INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY DECEMBER 9, 2022 1 A W e e k l y N e w s p a p e r Fe a t u r i n g N e w s & Tr e n d s f r o m t h e I n d i a n S u b - C o n t i n e n t P u b l i s h e d f r o m t h e U S C a p i t a l Website: www.indiathisweek.online Vol. 30 No: 49 • WASHINGTON D.C • Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 • e-mail: indiathisweekads@gmail.com • Friday • December 9, 2022 AAP Sweeps Delhi Municipal Polls New Delhi [India], December 7 (ANI): The results of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi have suggested that people are more inclined towards having a double-engine government which binds the ruling party to fulfil their electoral promises. The high-stakes battle for control over the Delhi Municipal Corporation has ended with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) winning 134 of the total 250 wards in the national capital’s civic body polls, uprooting 15year rule by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As the Delhi State Election Commission announced the final results today, AAP won 134 wards while BJP came second with 104 wards. Congress managed to get 9 wards while three wards were bagged by Independents. BJP has been using the metaphor of a doubleengine government for delivering good governance and this time the people have chosen Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP, the ruling party in the state to control the civic body to resolve the local civic issues. People have raised demands relating to unsanitary conditions, stray animals,unmaintainedparks, landfills, waterlogging, garbage mismanagement which come under the municipality. Aam Aadmi Party, which has been credited for dislodging the 15-year rule of Congress victory, today uprooted 15year old rule of BJP in civic body. Arvind Kejriwal vowed to improve civic amenities in the national capital, and sought the “blessings” of the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to achieve that. AAP national convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday thanked the people for AAP’s victory in the MCD polls and sought the cooperation of the BJP and the Congress as well as the “blessings” of the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to improve civic amenities in the national capital. Kejriwal batted for positive politics in the country to ensure that India becomes number one country in the world. “We all have to improve the condition of Delhi and I need cooperation of all, including the BJP and Congress. We need cooperation of all, especially the help and blessings of the Centre and the prime minister to do so,” Kejriwal said in his victory speech at AAP headquarters on Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Marg. Tall leaders of the party including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia took on the BJP over a number of issues and highlighted the MCD’s failure in keeping the city clean, while also accusing it of indulging in corruption. However, as the AAP manages to dethrone the BJP from power in the civic body, the deadlock between the Delhi government and the MCD is expected to melt down. BJP and AAP left no stone unturned during the campaign as both the parties levelled accusations and counter-accusations at each other on various issues besides BJP deploying union ministers and chief ministers too for campaigning. (ANI) ENDS JANUARY 3 NX F SPORT ALL-NEW RX ES F SPORT KHUSHI JO SIRF SEASON NAHIN, SAALON CHALE Sometimes the best gifts are the experiences that keep on giving, season after season. ©2022 Lexus, a Division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
December 9, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK India, Germany welcome resumption of negotiations on India-EU Free Trade Agreement New Delhi [India], December 5 (ANI): During the bilaterals held in New Delhi between EAM Jaishankar and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, the two sides welcomed the resumption of negotiations on the IndiaEuropean Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement, Investment Protection Agreement and the Agreement on Geographical Indications. As Germany is India’s largest trade partner in the EU, the Indian side expressed its expectation of the country’s continued support in the timely conclusion of negotiations, according to the official statement of the Ministry of External Affairs. The current state of affairs in Europe, India’s neighbors, the country’s current UNSC Presidency, and India’s current G20 Presidency were just a few of the regional, international, and multilateral topics that the two leaders discussed. The German government released its Indo-Pacific Guidelines in 2020, and the German naval frigate “Bayern” was sent there. In January 2022, the German frigate conducted a port call in Mumbai. The Indian side hailed Germany’s increased engagement in the IndoPacific region. Germany’s entry into the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative was likewise welcomed by India (IPOI), the MEA said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today signed an