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Trump WHO funding cut prompts criticism as virus spreads

Virus Outbreak India
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WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump’s announcement that he is cutting U.S. funding for the World Health Organization has prompted criticism, as spiking infection rates in India and elsewhere served as a reminder the global pandemic is far from contained.

Trump charged that the WHO didn’t respond adequately to the pandemic, accusing the U.N. agency of being under China’s “total control.”

The WHO wouldn’t comment on the announcement but South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize called it an “unfortunate” turn of events.

Meantime, a planeload of German executives arrived in China on Saturday as two countries where the spread of the coronavirus has significantly slowed took a small first step toward normalcy.