims, there’s still not a speck of evidence that COVID escaped from a Chinese lab
1 year, 10 months ago

Column: Contrary to latest claims, there’s still not a speck of evidence that COVID escaped from a Chinese lab

LA Times  

A street in Wuhan, China, is shown during the 2020 lockdown. This zombie theory got another shot of life-giving plasma this weekend from the Wall Street Journal, which reported that the Department of Energy “has concluded that the COVID pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak.” The Journal also reported, however, that the agency “made its judgment with ‘low …

COVID-19 pandemic most likely began with a lab leak, U.S. Department of Energy says
1 year, 10 months 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 …

China rejects US lab-leak theory news report on Covid-19 origin
1 year, 10 months 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
1 year, 10 months 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 …

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

One year after Afghanistan, spy agencies pivot toward China
2 years, 5 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 …

China warns against 'manipulation' of WHO COVID-19 origin probe
3 years, 2 months ago

China warns against 'manipulation' of WHO COVID-19 origin probe

India TV News  

A day after the World Health Organization announced a launch of an expert group to study the origins of COVID-19, China on Thursday warned against "political manipulation" of the fresh investigation by the global health body. "China will continue to support and participate in global scientific origins-tracing and firmly oppose any form of political manipulation," said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson …

WHO to revive probe into COVID-19 origins, report says
3 years, 3 months ago

WHO to revive probe into COVID-19 origins, report says

Deccan Chronicle  

Geneva: The World Health Organization is looking to revive an investigation into the origins of the COVID-19, a US media report said. According to the WSJ report, the new probe comes following an initial WHO inquiry found that that the data provided by Chinese scientists was insufficient to answer key questions about the virus' origin. The report stated that the …

US intelligence still divided on origins of coronavirus
3 years, 4 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 …

US intel community remains ‘divided’ on COVID-19 origin
3 years, 4 months ago

US intel community remains ‘divided’ on COVID-19 origin

Al Jazeera  

Intelligence agencies fail to shed light on whether the virus came from an infected animal or a Chinese laboratory. The United States intelligence community is unable to agree on the origins of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, but there is agreement Chinese officials did not “have foreknowledge” of it before the 2019 outbreak, according to a report released on …

China still withholding 'critical information' on Covid origins: Biden
3 years, 4 months ago

China still withholding 'critical information' on Covid origins: Biden

India Today  

US President Joe Biden said Friday that China was withholding "critical information" on the origins of Covid-19 after the US intelligence community said it did not believe the virus was a bioweapon -- but remained split on whether it escaped from a lab. "Critical information about the origins of this pandemic exists in the People's Republic of China, yet from …

China slams US ‘scapegoating’ before COVID origin report release
3 years, 4 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 …

Coronavirus leaked from China lab, says report by US Republicans
3 years, 5 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 - …

WHO chief says it was ‘premature’ to rule out COVID lab leak
3 years, 5 months ago

WHO chief says it was ‘premature’ to rule out COVID lab leak

India TV News  

The head of the World Health Organization acknowledged it was premature to rule out a potential link between the COVID-19 pandemic and a laboratory leak, and he said Thursday he is asking China to be more transparent as scientists search for the origins of the coronavirus. Tedros told reporters that the U.N. health agency based in Geneva is “asking actually …

Biden queries China’s desire to find origin of coronavirus
3 years, 6 months ago

Biden queries China’s desire to find origin of coronavirus

Live Mint  

US President Joe Biden said China was trying to project itself as a responsible nation in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it remained unclear whether Beijing was really trying to understand the origins of the coronavirus. Asked if he would call Chinese President Xi Jinping as "old friend to old friend" to ask him to re-admit World Health Organization …

Chinese scientist at center of coronavirus controvery breaks her silence
3 years, 6 months ago

Chinese scientist at center of coronavirus controvery breaks her silence

The Hindu  

The Chinese scientist at the center of theories that the coronavirus pandemic originated with a leak from her specialised lab in the city of Wuhan has denied her institution was to blame for the health disaster. “How on earth can I offer up evidence for something where there is no evidence?” Dr. Shi Zhengli told the New York Times in …

'There's going to be Covid-26 and Covid-32 unless...': Experts warn
3 years, 7 months ago

'There's going to be Covid-26 and Covid-32 unless...': Experts warn

Hindustan Times  

The world will face more coronavirus-like catastrophes if the origin of the virus isn’t traced, two top US disease experts have said, adding that cooperation of the Chinese government in this regard is the need of the hour. There is more information to support the theory that SARS-CoV-2 virus may have escaped from a lab in China’s Wuhan province, said …