agreement on Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in New Delhi. The agreement has provisions to facilitate mobility and employment opportunities for fostering the exchange of skills and talents. The agreement includes the Academic Evaluation Center in New Delhi, 18 months extended residence permits to students, 3,000 job seeker visas annually, liberalised short stay multiple entry visas and streamlined readmission procedures. In addition, the agreement will institutionalize a joint working group for further strengthening cooperation in Migration and Mobility. Dr Philipp Ackermann, German Ambassador to India, and other senior officials from India and Germany were present at the time of signing the agreement. “The Agreement has specific provisions to facilitate mobility and employment opportunities for fostering the exchange of skills and talents. These include Academic Evaluation Center in New Delhi, eighteen months extended residence permits to students, three thousand Job Seeker Visas annually, liberalized short stay multiple entry visas and streamlined readmission procedures,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in the press release. EAM S Jaishankar held a meeting with visiting German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Monday. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and shared perspectives on several important regional and global issues. Jaishankar tweeted, “A wide ranging conversation today with FM @ABaerbock of Germany. Took forward our frequent exchanges, this time in greater detail. Reviewed our bilateral ties and shared perspectives on a number of important regional and global issues.” We support India’s G20 presidency to promote hope, peace, democracy: German MP Germany supports India‘s G-20 presidency in 2023 to promote hope, peace, and democracy, and to intensify the fight against climate change, said German parliament member Lisa Badum, who is set to visit India.In a statement released by Badum, her visit will highlight the importance of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with India, adding, “We want to emphasize our solid support for India‘s goal – as formulatedbyPrimeMinister Narendra Modi- to use its prestigious G20 presidency in 2023 to promote hope, peace, and democracy, to strengthen the support for the most vulnerable people and nations on earth, and to intensify the fight against climate change.” The head of the Subcommittee on International Climate and Energy Policy said, “Our visits to New Delhi, Jaipur, and Bengaluru will focus on deepening the existing exchange with members of the Indian government and parliament, on visiting lighthouse projects of renewable energy and mobility, and on stressing the importance of the work of civil society organisations and start-ups in the fight against the climate crisis and for a just national and global energy transition.”
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December 9, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Special forces exercise of Indian Navy, US Navy underway in Goa New Delhi [India], December 6 (ANI): The 7th edition of Exercise Sangam, a joint Naval Special Forces exercise between Indian Navy MARCOs and US Navy SEALs commenced in Goa on December 1, the Ministry of Defence said. Exercise Sangam was first conducted in 1994 and is an important military and diplomatic initiative between the two nations, reflective of the trust and friendship between them. According to the Defence Ministry statement, the present edition which will see personnel from SEAL Team Five based at San Diego, US and Indian NavyMARCOs from INS Abhimanyu together aims at exchange of ideas and experiences on various aspects of Maritime Special Operations. Whilst a joint exercise among US SEALs, MARCOs and other participating nations’ Naval Special Forces is held annually as part of Exercise Malabar, the Sangam series is a bi-lateral exercise purely between the US and Indian Special Forces. The exercise is planned for a duration of three weeks wherein personnel will exercise and hone their skills in Maritime Interdiction Operations, Direct Action Missions, Combat Free Fall Jumps, Special Heliborne Operations, and various other evolutions. Notably, the 18th edition of the Indo-US joint training exercise “YUDH ABHYAS 22” started in Uttarakhand last month. Exercise Yudh Abhyas is conducted annually between India and USA with the aim of exchanging best practices, Tactics, Techniques and Procedures between the Armies of the two nations. The previous edition of the exercise was conducted at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska (USA) in October 2021. US Army soldiers of the 2nd Brigade of the 11th Airborne Division and Indian Army soldiers from the ASSAM Regiment participated in the exercise. The training schedule focuses on employment of an integrated battle group under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate. The exercise includes all operations related to peacekeeping and peace enforcement. The troops from both nations will work together to achieve common objectives. The joint exercise