US to restore partial funding to WHO: Report

US President Donald Trump’s administration is set to restore partial funding to the World Health Organization (WHO), Fox News reported late on Friday, citing a draft letter.

The Trump administration will “agree to pay up to what China pays in assessed contributions” to the WHO, Fox News reported, quoting from the letter.

Trump suspended US contributions to the WHO on April 14, accusing it of promoting China’s “disinformation” about the coronavirus outbreak and saying his administration would launch a review of the organisation.

WHO officials denied the claims and China has insisted it was transparent and open.

The US was the WHO’S biggest donor. If the US matches China’s contribution, as the Fox report adds, its new funding level will be about one-tenth of its previous funding amount of about $400 million per year.

‘100,000 WILL DIE IN

THE US BY THIS MONTH’ Meanwhile, the US CDC predicted more than 100,000 deaths from the coronavirus by the end of May, director Robert Redfield said on Friday. “CDC tracks 12 different forecasting models of possible #Covid19 deaths in the

US. As of May 11, all forecast an increase in deaths in the coming weeks and a cumulative total exceeding 100,000 by June 1,” Redfield tweeted.

In another development, a top economic advisor to Trump on Friday favoured giving tax incentives to American companies to move their economic base from China to America, amid a new rift in the bilateral relationship over Beijing’s handling of the coronavirus crisis. The US has expressed disappointment over China’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic which has claimed nearly 90,000 in America. China has also been accused of stealing intellectual property and research work.