WHO Scraps Interim COVID Origin Rpt As Tensions Spike-WSJ

The WSJ reporting that the World Health Organisation has scrapped an interim report investigating the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic as tensions spike between China and the US.

• An international group of scientists have called for a new investigation to be opened after alleging that the WHOs mission to the epicentre of the outbreak - the Chinese city of Wuhan - was denied the requisite access to fully investigate the source of the virus.
• Under the Biden administration the US has rejoined the WHO, but in doing so has said it is committed to improving transparency within the organisation, putting it on a collision course with Beijing, which has sought to limit the focus on the Wuhan origin story and instead talk up the prospect of the virus coming to Wuhan from another country on frozen food packaging.
• Australia has already felt the force of China's resistance to an unlimited investigation into the outbreak, with a call in 2020 by PM Scott Morrison for a full inquiry into the outbreak sparking a round of sanctions and tariffs being imposed on Australian exports to China.