Trump cuts ties with WHO mid-pandemic, as Europe speeds reopening
A waiter wearing a mask and gloves delivers food to a table to customers seated at an outdoor patio at a Mexican restaurant in Washington, DC, on May 29, 2020.
US President Donald Trump on Friday said he was severing ties with the World Health Organization, signalling the end of hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to the UN agency as the deadly coronavirus pandemic rages on.
As Europe sped along the path to reopening after months of crippling lockdowns, Trump's move is likely to spark dismay, especially in other parts of the world where the outbreak has yet to reach its peak.
Russia recorded a record number of deaths on Friday and several nations in Latin America are bracing for difficult weeks ahead, especially Brazil, where the toll has soared.
Last month, Trump suspended funding to the WHO, accusing it of not doing enough to curb the initial spread of the novel coronavirus, where the global outbreak began last year.
On Friday, he made that decision permanent — a dire one for the UN agency's finances as the United States is by far its biggest contributor, having given US$400 million last year.
"Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization," Trump told reporters.
The Republican leader said the US would be redirecting funds previously allocated to the WHO "to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs."
So far, the pandemic has claimed more than 362,000 lives and hammered the global economy.
Populations are learning to adjust to life with the long-term threat of infection as the virus continues its march around the globe — with more than 5.8 million cases — and a vaccine remains elusive.
Record new deaths in Russia
Russia reported a record increase of 232 coronavirus deaths on Friday, just four days before the capital Moscow is due to ease its lockdown.
With 387,623 cases, it now has the third-highest number of infections in the world after the United States and Brazil.
Moscow's lockdown is to be eased from Monday, with some non-food retail shops to reopen and outdoor exercise permitted.
'Dark and meaningless'
Moscow will thus be following the lead of many other European and North American cities that are slowly emerging from strict stay-at-home orders as the summer holiday season approaches.
Tourism-dependent Greece said it will reopen two main airports to arrivals from 29 countries from June 15. However hard-hit countries such as France, Spain, Britain and Italy were not on the list.
In Austria, hotels were allowed to reopen for tourists on Friday under special guidelines, including the obligatory wearing of masks in key areas.
In Italy, gondola makers in Venice are looking forward to June 3 when tourists will be allowed to return, albeit with mandatory face masks.
"Venice without gondolas is dark and meaningless," said Roberto Dei Rossi, one of the few remaining traditional carpenters who build the long black boats.
In the United States, outdoor dining resumed on Friday in the US capital Washington — with proper social distancing.
And New York, once the epicenter of the US outbreak, is "on track" to begin reopening the week of June 8, state Governor Andrew Cuomo said.
The sporting world is also trying to get back on the ball.
England's FA Cup final is set to take place on August 1, football authorities announced on Friday, and competition in Spain's La Liga will resume on June 11.
