Biden orders review of US intelligence on origins of coronavirus
3 years, 7 months ago

Biden orders review of US intelligence on origins of coronavirus

Al Jazeera  

President Joe Biden says the US will press China to participate in a ‘full and transparent’ investigation into coronavirus origins. In a statement on Wednesday, Biden said that while the US intelligence community had “coalesced around two likely scenarios”, it had yet to reach a definitive conclusion as to where the coronavirus originated. Late on Thursday, China’s embassy in the United States criticised Biden’s move, saying that “politicising” the issue would hamper investigations into the origins of the coronavirus. A still-classified US intelligence report circulated during former President Donald Trump’s administration alleged that three Wuhan Institute of Virology researchers became so ill in November 2019 that they sought hospital care, sources familiar with the US intelligence reporting and analysis told the Reuters news agency. Meanwhile, Biden said on Wednesday that “the United States will also keep working with like-minded partners around the world to press China to participate in a full, transparent, evidence-based international investigation and to provide access to all relevant data and evidence”.

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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, 5 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 …

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 …

House votes to declassify info about origins of COVID-19
1 year, 9 months ago

House votes to declassify info about origins of COVID-19

Firstpost  

Washington: The House voted unanimously Friday to declassify U.S. intelligence information about the origins of COVID-19, a sweeping show of bipartisan support near the third anniversary of the start of the deadly pandemic. Debate was brief and to the point: Americans have questions about how the deadly virus started and what can be done to prevent future outbreaks. The order …

Come clean on Covid origins, says WHO as lab leak theory gains momentum
1 year, 10 months 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 …

China dismisses FBI statement on COVID-19 lab leak theory
1 year, 10 months ago

China dismisses FBI statement on COVID-19 lab leak theory

Firstpost  

Beijing: For the second day in a row, China on Wednesday dismissed U.S. suggestions that the COVID-19 pandemic may have been triggered by a virus that leaked from a Chinese laboratory. Responding to comments by FBI Director Christopher Wray, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the involvement of the U.S. intelligence community was evidence enough of the “politicization of origin …

Covid-19 'most likely' leaked from Chinese government controlled lab in Wuhan, says FBI director
1 year, 10 months 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.” …

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

Associated Press  

BEIJING — China on Tuesday pushed back at renewed suggestions that the COVID-19 pandemic could have been the result of a lab leak, saying it has been “open and transparent” in the search for the virus’ origins. Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy assessed with “low confidence” that the pandemic that was first detected in the central Chinese city of …

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 …

Coronavirus origins still a mystery 3 years into pandemic
1 year, 10 months 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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

China replies to US on COVID lab leak theory: 'Already contributed immensely to global virus tracing research'
1 year, 10 months ago

China replies to US on COVID lab leak theory: 'Already contributed immensely to global virus tracing research'

India TV News  

China COVID origin: A day after the United States released a report in which it reiterated that the COVID virus leaked from a lab in China, the latter has refuted the claims and said it is "transparent" in the matter pertaining to the lethal virus. The critical remarks from Beijing came as the US Department of Energy reassessed the theory …

Coronavirus origins still a mystery 3 years into pandemic
1 year, 10 months 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 …

U.S. agency says COVID came from “lab leak”, China slams “smear”
1 year, 10 months ago

U.S. agency says COVID came from “lab leak”, China slams “smear”

The Hindu  

China on Monday accused the United States of “smearing” the country and “politicising” scientific research, after a government agency in Washington published a report concluding that the COVID-19 pandemic likely began from a laboratory accident. A classified intelligence report recently provided to the White House and members of Congress, reported The Wall Street Journal on Monday, said the U.S. Energy …

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 …

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 …

US energy dept says COVID probably leaked from Wuhan lab
1 year, 10 months ago

US energy dept says COVID probably leaked from Wuhan lab

Al Jazeera  

Investigations into the origins of a virus that has now killed nearly 7 million people have been hampered by politics and a lack of access and transparency. COVID-19 was probably the result of a leak from a laboratory, according to a newly updated classified report from the United States Department of Energy obtained by the Wall Street Journal newspaper. It …

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 …

Biden’s dramatic warning to China
1 year, 11 months ago

Biden’s dramatic warning to China

CNN  

CNN — President Joe Biden starkly warned he will protect America against Chinese threats to its sovereignty and singled out President Xi Jinping – a striking escalation of a suspected spy balloon showdown during his State of the Union address. Biden called out Beijing on Tuesday before millions of viewers in the US and around the world as diplomatic tensions …

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 …

Biden: ‘The pandemic is over’
2 years, 3 months ago

Biden: ‘The pandemic is over’

CNN  

CNN — President Joe Biden said he believes the Covid-19 pandemic is “over” in an appearance on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” but acknowledged the US still has a “problem” with the virus that has killed more than 1 million Americans. Biden on 2024 The President told “60 Minutes” in the interview aired Sunday he had not made a “firm decision” on …

Xi Jinping gives US President Joe Biden fiery warning on Taiwan
2 years, 5 months ago

