WHO expert group fails to find a definitive answer for how COVID-19 began
Venter said that after more than three years of work, WHO's expert group was unable to get the necessary data to evaluate whether or not COVID-19 was the result of a lab accident, despite repeated requests for hundreds of genetic sequences and more detailed biosecurity information that were made to the Chinese government.
'Therefore, this hypothesis could not be investigated or excluded,' she said. 'It was deemed to be very speculative, based on political opinions and not backed up by science.' She said that the 27-member group did not reach a consensus; one member resigned earlier this week and three others asked for their names to be removed from the report.
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Venter said there was no evidence to prove that COVID-19 had been manipulated in a lab, nor was there any indication that the virus had been spreading before December 2019 anywhere outside of China.
'Until more scientific data becomes available, the origins of how SARS-CoV-2 entered human populations will remain inconclusive,' Venter said, referring to the scientific name for the COVID-19 virus.
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WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was a 'moral imperative' to determine how COVID began, noting that the virus killed at least 20 million people, wiped at least $10 trillion from the global economy and upended the lives of billions.
Last year, the AP found that the Chinese government froze meaningful domestic and international efforts to trace the virus' origins in the first weeks of the outbreak in 2020 and that WHO itself may have missed early opportunities to investigate how COVID-19 began.
U.S. President Donald Trump has long blamed the emergence of the coronavirus on a laboratory accident in China, while a U.S. intelligence analysis found there was insufficient evidence to prove the theory.
Chinese officials have repeatedly dismissed the idea that the pandemic could have started in a lab, saying that the search for its origins should be conducted in other countries.
Last September, researchers zeroed in on a short list of animals they think might have spread COVID-19 to humans,
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American Military News
4 hours ago
- American Military News
Chinese ship conducts survey off Vietnam but Hanoi's state media stays silent
This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission. A Chinese survey ship has been repeatedly circling within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea since mid-June, raising concerns of a potential maritime standoff. The vessel, named Bei Dao 996 , was first tracked by SeaLight, which uses commercially available technology to monitor and expose so-called 'gray zone' activities — meaning coercive activities at sea that stop short of triggering a military response. China is often accused of adopting such tactics to assert its sweeping claims over the disputed waters in the South and East China Seas. On his X account, Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, revealed that the ship came close to Vietnam's coastline. In response, Vietnam's fishery surveillance vessel Kiem Ngu 471 closely shadowed the Chinese ship. The two vessels came as close as 80 meters apart, according to Powell, who warned that the encounter carries a 'risk of prolonged escalation' between the two countries. According to calculations by researcher Phan Van Song, area surveyed so far is nearly 2,000 square kilometers (770 square miles) — about 1,100 square kilometers (425 square miles) of which lies within Vietnam's EEZ, with the remainder falling within the country's extended continental shelf. An EEZ extends 200 nautical miles (230 miles) from the coast. It is where a country has sole rights to explore resources but must allow free passage to shipping. This particular stretch of water of Vietnam is considered sensitive as it lies near Cam Ranh, the nation's most important naval base and home to its submarine fleet. The survey ship is suspected of conducting dual-purpose activities – scientific research and military intelligence, according to SeaLight. The Vietnamese government has yet to respond to China's actions, and state-run media have not reported on the incident. Article 248 of theUnited Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) stipulates that when conducting marine scientific research in the exclusive economic zone or on the continental shelf of a coastal state, the researching party is obligated to provide the coastal state with full information about the project no later than six months prior to the intended start date of the research. It appears unlikely that China would notify Vietnam before sending a survey ship. Beijing claims about 80 percent of the South China Sea as its own – an area roughly demarcated by the so-called nine-dash line which overlaps with waters claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. It also overlaps with waters inside the EEZ of Indonesia, although that country does not consider itself a South China Sea claimant. Speaking to RFA, Phan Van Song, the contributor to the South China Sea Research Foundation, said 'no matter what actions Vietnam takes, China will certainly continue its blatant and illegal survey activities.' The foundation was established by Vietnamese experts who focus on UNCLOS and the South China Sea. In recent years, China has repeatedly sent survey ships into the waters of other countries in the region. According to SeaLight, which was set up by volunteers from Stanford University, these vessels are largely state-owned and typically operate under the guise of civilian or scientific missions, but often engage in covert intelligence gathering or strategic signaling. During May and June 2024, the Chinese survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 10 remained for nearly a month in Vietnam's oil and gas fields. In April this year, another vessel, Song Hang , was seen zigzagging between the islands of the Philippines. China also sent a survey vessel into Malaysia's EEZ in the southern part of the South China Sea in 2023. These surveys are used to gather intelligence, including seafloor mapping, monitoring foreign military and commercial activities, and improving China's operational awareness for current and future contingencies, according to an analysis by SeaLight. Experts say China's gray-zone tactics have proven successful, allowing Beijing to advance its maritime claims while disguising its activities as civilian operations. This approach helps avoid direct military confrontation and limits the ability of other countries to respond effectively. A good way to counter China's tactics is through 'maritime transparency,' according to Powell, who believes that exposing China's actions as they occur helps clarify their gray-zone strategies and their impact on regional security.
