1 WHO In The Hot Seat...With The World
The head of the World Health Organization (W-H-O) vows to launch an independent evaluation of the agency's response to the coronavirus pandemic – this as 116 countries (so far) have backed a draft resolution that's set to call for an "an impartial, independent and comprehensive" evaluation of the WHO’s behavior during this pandemic. W-H-O Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says he'll begin the probe “at the earliest appropriate moment.” As you might recall, the U-N health agency has come under scathing criticism from President Trump, who suspended funding while accusing the W-H-O of failing to quickly warn the world of COVID-19. He recently demanded a review of the agency before reinstating U.S. funding to the organization. Meanwhile, Mr. Trump is calling the World Health Organization a "puppet of China." Talking with reporters, Trump said the W-H-O has done a "very sad job" with the global coronavirus pandemic. “They’re a puppet of China,” he noted. “They’re China-centric, to put it nicer.” He added the U.S. contributes much more money than China to the W-H-O each year.
2 Trump Taking Anti-Malaria Drug He's Touted
President Trump has revealed that he’s been taking the anti-malaria drug Hydroxychloroquine for about a week-and-a-half. During a White House event, he offhandedly made the revelation – and reporters asked why, as he’s maintained he’s never been positive for coronavirus. Well, he’s still negative and said that he got it simply because he’d heard a lot of good things about it and after talking to his doctor, decided he wanted it. As you likely know, Trump has long-promoted the use of Hydroxychloroquine as a drug he thinks can prevent the coronavirus. Pressed about evidence the drug is effective in preventing the coronavirus, Trump said he “has received a lot of positive calls about it.” Something he didn’t address exactly? The fact that U.S. health officials have warned against taking the anti-malaria drug to prevent the coronavirus – and those that do try it, should only do so in a controlled hospital setting.
3 Officials: Pensacola NAS Shooter Was Prodded By Al Qaeda
The FBI says the Saudi Air Force officer, who carried out a deadly shooting spree at the Pensacola, Florida Naval Air Station last year, was encouraged by al Qaeda. At a briefing, Attorney General Bill Barr said the shooter's ties to the organization were extensive and that key information was obtained from the shooter's two iPhones. As you might recall, the shooter was a Saudi Air Force officer who was training with the U.S. military in Pensacola. FBI Director Chris Wray noted that the shooter spent several years plotting the attack and said other information from the suspect's phones is being put "to good use." The shooting killed three U.S. sailors and wounded eight other people. The shooter was shot and killed by sheriff's deputies. Meantime, Barr criticized Apple for refusing to help unlock the shooter's iPhones and he praised the FBI for finally getting it done. Apple maintains they did offer assistance, just not the kind the DOJ wanted.