Virus behind the 2002–2003 outbreak; a zoonotic coronavirus with lasting global health impact
The Senate Homeland Security Committee has voted 8–5 to hold Dr Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked the Fifth Amendment repeatedly during a hearing on pandemic decisions and the origins of COVID‑19. Chairman Rand Paul has authorised sending the committees report to the DC US attorney for possible prosecution and has threatened to certify the citation to the Senate president if the chamber is not in session.
A Senate hearing has spotlighted newly released diary pages from Fauci, fueling accusations that the scientist privately contradicted public statements as lawmakers push for questioning under the Fifth Amendment; experts note the diary entries document uncertainty in early pandemic days and ongoing debates about origins and gain-of-function research.
Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong’s former chief executive, has been honored at a state funeral attended by Chinese officials and city leaders. The service, a rare acknowledgement for Hong Kong since the 1997 handover, comes as the city grapples with past protests, SARS and economic crises that defined his nearly eight-year tenure.