San Francisco Chronicle
4 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Flint's still-unfinished lead pipe replacement serves as cautionary tale to other cities
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Jeffrey Bell watched as crews dug up and replaced neighbors' lead water pipes, hoping his mother's house would be next. Workers told him it wasn't on their list but probably assigned to another contractor. With Flint's lead pipe replacement program winding down this year, Bell and his elderly mother worried the home they share was forgotten. Betty Bell repeatedly called the city while continuing to buy bottled drinking water, as she had for years. Finally someone called to say the water line was fine — records indicate it was checked in 2017. But the Bells hadn't known that, exemplifying residents' confusion over a process marred by delays and poor communication. 'I have even more questions now,' Jeffrey Bell said. About a decade after Flint's water crisis caused national outrage, replacement of lead water pipes still isn't finished. Although the city recently said it completed work required under a legal settlement, the agreement didn't cover vacant homes and allowed owners to refuse, potentially leaving hundreds of pipes in the ground. The state agreed to oversee work on those properties and says it's determined to finish by fall. Flint's missteps offer lessons for municipalities that face a recently imposed federal mandate to replace their own lead service lines. The Trump administration is expected to soon tell a federal appeals court if it will stand by that mandate. 'I think other cities are racing not to be Flint,' said Margie Kelly, a spokesperson with the environmental nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council, which reached a settlement with the city to force it to replace lead pipes. Flint falters Flint's crisis was set in motion in 2014, when a state-appointed emergency manager ended a contract with Detroit's water system and switched to the Flint River to save money. But the state didn't require treatment to prevent corrosion that caused lead to leach into the water. High levels of lead eventually were detected in drinking water and children's blood. Outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease that killed a dozen people were also linked, in part, to the city's water. In 2017, Flint entered into a settlement requiring it to replace all lead pipes and fix dug-up yards for free within three years. Funds were directed first toward homes with known lead lines at the NRDC's insistence, which meant workers couldn't tackle neighborhoods systematically. And finding those homes proved challenging because many records were missing or inaccurate — some handwritten on notecards dating to the early 1900s. 'The city's overall management of the program was ineffective,' and it could have better coordinated work geographically, said Sarah Tallman, an attorney with the NRDC. That stalled the program and, ultimately, the city had to check every pipe anyway. COVID-19 also slowed work. Flint Department of Public Works Director Kenneth Miller, who was hired last year, said the city didn't know how many homeowners had opted out of lead pipe replacement or how many properties had simply been missed as contractors came and went. 'Just like any other organization, people get lax, people stop doing things, people get laid off and the person that used to do it doesn't do it anymore,' he said. Because the city didn't keep accurate records of repairs, a judge ordered officials to visually check thousands of properties that had been excavated. Yards torn up by contractors sometimes sat that way for months or years. For months, Danyele Darrough's lawn was a mess and the sidewalk and driveway were covered, she said. Grass seed that workers applied never grew. Finally this spring, nearly three years later, she bought bags of topsoil and seed to fix her lawn herself. 'It was like, yeah, we knew it; we couldn't trust them,' said Darrough. Miller said the city now has robust data management, which he recommends to other communities tackling lead lines. Steep population loss left thousands of vacant homes that will require contractors to cap lead lines where they're found, said Eric Oswald, drinking water director at Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. 'The state and the city wanted to absolutely make sure that ... we leave no stone unturned,' he said. Trust is key In Flint, government at every level caused the lead crisis or delayed fixing it, according to an EPA inspector general report. The scandal damaged trust in government — nearly 700 Flint homeowners declined free lead pipe replacement, the NRDC said. Flint finally adopted an ordinance last year to prevent homeowners from opting out. 'It's very difficult to get across the finish line unless you've got something to enforce,' Oswald said. Benton Harbor, across the state, implemented a similar provision early on, helping its work move smoothly. Now officials are working from a list of more than 4,000 properties where there could be a lead line, sending letters and making in-person visits to homes, if needed. Miller said he hopes the outreach will show that customer service is now a priority, but it will take time to rebuild trust. Some also distrust the Environmental Protection Agency, which in May lifted a long-standing emergency order for Flint water. The agency said it's now safe to drink from the tap after years of tests showing sharply reduced lead levels. 