also focuses on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. Troops from both nations practiced in launching swift and coordinated relief efforts in the wake of any natural calamity. (ANI) New Delhi [India], December 6 (ANI): The World Bank on Tuesday has said it expects inflation to be 7.1 percent in the current fiscal year but cautioned that the decline in commodity prices could dampen inflationarypressures.India‘s October inflation dropped to 6.77 per cent, from 7.41 per cent in the preceding month, mainly due to easing prices in the food basket, though it remained above Reserve Bank’s comfort level for the 10th month in a row. The World Bank today released its India Development Report titled “Navigating the Storm”. “Inflation is a little higher than the RBI limits. The driving factor for this is largely food and our expectation is that by next year, inflation will decrease and fall under the RBI band of 2 per cent to 6 per cent. We expect it to be 5.1 per cent in the next FY,” said Dhruv Sharma, the World Bank senior economist and lead author of the report. According to the report the country’s fiscal policy supported the RBI‘s rate actions by cutting excise duty and other taxes on fuel to moderate the impact of higher global oil prices on inflation. However, the report also cautioned that there is a trade-off between trying to limit the adverse impact of global spillovers on India‘s growth and available policy space.The report noted that both levers of macroeconomic policy — fiscal and monetary — have played a role in managing the challenges that have emerged over the past year. The report of World Bank said that rapid monetary policy tightening in advanced economies has already resulted in large portfolio outflows and depreciation of the Indian rupee while high global commodity prices have led to a widening of the current account deficit. However, the report also argued that India‘s economy is relatively insulated from global spillovers compared to other emerging markets. This is partly because India has large domestic markets and is relatively less exposed to international trade flows. A Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India started a three-day meeting on Monday. Financial markets will be keenly watching the committee’s rate hike stance if any, as inflation is still above the 6 per cent target band. The central bank had already hiked the key policy rate by 190 basis points since May to 5.9 per cent to cool off domestic retail inflation that has stayed above the RBI‘s upper tolerance limit for over three quarters now. In October, retail inflation was 6.77 per cent as against 7.41 per cent the previous month. An out-of-turn meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India was held in early November to discuss and draft the report to be sent to the central government for having failed in maintaining the inflation mandate. (ANI) World Bank sees inflation declining in India
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December 9, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Ex-Navy officers detained in Qatar are our priority, assures EAM Jaishankar New Delhi [India], December 7 (ANI): Considering the case of Ex-Navy officers detained in Qatar as “sensitive”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the Indian side is constantly in touch with the government of Qatar, as he assured the officers are a priority for the country as well. “This is a very sensitive case. Their interests are foremost in our minds. Ambassadors and senior officials are in constant touch with Qatar’s govt. We assure, they’re our priority,” the EAM said during his address to the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. During a presser on December 1, the official spokesperson of MEA, Arindam Bagchi also underlined that India is regularly responding to the case of ex-Indian Navy officers arrested in Qatar as the embassy is actively pursuing the issue. He said that the detained Indians are in touch with family members in India. “We’ve been responding to this regularly. Our embassy is actively pursuing the case. We understand that detained Indians are able to speak to their families in India over the telephone now, some of them have families staying in Doha,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said during the presser. The MEA spokesperson further added that some detainees have families in Doha and are being allowed to have physical meetings on a weekly basis. Earlier, among 8 former naval officers detained in Doha, retired commander Punendu Tiwari’s sister Dr Meetu Bhargava who lives in Gwalior has sought help from the government to bring her brother back. In the first week of November, she told ANI, ” I tweeted on October 25 and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring From The Poet’s Pen INDIA THIS WEEK- December 9, 2022 When I Get Time back my brother who is in illegal detention in Doha, Qatar. My brother is a retired navy commander officer and he went there to provide training to Qatar Navy through his company Dahra Global Consultancy Services”. “There are eight ex-Indian