What's happened
Virologist Zhang Yongzhen's ordeal, from being locked out of his lab in Shanghai to staging a sit-in protest, has sparked sympathy and questions. House Republicans have demanded a criminal investigation of a virus-hunting nonprofit leader, escalating their campaign against scientists linked to the Covid-19 pandemic's origin. Zhang's lab closure and subsequent protest have raised concerns about the treatment of scientists and the origins of the pandemic.
Why it matters
The treatment of virologist Zhang Yongzhen and the demands for a criminal investigation by House Republicans highlight the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. These events have implications for scientific research, government oversight, and international cooperation in addressing global health crises.
What the papers say
The New York Times reports on House Republicans demanding a criminal investigation of the virus-hunting nonprofit leader, while the South China Morning Post covers Zhang Yongzhen's lab closure and subsequent protest. The contrasting perspectives shed light on the political and scientific tensions surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic's origins.
How we got here
Zhang Yongzhen, known for releasing the Covid-19 genome sequence, faced obstacles after his lab in Shanghai was closed, leading to a sit-in protest. House Republicans have raised concerns about the virus-hunting nonprofit's collaboration with Chinese scientists, despite no new evidence linking them to the pandemic's origins.
Common question
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Zhang Yongzhen, also known as Yong-Zhen Zhang, is a Chinese virologist known for his work relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. A professor at Fudan University, Zhang has discovered numerous RNA viruses and created a network of labs dedicated to monitoring n
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