'We don't know what to believe,' resident Aonie Gilcreast said at a recent community gathering. 'We don't trust the system' because officials have said 'time after time after time .... that everything was fine.' As other cities and towns start replacing their own lead pipes — there are roughly 9 million in the U.S. — one thing should be top of mind, experts say: Digging them up isn't just a construction job, but also a test of community trust. To replace the lines that connect the water main in the street to homes, workers usually must dig in the street and yard, and enter the home. When residents trust local government, they're more willing to grant that access. 'With lead, as with everything else, the first time people hear from their water utility can't be when there is a concern,' said Greg Kail, spokesperson at utility industry group American Water Works Association. Instead, it is important for utilities to reach out to residents about what they plan to do and enlist trusted community groups in the effort. Newark charges forward Newark, New Jersey, avoided Flint's pitfalls when facing its own lead crisis. In 2019, about two years after elevated levels were revealed and with funds available, the mayor said the city would replace more than 20,000 lead pipes at no cost to residents — and do it within three years. But a challenge soon emerged: Newark has lots of renters who couldn't approve the work. 'We couldn't get into the houses. We couldn't find the owners,' said Kareem Adeem, Newark's water and sewer director. 'They don't live there. They had no interest in taking care of the lead service line.' So the city passed an ordinance making lead pipe removals mandatory and giving renters permission to approve the work. Then contractors moved quickly through the city block by block — a lesson learned from Flint. For the most stubborn holdouts, officials told them when they'd start replacement work and said they'd turn the water off until the resident allowed them to complete it. The threat was enough. They never had to actually turn off anybody's water, Adeem said. Sometimes, people would recognize Adeem from TV and he could start a conversation — a crack in a resident's determination to say no. He worked with trusted community groups, too. And the decision that ensured people's property was cleaned up afterward? The contractors weren't fully paid until they finished the work and fixed any damage. ___
Time Business News
5 hours ago
- Time Business News
Child Growth Chart Calculator UK – Track Your Child's Development Percentile
It's natural to wonder if your child is growing as expected. Thankfully, growth charts make it easy to track development and spot any concerns early. The Child Growth Chart Calculator UK allows parents to compare their child's stats against NHS and WHO growth standards — providing peace of mind and professional-grade accuracy. Child Growth Chart Calculator UK systems have become increasingly sophisticated, thanks to evidence-based tools developed by leading pediatric organizations. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) provides comprehensive growth charts that healthcare professionals and parents can use to track development from birth through adolescence. A reliable Child Growth Chart Calculator UK uses WHO (World Health Organisation) growth standards, which describe optimal growth patterns for healthy, breastfed children. These calculators are available in two main categories: UK-WHO growth charts for 0-4 years and UK-WHO growth charts for 2-18 years, ensuring continuous monitoring throughout childhood and adolescence. Centile charts (also called percentile charts) are fundamental tools that pediatricians use to assess whether a child's growth falls within expected ranges. These charts don't simply tell you if measurements are 'normal' or 'abnormal' — instead, they show where your child's measurements fit within the statistical distribution of children their age and gender. Healthcare professionals plot your child's height, weight, and head circumference (for babies) on these charts during routine check-ups. The charts include several important features: BMI Centile Lookup: Modern UK growth charts include Body Mass Index calculations that account for a child's age and gender, providing more accurate assessments than simple height-to-weight ratios. Adult Height Predictor: Advanced charts can estimate a child's potential adult height based on current growth patterns and parental heights. Mid-Parental Height Comparator: This feature compares a child's growth against their genetic potential based on both parents' heights. Puberty Guidance: Charts for older children include guidance on the onset and progression of puberty, helping identify early or delayed development. Understanding centile results can initially seem complex, but the system is designed to be