Tuesday, Feb 11 2025 | Time 18:31 Hrs(IST)
image
World


CIA now sticks to Chinese lab leak theory on COVID-19 origins - Reports

CIA now sticks to Chinese lab leak theory on COVID-19 origins - Reports
file photo

Beijing, Jan 26 (UNI) The CIA has changed its position on the origin of COVID-19 and now supports the theory of an accidental leak of the virus from a lab in China's Wuhan, the New York Times reported.
The CIA has said for years that it did not have enough information to conclude whether the COVID pandemic had arisen naturally in a market in Wuhan or as a result of an accidental leak at a research lab, but this week, the agency released a new assessment in which analysts said they now favored the lab theory, the publication said.
It noted that there was no new intelligence behind the agency's change of position. According to the publication's sources, the CIA's latest analysis is based in part on a closer look at conditions in Wuhan labs before the outbreak of the pandemic.
Earlier, following a two-year investigation, US congressmen stated that the coronavirus most likely had originated in a laboratory and spread as a result of a leak, according to a published report by lawmakers.
The United States previously publicly announced an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, after which China's Wuhan Institute found itself in the spotlight of the American government. Subsequently, the United States accused this research institution of refusing to cooperate and provide the requested documentation. The US intelligence community made it clear that it was developing two versions of the origin of the coronavirus — a leak from a Chinese laboratory and a natural infection of humans from an animal.
In March 2021, the World Health Organization published the full version of the report of an international group of experts from the organization on a visit to Wuhan to establish the origin of the coronavirus, in which experts called its leak from a laboratory "extremely unlikely." The report also said that the new type of the coronavirus had most likely transmitted to humans from bats through another animal. Another version of the covid origin, direct transmission to humans from animals, was assessed by experts as "from possible to probable." The WHO mission also called the version of transmission of the virus through refrigerated products "possible."
UNI SPUTNIK GNK

More News

S Korean oppn parties submit bill to investigate political corruption of Prez Yoon, wife

11 Feb 2025 | 3:01 PM

Seoul, Feb 11 (UNI) South Korea's opposition parties on Tuesday submitted a bill to appoint a special counsel and investigate the alleged political corruption involving the impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, Kim Keon-hee.

see more..
Afghanistan: Suicide attack kills 5, injures 7 in Kunduz province

Afghanistan: Suicide attack kills 5, injures 7 in Kunduz province

11 Feb 2025 | 2:40 PM

Kabul, Feb 11 (UNI) At least five people were killed and seven others injured as a suicide bomber blew himself up in northern Afghanistan's Kunduz province on Tuesday morning, provincial police spokesman Jumadin Khaksar said.

see more..

Bushfires in Australian island state threatening lives: Authorities

11 Feb 2025 | 1:48 PM

Sydney, Feb 11 (UNI) Communities near two bushfires in the northwest of the Australian island state of Tasmania have been ordered to evacuate.

see more..
Blast occurs in N  Afghanistan, casualties feared

Blast occurs in N Afghanistan, casualties feared

11 Feb 2025 | 12:57 PM

Kabul, Feb 11 (UNI) A blast occurred in northern Afghanistan's Kunduz province on Tuesday morning, a local police official confirmed.

see more..
3 killed as explosive device strikes car in W  Afghanistan

3 killed as explosive device strikes car in W Afghanistan

11 Feb 2025 | 12:57 PM

Farah, Afghanistan, Feb 11 (UNI) Three people were killed and two others sustained injuries as an explosive device struck a car in Pushtkoh district of western Afghanistan's Farah province on Monday, deputy district chief Mawlawi Masrori said Tuesday.

see more..
image