This photograph taken on March 5, 2021 shows the flag of the World Health Organization (WHO) at their headquarters in Geneva amid the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)
A report from the Department of Energy on the origins of COVID-19 has agencies divided about its findings.
A classified intelligence report from the Energy Department alleges, with low confidence, that the virus likely leaked from a lab in China — a theory that was raised during the early days of the pandemic. How the agency went about drawing that conclusion has not been revealed to the public but is reportedly based on new information.
Meanwhile, a World Health Organization's investigation is ongoing, but the organization said that as more time passes, coupled with complications in completing studies in China, that it will be more difficult to pinpoint the exact origin of the virus.
In light of the report, the White House national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told CNN that the Department of Energy's findings offer "no definitive answer" about the origins of COVID.
"There is a variety of views in the intelligence community. Some elements in the intelligence community have reached conclusions on one side, some on the other. A number of them have just said they don't have enough information to be sure," he said.
China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has dismissed the allegations altogether and said, "The origins tracing of SARS-CoV-2 is about science and should not be politicized."
"Certain parties should stop rehashing the 'lab leak' narrative, stop smearing China and stop politicizing origins-tracing," Ning added.
The FBI drew a similar conclusion in 2021, but the CIA is among the U.S. intelligence agencies that have not reached a conclusion.
Heavy rainfall flooded parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with two communities declaring a state of emergency as water poured into homes, creating moats around their foundations and leading to boat rescues of residents. Concern about a dam listed in poor condition led to more evacuations.
The leading decongestant used by millions of Americans looking for relief from a stuffy nose is no better than a dummy pill, according to government experts who reviewed the latest research on the long-questioned drug ingredient.
Hurricane Lee, still a Category 3 storm with winds of 115 mph, is expected to increase in size but be significantly weaker in the coming days, as it turns north to reach the U.S. East Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The U.S. approved updated COVID-19 vaccines Monday, hoping to rev up protection against the latest coronavirus strains and blunt any surge this fall and winter.
An earthquake has sown destruction and devastation in Morocco, where death and injury counts continue to rise as rescue crews dig out people both alive and dead in villages that were reduced to rubble.
Hurricane Lee whipped up waves of more than 15 feet (5 meters) on Monday as the Category 3 storm cranked through open waters just north of the Caribbean region.