intuitive once you grasp the basics. Here's what you need to know: Healthy Weight Ranges: According to NHS guidelines, a healthy weight result falls between the 3rd and 91st centile. This means that 88% of children fall within this range, representing normal variation in healthy growth patterns. The 50th Centile Myth: Many parents assume their child should be at the 50th centile (the average), but this is a common misconception. A child at the 10th centile is just as healthy as one at the 75th centile, provided they're growing consistently along their curve. Growth Patterns Matter More Than Single Measurements: Healthcare professionals look for consistent growth patterns rather than focusing on individual measurements. A child who consistently tracks along the 25th centile is typically healthier than one whose measurements jump dramatically between centiles. Normal Variation Range: Approximately 99% of children with healthy growth and development fall between the 0.4th and 99.6th centile. Children outside this range require assessment, though many factors can contribute to measurements outside typical ranges. BMI Considerations: For children and teenagers, BMI is given as a centile because young people are still growing. The NHS BMI calculator takes into account age, sex, height, and weight to provide accurate assessments. While growth charts are excellent monitoring tools, certain situations warrant professional medical attention: Measurements Below the 0.4th Centile: Children whose height falls below the 0.4th centile (less than 2 standard deviations below the mean) may have short stature that requires evaluation. However, many cases represent normal physiological variations such as familial short stature or constitutional growth delay. Crossing Multiple Centile Lines: If your child's growth pattern suddenly changes and crosses two or more centile lines (either upward or downward), this may indicate an underlying issue requiring assessment. Extreme BMI Measurements: Children with BMI measurements consistently above the 91st centile or below the 3rd centile should be evaluated by healthcare professionals. Concerning Symptoms: Seek medical advice if growth concerns are accompanied by other symptoms such as poor appetite, excessive fatigue, delayed development, or other health issues. Parental Concerns: Trust your instincts as a parent. If you're worried about your child's growth despite normal chart results, discuss your concerns with your GP or health visitor. Modern Child Growth Chart Calculator UK tools make it easier than ever for parents to monitor their children's development between healthcare appointments. These calculators use the same WHO standards and NHS guidelines that healthcare professionals rely on, providing accurate assessments you can trust. When choosing a Child Growth Chart Calculator UK, ensure it: Uses current WHO/NHS standards Accounts for your child's exact age and gender Provides centile results rather than simple 'normal/abnormal' classifications Includes guidance on interpreting results The best Child Growth Chart Calculator UK systems integrate multiple measurement parameters including height, weight, BMI, and head circumference for comprehensive growth assessment. Avoid Over-Monitoring: While growth tracking is valuable, avoid weighing or measuring your child too frequently. Daily fluctuations are normal and can cause unnecessary anxiety for both parents and children. Individual Variations: Remember that every child grows at their own pace. Siblings may have completely different growth patterns while both being perfectly healthy. Nutritional Factors: Breastfeeding, family dietary habits, and overall nutrition can influence growth patterns. The WHO standards are based on optimal growth conditions for breastfed infants. Genetic Factors: Family history plays a significant role in growth patterns. Children often follow growth trajectories similar to their parents. Premature Birth Considerations: For babies born prematurely, healthcare professionals may use adjusted ages for the first few years to account for early birth. Healthcare professionals use growth charts as part of comprehensive assessments that include: Physical examinations Developmental milestone assessments Family history reviews Nutritional evaluations When necessary, additional testing or referrals to specialists The UK's systematic approach to growth monitoring, combining WHO standards with NHS protocols, ensures that children receive appropriate care while avoiding unnecessary interventions for normal growth variations. Regular monitoring through your child's routine health checks, combined with occasional use of a reliable Child Growth Chart Calculator UK, provides the best approach to ensuring healthy development. When in doubt, always consult with your GP, health visitor, or pediatrician who can provide personalized guidance based on your child's complete health picture. Remember, Child Growth Chart Calculator UK tools are designed for tracking patterns over time rather than defining what's 'normal' for every child. Every child is unique, and healthy growth comes in many different forms. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
