CBS News to Air Delayed 60 Minutes Report on El Salvador’s CECOT Mega-Prison 
Trump Administration Held Secret Talks With Venezuela’s Diosdado Cabello Ahead of Maduro Ouster 
Vietnam Communist Party Congress to Shape Leadership and Economic Strategy 
EU Prepares Retaliation as Trump Tariff Threats Over Greenland Escalate Transatlantic Tensions 
Russian Drone and Missile Attack Disrupts Power and Water in Kyiv 
Trump Criticizes NYSE Texas Expansion, Calls Dallas Exchange a Blow to New York 
Trump Administration Appeals Judge’s Order Limiting ICE Tactics in Minneapolis 
Kazakh President Tokayev Accepts Invitation to Join Trump-Proposed “Board of Peace” 
Guatemala Declares State of Siege After Deadly Gang Violence and Prison Hostage Crisis 
U.S. Military Kills Al Qaeda-Linked Leader Connected to Deadly ISIS Attack in Syria 
Ukraine Unveils New Drone-Based Air Defence Strategy Amid Rising Russian Threats 
EU Ambassadors Hold Emergency Talks as Trump Threatens Tariffs Over Greenland Dispute 
Supreme Court Tests Federal Reserve Independence Amid Trump’s Bid to Fire Lisa Cook 
Pedro Sánchez Warns U.S. Greenland Move Could Undermine NATO and Benefit Russia 
France Nears 2026 Budget Deal as Government Offers Concessions to Avoid No-Confidence Vote 
Minnesota U.S. Citizen Detained by ICE in Armed Raid Sparks Outrage and Civil Rights Concerns 
Iran Warns of Harsh Response to Possible U.S. Strike Amid Deadly Nationwide Protests 
President Donald Trump has previously criticized the World Health Organization as well as proposing a budget cut. Now, in a move that many may have already seen coming, Trump has announced to withhold funding for the WHO for the same criticism.
BBC reports that in the latest press briefing at the White House, Trump announced halting funding for the UN organization, reiterating his previous criticism that the organization made wrong calls in handling the pandemic. Trump continued to accuse WHO of failure to fulfill its duty in handling the pandemic, as well as covering up the spread of the virus in China and said that they should be held accountable.
“I am directing my administration to halt funding while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization’s role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus...The WHO failed in its basic duty and must be held accountable,” said Trump.
The United States is the organization’s single biggest funder providing $400 million last year alone. The US is also the worst-hit country as of late, with over 500,000 cases and over 25,000 deaths, the state of New York alone suffering from over 100,000 cases and over 10,000 deaths.
Trump has also highlighted his desire to lift the nationwide lockdown and reopen the United States by May, with May 1st being the desired date. However, top health expert Dr. Anthony Fauci mentioned in another interview that there is no set date as to when the lockdown can be lifted and that it would depend on how the outbreak plays out over the next few weeks.
Previously, Trump claimed to have total authority to reopen the country and lift the lockdown. “When somebody is president of the United States, the authority is total,” said Trump in a previous briefing when asked if he had the authority to override the state governors’ orders.
The US Constitution states that state governors alone have the authority to maintain public order and safety in their respective states. The President cannot override the orders that were already set in place by the governors.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo then criticized Trump’s remarks during his own press conference. “His proclamation is that he would be king, that’s what a king is. A king has total authority. That statement cannot stand,” said Cuomo.
