The US Department of Energy has concluded with "low confidence" that the Covid-19 pandemic "likely" originated from a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China, according to a classified report delivered to key lawmakers on the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. Intelligence agencies can make assessments with either low, medium or high confidence, but one source cautioned that the DOE's conclusion was not being viewed as hugely significant due to interagency disagreements. The US Department of Energy's assessment is the latest in a series of reports from the US government and other countries that have sought to determine the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Posts tagged as “China”
Key takeaways: US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has warned China that there will be “real costs” if they provide lethal aid to Russia in…
CIA Director Bill Burns has confirmed that China is considering sending lethal aid to Russia in its war against Ukraine. Burns told CBS News that the Chinese leadership is considering the provision of lethal equipment, though no decision has yet been made. The UN Security Council recently passed a resolution calling for both countries to agree to a gradual de-escalation, but it remains to be seen whether China will decide to provide lethal aid to Russia.
Key takeaways: Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward a 12-point peace plan to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared…
On Friday, a U.S. Navy reconnaissance jet was intercepted by a Chinese fighter jet in the South China Sea. The Chinese jet flew alongside the American plane for over an hour, and a voice from a Chinese air force ground station warned the U.S. plane. The South China Sea has been a source of tension between the two countries for years, and this incident is the latest in a series of encounters between the two countries.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on the international community to not let Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions become the "new normal" in a speech at the United Nations Security Council. The Biden administration has announced a $2 billion support package for Ukraine and is joining with partners in the Group of Seven countries to impose new financial penalties to stop the funding of Moscow's war machine. The US and its allies are hoping that the new measures will help to bring an end to the conflict.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have confirmed that the US will continue to support Ukraine in its war against Russia, while also revealing that Austin and his Chinese counterpart have not spoken in months due to the US shootdown of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon. The US and China have been locked in a tense standoff, with no direct contact between the two countries' leaders, leaving the future of the conflict uncertain.
Key takeaways: US officials praised the resilience of the Ukrainian people and expressed confidence in their ultimate victory. The Biden administration is committed to helping…