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The Central Intelligence Agency has recently shifted its stance on the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, now favoring the lab leak theory as the most likely explanation. This conclusion aligns with the views of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Energy Department, pointing to a laboratory mishap in Wuhan, China, as the probable source of the virus. Despite the Chinese government's lack of cooperation with international investigations, the U.S. intelligence community remains divided on the issue, with some agencies still favoring the animal transmission theory. The debate over Covid-19's origins has been politicized in the past, with former President Trump blaming Beijing and his Democratic critics accusing the White House of deflecting attention from its pandemic response. [Extracted from the article]

President Trump's recent proposal to have Palestinians vacate Gaza has stirred controversy and introduced a new initiative into Middle East diplomacy. While Trump suggested resettlement could be temporary or long-term, the specifics of the plan remain unclear. The proposal has been met with mixed reactions, with some dismissing it as unfeasible and others viewing it as a potential solution to the conflict in Gaza. The idea of Palestinians leaving Gaza to facilitate its reconstruction has raised concerns and skepticism among various stakeholders in the region. [Extracted from the article]

The cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas was influenced by the impending transfer of power from President Biden to President-elect Donald Trump. Both administrations played a role in the negotiations, with Trump's threats and Biden's diplomatic efforts contributing to the deal. The agreement marks a significant step, but challenges remain in stabilizing the Middle East and addressing issues such as Iran, Syria, and Palestinian governance. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the debate within the U.S. intelligence community regarding the origins of the Covid-19 virus, specifically focusing on the possibility of a lab leak from a research facility in China. While most intelligence agencies concluded with "low confidence" that the virus emerged naturally, the FBI was the only agency to assess a lab leak as likely with "moderate confidence." Disagreements among experts and the exclusion of certain analyses from reports have led to calls for a fresh look at the evidence. The article highlights the challenges faced in determining the virus's origin and the ongoing investigations by government agencies. [Extracted from the article]

The Biden administration revealed that Pakistan is developing a long-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S., leading to the imposition of sanctions on a state-owned entity involved in the program. This disclosure highlights a growing rift between Washington and Islamabad, once considered a vital U.S. partner in South Asia. Pakistan's close military relationship with China and its nuclear arsenal are key factors in this development, with concerns raised about the potential impact on regional stability and international relations. [Extracted from the article]

The U.S. intelligence community has issued a warning that the risk of Iran developing nuclear weapons is increasing, despite not currently doing so. This warning comes amidst a public debate in Iran about the deterrent value of nuclear weapons, potentially emboldening advocates within the country. The report highlights concerns about Iran's expanding nuclear program and the potential for dangerous steps if faced with additional sanctions or pressure. The Trump administration is considering tightening economic pressure on Iran, while also expressing a desire to avoid conflict and strike a deal. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses how an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nearly derailed cease-fire talks between Israel and Lebanon. The warrant threatened France's monitoring role in the talks, but diplomatic maneuvers ultimately preserved France's involvement. The cease-fire deal is now being tested, with both sides accusing each other of violations, highlighting the complexities of international law and power dynamics in the Middle East. [Extracted from the article]

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Thursday that he had signed deployment orders for some of the American reinforcements that are to be sent to Afghanistan. It is [...]

WASHINGTON -- Islamic State fighters are expected to make their last stand in a series of Euphrates River Valley towns and villages that American-backed Syrian and Iraqi forces are not [...]

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Jim Mattis insisted on Thursday that he was not at odds with President Trump over North Korea and asserted that the media had misinterpreted his recent [...]

WASHINGTON -- President Trump signed a long-awaited directive on Friday that precludes transgender individuals from joining the military but gives Defense Secretary Jim Mattis wide discretion in determining whether those [...]

KIEV, Ukraine -- Defense Secretary Jim Mattis vowed on Thursday to help Ukraine stand up to Russian violations of its sovereignty and signaled that the Trump administration was considering providing [...]

ERBIL, Iraq -- Defense Secretary Jim Mattis asked the president of Iraq's Kurdish autonomous region on Tuesday to postpone a referendum next month on Kurdish independence. Mr. Mattis's meeting with [...]

President Trump's new strategy for the war in Afghanistan, which he laid out Monday night in a televised address, is intended to give a badly needed boost to the campaign [...]

Byline: MICHAEL R. GORDON President Trump's new strategy for the war in Afghanistan, which he laid out Monday night in a televised address, is intended to give a badly needed [...]

AMMAN, Jordan -- President Trump, who has been accused by lawmakers of dragging his feet on Afghanistan, has settled on a new strategy to carry on the nearly 16-year-old conflict [...]

WASHINGTON -- An American service member died in Afghanistan on Wednesday after being wounded in an operation against the Islamic State's affiliate in the country, the military said. American and [...]

WASHINGTON -- The intelligence could come to President Trump secretly and urgently: The North Koreans have placed another intercontinental missile on its launching pad. In less than two hours, it [...]

Byline: MICHAEL D. SHEAR and MICHAEL R. GORDON WASHINGTON -- The intelligence could come to President Trump secretly and urgently: The North Koreans have placed another intercontinental missile on its [...]

WASHINGTON -- North Korea's threat on Thursday to test-fire ballistic missiles soon near the American territory of Guam deepened the challenge confronting the Trump administration: how to defang Pyongyang's missile [...]

CORRECTION APPENDEDWASHINGTON -- Russia is preparing to send as many as 100,000 troops to the eastern edge of NATO territory at the end of the summer, one of the biggest [...]

WASHINGTON -- President Trump wrongly tweeted on Saturday that The New York Times had ''foiled'' an attempt by the United States military to kill Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of [...]

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday that he believed the leader of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was still alive and that the American-led coalition in [...]

WASHINGTON -- The State Department office charged with combating war crimes may become the latest casualty of Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson's plans to restructure his department, former American [...]

WASHINGTON -- The leader of the Islamic State's branch in Afghanistan, Abu Sayed, was killed by an American drone strike this week, the Pentagon said on Friday. The strike, on [...]

WASHINGTON -- President Trump's advisers recruited two businessmen who profited from military contracting to devise alternatives to the Pentagon's plan to send thousands of additional troops to Afghanistan, reflecting the [...]

Byline: MARK LANDLER, ERIC SCHMITT and MICHAEL R. GORDON WASHINGTON -- President Trump's advisers recruited two businessmen who profited from military contracting to devise alternatives to the Pentagon's plan to [...]

MOSUL, Iraq -- Dressed in a military uniform, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi arrived here in Mosul on Sunday to congratulate Iraq's armed forces for wresting the city from the Islamic [...]

Byline: TIM ARANGO and MICHAEL R. GORDON MOSUL, Iraq -- Dressed in a military uniform, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi arrived here in Mosul on Sunday to congratulate Iraq's armed forces [...]

MOSUL, Iraq -- Perched on a rooftop near the ruins of the Al Nuri Grand Mosque, Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi used a rock to sketch out the endgame for Mosul. [...]

Byline: MICHAEL R. GORDON MOSUL, Iraq -- Perched on a rooftop near the ruins of the Al Nuri Grand Mosque, Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi used a rock to sketch out [...]