Navy officers, including my brother lying in illegal detention. They were picked up by the Qatar police during the night on August 30. There were no charges against them. Neither the Qatar government told us nor the Indian government has information about any charges imposed on them,” she added. Furthermore, the EAM also spoke at length on India’s Foreign Policy and its direct impact on the daily lives of Indian citizens. “Foreign policy has a direct impact on the daily lives of all Indian...our endeavour is that the welfare of Indian people is ensured however challenging the situation”, EAM Jaishankar said in Rajya Sabha. The EAM also underscored how India is a member of a growing number of groups and mechanisms, Some of which are established whereas some are emerging. “Currently, Indias is a member of a growing number of groups and mechanisms. Some of them are relatively established like BRICS and Commonwealth...others have been more recent like QUAD and SCO....and still, others are emerging like I2U2 and Indo pacific economic framework (IPEF). (ANI) INDIA THIS WEEK Address: P.O. Box 352, Bryans Road, MD 20616 Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 www.indiathisweek.online by Thomas L. Masson India This Week is published every Friday by ADV Solutions Inc, When I get time – I know what I shall do: I’ll cut the leaves of all my books And read them through and through. Views expressed in this paper are those of the individual writers and not necessarily of India This Week. India This Week accepts no liability for the errors in advertisements or in any of its reports. For remedial actions any errors should be brought to the attention of the editor by the information provided below. When I get time – I’ll write some letters then That I have owed for weeks and weeks T many, many men. o When I get time – I’ll pay those calls I owe, And with those bills, those countless bills, I will not be so slow. When I get time – I’ll regulate my life In such a way that I may get Acquainted with my wife. When I get time – Oh glorious dream of bliss! A month, a year, ten years from now – But I can’t finish this – I’ve no more time. Publisher: Chief Editor: Contributing Editors: Dr. Babu Stephen Rajan George Saju Mathew Isaac George Asst. Editors: Manu Jacob Sherena Panjikkaran Special Business Correspondent Elisha B. Pulivarti Business Coordinators Rajan C. George Jithu Johny Panjikkaran Dr. Renuka Misra, Special Correspondent: Geeta Goindi Community Coordinator: Prof. Vinod Goel India Office Manesh Krishna Columnists: Anadi Naik World Religions Dr. Sam Prasad Jillella Photo Journalist: Mathew Karmel, System Admn. & Maintenance: Rajan C. George Layout & Graphics: Prinston Samuel, Business Affairs: Mrs. Molly George CALL US • 301-445-0200 • 301-917-4800 e-Mails: Advertisements: indiathisweekads@gmail.com Press Releases: indiathisweekpress@yahoo.com Web: www.indiathisweek.online India is world’s largest democracy, home to great diversity of faiths: US Wa s h i n g t o n [US], December 7 (ANI): India is the world’s largest democracy and home to a great diversity of faiths, the US said on Tuesday. While addressing reporters, US Department of State spokesperson Ned Price said, “India of course, is the world’s largest democracy. It’s home to a great diversity of faiths. Our annual report on international religious freedom outlines some of the concerns we’ve taken note of when it comes to India. And we continue to carefully monitor the religious freedom situation in all countries and that includes India.” “We encourage and will continue to encourage the Indian government to hold its commitment to protecting religious freedom for all,” Price added. “We engage officials regularly on steps they can take to advance religious freedom. As the world’s two largest democracies, the United States and India, we’re also committed to an enduring project,” he said. This statement came after the Biden administration released the name of countries that are designated under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a statement, said, “Finally, I am designating al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISISGreater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jama’at Nusrat alIslam Wal-Muslimin, the Taliban, and the Wagner Group based on its actions in the Central African Republic as Entities of Particular Concern.” Blinken also said that Cuba and Nicaragua were added to the list of countries of “Particular Concern”, and China, Russia, Iran, Burma, Eritrea, North Korea and Pakistan remain on the list, according to the statement released by the US Department of State. “Today, I am announcing designations against Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, the DPRK (North Korea), Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom,” Blinken said in a statement. “I am also placing Algeria, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam on the Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom. Finally, I am designating al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISISGreater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jama’at Nusrat alIslam Wal-Muslimin, the Taliban, and the Wagner Group based on its actions in the Central African Republic as Entities of Particular Concern,” the statement quoted Blinken as saying. US announcement of these designations is in keeping with the values and interests to protect national security and to advance human rights around the globe. Countries that effectively safeguard this and other human rights are more peaceful, stable, prosperous and more reliable partners of the United States than those that do not. (ANI)
