WHO team says theory Covid began in Wuhan lab ‘extremely unlikely’
Theories including virus jumping from animal to human or via frozen food being explored by team in China
The World Health Organization team that visited Wuhan to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic has all but dismissed a theory that the virus leaked from a laboratory, while giving some credence to China’s focus on the possibility of transmission via frozen food.
In a lengthy press conference on Tuesday, representatives of the joint WHO/China investigative mission delivered a summary of findings from two weeks in the field.
They said the team’s work did not dramatically change the picture they had before they began, but had added important details to the story. The team found no evidence of widespread circulation of the virus in Wuhan prior to December 2019, and said it was still unclear how it got into the Huanan seafood market, where the virus was initially detected. But, they added, “all the work that has been done on the virus and trying to identify its origin continue to point toward a natural reservoir”.
'Its Own Private Army': How the GOP Allied Itself With Militias
Dozens of heavily armed militiamen crowded into the Michigan Statehouse last April to protest a stay-at-home order by the Democratic governor to slow the pandemic. Chanting and stomping their feet, they halted legislative business, tried to force their way onto the floor and brandished rifles from the gallery over lawmakers below.
Initially, Republican leaders had some misgivings about their new allies. “The optics weren’t good. Next time tell them not to bring guns,” complained Mike Shirkey, the state Senate majority leader, according to one of the protest organizers. But Michigan’s highest-ranking Republican came around after the planners threatened to return with weapons and “militia guys signing autographs and passing out blow-up AR-15s to the kiddies on the Capitol lawn.”
Top EU diplomat to propose new sanctions against Russia
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is proposing that the bloc take a firm stance in its future relations with Russia including through the use of new sanctions, in the wake of the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is proposing that the bloc take a firm stance in its future relations with Russia including through the use of new sanctions, in the wake of the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Tuesday that the 27-nation bloc must take a firm stance in its future relations with Russia including through the use of new sanctions in the wake of the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny
Borrell said that he will table proposals for such action when he chairs the next meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers on Feb. 22. EU countries are divided in their approach to Russia and no member state has yet tabled a demand for such measures.
“It will be for the member states to decide the next step, but yes, this could include sanctions. And I will put forward concrete proposals, using the right of initiative the high representative has,” Borrell told EU lawmakers.
Myanmar forces fire rubber bullets, warning shots at protesters
Protesters take to the streets for a fourth day as international observers call on military to refrain from violence.
Police in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw fired gunshots into the air on Tuesday to disperse demonstrations against the ruling military, witnesses said, as protesters defied bans on gatherings amid nationwide outrage at last week’s coup.
One witness said demonstrators were running away as weapons were fired into the air, but not in the direction of the crowd.
Police initially used water cannon and tried to push a large crowd back, but demonstrators responded with projectiles. Footage on social media showed people running with the sound of several gunfire in the distance.
The UAE's Hope Probe is arriving at Mars and will attempt to orbit it
Updated 1610 GMT (0010 HKT) February 9, 2021
The United Arab Emirates' first mission to Mars will arrive at the red planet on Tuesday and will attempt a tricky maneuver to place it in orbit.
Tokyo Olympic committee to hold meeting over Mori's comments
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Organizing Committee is set to convene a special board meeting as early as Friday after the outcry over committee president Yoshiro Mori's sexist comments, public broadcaster NHK reported on Tuesday.
There are no plans to discuss Mori's resignation at the meeting but he could face a barrage of criticism over his comments, Nikkan Sports said in a separate report.
Mori has come under fire for saying last week that meetings with female participants take a long time, adding that they "get competitive" with each other. He apologized and retracted his comments, but the public's outrage appears far from assuaged.
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