Xi Jinping gives US President Joe Biden fiery warning on Taiwan

India TV News  

Highlights President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping spent more than two hours on Thursday They talked about future of their complicated relationship with the flashpoint of Taiwan once again The White House released its own description of the conversation about Taiwan Biden-Jinping meeting : President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping spent more than two hours on Thursday talking …

WHO: COVID origins unclear but lab leak theory needs study
2 years, 6 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 …

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 …

Biden and Xi speak on phone for first time in seven months
3 years, 3 months ago

Biden and Xi speak on phone for first time in seven months

Al Jazeera  

The leaders of the world’s two-biggest economies discussed areas where US, China interests ‘converge, diverge’. Chinese state media reported the conversation was “candid” and “in-depth”, adding that President Xi said US policy on China imposes great difficulties on their relationship. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian later told reporters the two leaders “agreed to maintain regular contacts through …

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 …

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 …

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 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 …

No need for further WHO virus origins probe: China
3 years, 4 months ago

No need for further WHO virus origins probe: China

The Hindu  

China on Friday rejected the World Health Organization’s calls for a renewed probe into the origins of COVID-19, saying it supported “scientific” over “political” efforts to find out how the virus started. A delayed and heavily politicised visit by a WHO team of international experts went to Wuhan in January 2021 to produce a first phase report, which was written …

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 - …

China rebuffs WHO’s terms for further COVID-19 origins study
3 years, 5 months ago

China rebuffs WHO’s terms for further COVID-19 origins study

Associated Press  

BEIJING — China cannot accept the World Health Organization’s plan for the second phase of a study into the origins of COVID-19, a senior Chinese health official said Thursday. Zeng Yixin, the vice minister of the National Health Commission, said he was “rather taken aback” that the plan includes further investigation of the theory that the virus might have leaked …

COVID-19 origins: China rejects WHO proposal to return to Wuhan
3 years, 5 months ago

COVID-19 origins: China rejects WHO proposal to return to Wuhan

Al Jazeera  

China has rejected a proposal from the World Health Organization that the expert team investigating the origins of COVID-19 should return to the sites in China where the coronavirus first emerged, saying researchers should instead make a priority of the “very likely” possibility that the virus originated in animals and expand their work to other countries around the world. Speaking …

WHO proposes fresh coronavirus mission to China and lab audits
3 years, 5 months ago

WHO proposes fresh coronavirus mission to China and lab audits

India Today  

The World Health Organization on Friday proposed a second phase of studies into the origins of the coronavirus in China, including audits of laboratories and markets in Wuhan, calling for transparency from authorities. Phase two work would require studies of humans, wildlife and animal markets in Wuhan, including Huanan wholesale market, he said in remarks released by the agency. It …

WHO proposes fresh mission to China and lab audits: Report
3 years, 5 months ago

WHO proposes fresh mission to China and lab audits: Report

Live Mint  

The World Health Organization has proposed a second phase of studies in China into the origins of the coronavirus, including audits of laboratories in Wuhan, but there is no sign yet that Beijing would accept a further international probe, diplomats said. China has called the theory that the virus may have escaped from a Wuhan laboratory "absurd" and said repeatedly …

WHO proposes fresh coronavirus mission to China and lab audits
3 years, 5 months ago

WHO proposes fresh coronavirus mission to China and lab audits

Al Jazeera  

WHO chief sets out five priorities for next stage of probe into the origins of COVID-19. The World Health Organization has said the second stage of an investigation into the origins of coronavirus should include further studies in China and lab “audits”. Diplomats said that China, which has resisted a return by international scientists, voiced objections at the closed-door talks …

Experts Question if WHO Should Lead Pandemic Origins Probe
3 years, 6 months ago

Experts Question if WHO Should Lead Pandemic Origins Probe

News 18  

As the World Health Organization draws up plans for the next phase of its probe of how the coronavirus pandemic started, an increasing number of scientists say the UN agency isn’t up to the task and shouldn’t be the one to investigate. The next phase might try to examine the first human cases in more detail or pinpoint the animals …

Experts question if WHO should lead pandemic origins probe
3 years, 6 months ago

Experts question if WHO should lead pandemic origins probe

Associated Press  

BEIJING — As the World Health Organization draws up plans for the next phase of its probe of how the coronavirus pandemic started, an increasing number of scientists say the U.N. agency it isn’t up to the task and shouldn’t be the one to investigate. The first part of a joint WHO-China study of how COVID-19 started concluded in March …

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 …

Covid-19 origin: China's top virologist Shi Zhengli denies lab leak theory
3 years, 6 months ago

Covid-19 origin: China's top virologist Shi Zhengli denies lab leak theory

Hindustan Times  

Shi Zhengli, the top bat coronavirus researcher at Wuhan Institute of Virology, has defended her institute amid calls for a probe into the origin of the coronavirus disease, including a hypothesis that it was leaked from a WIV lab. The western media has turned full circle from calling Wuhan lab virus leak theory a Trumpian conspiracy against rising China in …

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 …

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