Column: Biden’s new inquiry into COVID-19’s origins strikes a blow for open-mindedness
3 years, 7 months ago

Column: Biden’s new inquiry into COVID-19’s origins strikes a blow for open-mindedness

LA Times  

Chinese President Xi Jinping talks with patients and medical workers at a hospital in Wuhan, the first place hit hard by the novel coronavirus of unknown origins. It wasn’t so much what he did — ordering U.S. intelligence agencies to take a new look at the origins of COVID-19, including whether the coronavirus that causes the disease escaped accidentally from …

New Covid-19 origination intelligence push aimed at elevating scientific analysis
3 years, 7 months ago

New Covid-19 origination intelligence push aimed at elevating scientific analysis

CNN  

CNN — The intelligence community’s push to uncover the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic has largely relied on traditional intelligence-gathering tools up until now, but President Joe Biden’s 90-day “redoubled” effort is intended in part to elevate scientific analysis. “There is really no new collection that the intelligence community can do that I’m aware of,” said one US official. The …

Emerged Naturally or Laboratory Accident? US Intel Community Divided on Covid-19 Origin
3 years, 7 months ago

Emerged Naturally or Laboratory Accident? US Intel Community Divided on Covid-19 Origin

News 18  

The COVID-19 virus either emerged naturally from human contact with infected animals or it was a laboratory accident, the US intelligence community said on Thursday. “The US Intelligence Community does not know exactly where, when, or how the COVID-19 virus was transmitted initially but has coalesced around two likely scenarios: either it emerged naturally from human contact with infected animals, …

US-China row intensifies over Covid origins probe
3 years, 7 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 counters Biden’s Covid origins Wuhan lab probe … by calling for a US lab probe
3 years, 7 months ago

China counters Biden’s Covid origins Wuhan lab probe … by calling for a US lab probe

CNN  

Hong Kong CNN — US President Joe Biden’s call for a renewed investigation into the origins of the coronavirus feels like déjà vu in Beijing. “What secrets are hidden in the suspicion-shrouded Fort Detrick and the over 200 US bio-labs all over the world?” Zhao said, adding that the US “owes an explanation to the world.” The Fort Detrick theory …

Joe Biden Directs Intelligence Agencies to 'Redouble' Efforts to Trace Trace Origins of Covid-19
3 years, 7 months ago

Joe Biden Directs Intelligence Agencies to 'Redouble' Efforts to Trace Trace Origins of Covid-19

News 18  

President Joe Biden has ordered the US intelligence agencies to "redouble" their efforts in investigating the emergence of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and report back to him in 90 days, amid growing controversy about the virus's origins from a bio laboratory in China. "I have now asked the Intelligence Community to redouble their efforts to collect and analyse information that …

Biden orders more intel investigation of COVID-19 origin
3 years, 7 months ago

Biden orders more intel investigation of COVID-19 origin

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden ordered U.S. intelligence officials to “redouble” their efforts to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, including any possibility the trail might lead to a Chinese laboratory. “So that’s exactly what we did.” Biden in a statement said the majority of the intelligence community had “coalesced” around those two scenarios but “do not believe there …

Coronavirus | Joe Biden orders probe into virus origins
3 years, 7 months ago

Coronavirus | Joe Biden orders probe into virus origins

The Hindu  

U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that he has asked American intelligence agencies to “redouble” their efforts to analyse the origins of COVID-19, to determine whether it emerged from human-animal contact or via a laboratory accident. Mr. Biden said he had reviewed a report on the origins of the virus, authored by his National Security Adviser and intelligence officials …

China says politics behind US call for virus origin probe
3 years, 7 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, 7 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 …

Biden orders more intel investigation of COVID-19 origin
3 years, 7 months ago

Biden orders more intel investigation of COVID-19 origin

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 President Joe Biden ordered U.S. intelligence officials to “redouble” their …

Biden orders more intel investigation of COVID-19 origin
3 years, 7 months ago

Biden orders more intel investigation of COVID-19 origin

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Wednesday ordered U.S. intelligence officials to “redouble” their efforts to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, including any possibility the trail might lead to a Chinese laboratory. Biden in a statement said the majority of the intelligence community had “coalesced” around those two scenarios but “do not believe there is sufficient information to …

China says ‘politicising’ COVID origins impedes investigation
3 years, 7 months ago

China says ‘politicising’ COVID origins impedes investigation

Al Jazeera  

Politicising the origins of COVID-19 would hamper further investigations and undermine global efforts to curb the pandemic, the Chinese embassy in the United States said after President Joe Biden ordered a review of US intelligence about how and where the virus first emerged. Biden said on Wednesday that US intelligence agencies were divided about whether COVID-19 “emerged from human contact …

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