(Reuters) – Here’s what you need to know about the coronavirus right now:
A man wearing a protective face mask rides a bicycle, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Milan, Italy April 9, 2020. REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo
Facing attacks at home, Trump targets WHO
U.S. President Donald Trump has momentarily managed to deflect domestic criticism of his handling of the coronavirus crisis by announcing a suspension of U.S. funds to the World Health Organization. He accused the agency of promoting China’s “disinformation” and so leading to a wider outbreak than would have otherwise occurred – an accusation WHO rejects.
Outside the United States, the move drew condemnation and concern that it would hold back efforts to tame the pandemic – even from those who are critical of the WHO’s track record. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his country was not going to follow suit and, as he put it, throw the baby out with the bathwater.
(Open tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in a separate browser for an interactive graphic to track the global spread.)
Debt holiday
Big lender nations will later on Wednesday confirm they are relieving the world’s poorest countries of debt payments this year to help them deal with the pandemic.
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