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Facebook says it will no longer remove posts claiming COVID is human-made
Facebook posts claiming that COVID-19 was "man-made" will no longer be removed, the social media giant announced Wednesday.
Why it matters: The lifting of the ban reflects a reinvigorated debate on the origins of the pandemic in recent days, following a Wall Street Journal report that three researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were hospitalized in November 2019 after falling ill.
- President Biden has asked the U.S. intelligence community to step up efforts to investigate the origins of the coronavirus and provide a report within 90 days that "could bring us closer to a definitive conclusion."
The big picture: Biden administration officials and others criticized an investigation by a team of scientists assembled by the World Health Organization and China's government, that returned inconclusive findings on the pandemic's origins.
- Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra called for a "transparent, science-based" follow-up investigation during a World Health Assembly meeting on Tuesday.
What they're saying: "In light of ongoing investigations into the origin of COVID-19 and in consultation with public health experts, we will no longer remove the claim that COVID-19 is man-made from our apps," a Facebook spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
- "We're continuing to work with health experts to keep pace with the evolving nature of the pandemic and regularly update our policies as new facts and trends emerge."
Pelosi announces select committee to investigate Jan. 6 Capitol riot
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced Thursday that she will create a House select committee to investigate the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Why it matters: The creation of a single Democratic-controlled special committee, which will consolidate several House investigations, comes after Senate Republicans blocked a bill that would have established a bipartisan 9/11-style commission.
- While Republicans would have had equal control over the blocked 9/11-style investigative commission, it's unlikely they will have the same leverage over the House select committee investigation.
- Republicans who opposed the bipartisan commission argued that it would be "extraneous" in light of the sweeping criminal investigation being carried out by the Justice Department.
The big picture: Democrats have argued the commission is urgently needed to investigate one of the darkest days in U.S. history, while many Republicans fear an investigation could be used to damage them politically before the 2022 midterms.
- Several House Republicans have sought to downplay the severity of the riot and refused to meet with Capitol Police officers who had urged them to back the commission.
- The Senate Homeland Security and Rules committees released a report earlier this month on the security and intelligence failures surrounding the attack, but Democrats say a broader investigation into the root causes and role of former President Trump is still need.
This story is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
Former member of Australian parliament accuses government minister of sexual misconduct
A former Member of Australian Parliament Julia Banks criticized Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday after accusing a current government minister of inappropriately touching her at Parliament House in Canberra in 2017.
Driving the news: Banks told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Monday night that she was "on a couch talking to another MP" when the minister sat down and "put his hand on my knee and ran it up my leg, on the upper part of my leg." Morrison's office said he hadn't been aware of the allegations.
Why it matters: Morrison had faced backlash in recent months for his government's management of earlier sexual abuse scandals, including allegations of rape in Parliament House that triggered massive protests across Australia against the sexual abuse and harassment of women.
- Morrison said in response in April that politicians and judges in Australia would no longer be exempt from rules barring workplace sexual harassment.
The big picture: Banks told the ABC that the culture she experienced during her time with the ruling Liberal Party was like the TV show "Mad Men." She's expanded on her allegations in her new book, "Power Play: Breaking Through Bias, Barriers and Boys' Clubs."
- Banks accused Morrison on Tuesday of being in control of "bully boys" who "hounded" her after she left the party in 2018 when former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was ousted in a leadership contest that saw Morrison become leader, per the ABC.
What they're saying: The prime minister's office released a statement to news outlets Tuesday saying: "The Prime Minister is not aware of any allegations of sexual harassment Ms Banks faced. Any such behavior is completely inappropriate."