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December 9, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Marc Elrich, and 20th County Council Sworn In The 20th County Council and County Executive Marc Elrich were sworn in on Dec. 5. From left: Kate Stewart, Laurie-Anne Sayles, Kristin Mink, Dawn Luedtke, Sidney Katz, Will Jawando, Andrew Friedson, Natali Fani-Gonzalez, Marilyn Balcombe, Evan Glass, Gabe Albornoz, and Marc Elrich. County Executive Marc Elrich (D) and the 20th County Council were sworn in for a four-year term at The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda on Monday. Elrich and county officials lauded the occasion, noting the historical significance of incoming lawmakers. In his remarks to hundreds of people gathered, County Council President Gabe Albornoz (D-At-large) said that the new council was incredibly diverse, racially and ethnically. Six incoming women also make up a majority of the new 11member council — women haven’t made up a majority since the 1980s, Albornoz said. The council grew from nine to 11 members because of a ballot issue that voters passed in 2020. O f f i c i a l s highlighted the diverse makeup of the County Council: Six of the 11 members are women, and those six are newcomers. Kristin Mink is the first Asian-American to sit on the council Laurie-Anne Sayles is the first Black woman to be elected to an at-large council seat Evan Glass, the incoming Council President, will be the first LGBTQ member to hold that seat Albornoz and Elrich also highlighted the county’s successes during the coronavirus pandemic — including the county’s high vaccination rates among residents, which they said, among other things, saved lives. There have been 2,241 COVID-19 deaths countywide — a number including probable deaths, according to the Maryland Department of Health. That’s a much lower death rate per population than other large communities countywide, Elrich said. Elrich highlighted four priorities for the upcoming term: adding affordable housing, combating climate change, priortizing racial equity, and growing the county’s economy. ,The county executive said it will be important to work with the new council on updating the county’s moderately priced dwelling unit program, along with implementing some form of rent stabilization. County officials also need to focus on continuing the work of the Climate Action Plan, the county’s racial equity and social justice policy, and furthering economic development — notably the biohealth industry and other related fields, Elrich said. Elrich added that he’s excited to work with the incoming state leaders: Gov.-elect Wes Moore (D), Lt. Gov.-elect Aruna Miller (D) — who was present and spoke at Monday’s inauguration, Comptroller- elect Brooke Lierman (D) — and Attorney Generalelect Anthony Brown (D). This “new slate of leaders” fundamentally understands the importance of the county’s position in the state — when Montgomery County succeeds, the state succeeds, Elrich said. The second-term county executive also paid tribute to his predecessor, Ike Leggett, who served from 2006 to 2018. “When you talk about equity and inclusion, you have to talk about Ike Leggett and the role that he played in broadening the table of Montgomery County,” Elrich said. “So, I take no credit for inventing the path, I’m just traveling on it.” Part of that work tomorrow is electing new council officers. Council Vice President Evan Glass (D-at-large) ascended to the Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich council presidency, as is the County Council met at 9:30 council tradition. The new a.m.Tuesday in Rockville. Ottawa [Canada], December 6 (ANI): A 21year-old Sikh woman was shot dead in Canada in a shooting incident outside a gas station in Mississauga. The Peel Regional Police identified the victim as Pawanpreet Kaur on Monday and said that she was an employee of the gas station, CBC reported. The Peel Regional Police provide policing services for Peel Region in Ontario, Canada. It is the second largest municipal police service in Ontario after the Toronto Police Service. CBC News is Canada‘s publicly owned news and information service. The police revealed that the victim was from Brampton and added that when officials arrived at the shooting site, they saw the woman with gunshot wounds. Life-saving measures were attempted but the woman died. Police said that they believe it was a targeted incident. The homicide unit has taken over the investigation. Officers are looking for a male suspect, according to CBC News. According to CBC citing a news release, police said that the suspect was in a threequarter-length dark winter jacket with a hood, dark winter boots, dark pants, a dark winter toque and white gloves. It appears that he was smoking a cigarette. Police said he did not pull the hood up over his head until shortly before shooting the victim at close range. After canvassing the area for video and interviewing witnesses, police have determined that the suspect was on foot in the area three hours before the shooting. Earlier, he was seen crossing over Britannia Road, east of the intersection, and crossing Creditview Sikh woman shot dead outside gas station in Canada Road, north of the intersection, CBC reported. After the shooting, he was seen running westbound across Creditview Road, then westbound on Britannia Road, and then westbound onto Camgreen Circle.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 9, 2022 9 Sale Ends 12/15/2022 Scientist who worked at Wuhan lab makes startling revelation; says COVID was man-made virus New Delhi [India], December 5 (ANI): In what appears to be an astonishing revelation, a US-based scientist, who worked at a controversial research lab in China’s Wuhan, has said that COVID-19 was a “manmade virus” that leaked from the facility. COVID was leaked from Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), a staterun and funded research facility, two years ago, the New York Post reported, quoting US-based researcher Andrew Huff’s statement in the British newspaper The Sun. In his latest book, “The Truth About Wuhan,” epidemiologist Huff claims that the pandemic was caused by the US government’s funding of coronaviruses in China. Excerpts of Huff’s book have been out in the UK-based tabloid The Sun. According to the New York Post report, Huff is the former vice “This is not how people in high positions should behave”, Kerala HC criticises Governor on removalbecauseSenate members of one response from the university. Kochi (Kerala) be withdrawn [India], December 7 (ANI): Kerala High Court has lashed out at Kerala Governor Arif Muhammad Khan in a petition challenging the removal of senate members of Kerala University saying that the Chancellor who is the Governor is behaving like child. The Single Bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran observed that “This is not how people in high positions should behave. Pleasure is personal. Pleasure cannot does not like the person. It is not good for those in high positions.” Court also questioned the stand of the Senate of Kerala University for not nominating persons for the post of ViceChancellor. “It is understood that you have no intention of appointing a new ViceChancellor. All ousted members of the Senate may be immediately reinstated if the nominee for the new Vice-Chancellor is appointed. But there is no Only the court is concerned about the future of the students. Neither they think nor talk about it.” Removed 15 members of the Senate approached the High Court challenging the decision of the Governor (Chancellor) of removal. According to the petitioners, “The Chancellor is exercising powers under the Kerala University Act, 1974 and this Court has the ability to examine the reasonableness of the action of the Chancellor. president of the EcoHealth Alliance, a non-profit organisation based in New York that studies infectious diseases. Huff claims in his book that China’s gain-offunction experiments were conducted with inadequate security, resulting in a leak at the Wuhan lab, according to New York Post. The Wuhan lab has been the centre of heated debates over the origins of COVID, with both Chinese government officials and lab workers denying that the virus originated there. “Foreign laboratories did not have the adequate control measures in place for ensuring proper biosafety, biosecurity, and risk management, ultimately resulting in the lab leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology,” Andrew Huff, said in his book. For more than a decade, the organisation has been studying several coronaviruses in bats with funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and has forged close ties to the Wuhan lab. The NIH is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research. Huff, who worked at EcoHealth Alliance from 2014 to 2016, stated that the non-profit assisted the Wuhan lab for many years in developing the “best existing methods to engineer bat coronaviruses to attack other species” “China knew from day one that this was a genetically engineered agent,” Huff wrote. “The US government is to blame for the transfer of dangerous biotechnology to the Chinese. “I was terrified by what I saw,” he told The Sun, as per New York Post. “We were just handing them bioweapon technology.” The Post also reports that according to a recent investigation published by ProPublica/ Vanity Fair, the WIV is home to China’s riskiest coronavirus research. This research institute has been under immense pressure from the ruling Chinese Communist Party to produce scientific breakthroughs to raise its global status despite the lack of resources. (ANI)
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