In The News
1. U.S. Congress Continues Stalemate Over Zika Funding In Last Week Before Summer Recess
The Hill: Reid, McConnell spar over Zika funding
"The Senate's Republican and Democratic leaders battled Monday over funding to fight the Zika virus, a clear sign that lawmakers have yet to break a stalemate days ahead of a seven-week recess. Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) tried to bring up the Senate's original deal -- spearheaded by Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) -- that would provide $1.1 billion in funding..." (Carney, 7/11).
Wall Street Journal: Zika Funding Battle Stalls Spending Bills in Congress
"...[A]s Congress enters its last week in session before a seven-week break through Labor Day, lawmakers have yet to pass a single spending bill through both chambers. The closest they have come so far is a military construction spending bill that had broad bipartisan support until it hit a major snag: funding attached to it to help combat the Zika virus..." (Peterson/Armour, 7/11).
2. U.S. To Provide $410M Through PEPFAR For HIV Treatment, Prevention Programs In South Africa
Reuters: U.S. pledges $410 million to fight AIDS in South Africa
"The United States on Monday pledged $410 million toward ending the AIDS epidemic in South Africa, the country hardest hit. South Africa has the world's largest population of people living with HIV, at 6.8 million, and the funds will help expand its antiretroviral program, which provides treatment to more than three million patients..." (Vernon, 7/11).
3. In Video Series, Podcast, News Outlets Examine Efforts To End AIDS Epidemic
PBS NewsHour: The End of AIDS?
"PBS NewsHour traveled to six places across the world to find stories of those in the middle of the AIDS epidemic. Will they find an end to AIDS? Watch our six-part series, starting July 11th..." (Brangham/Kane, 7/11).
U.N. News Centre: Podcast: End of AIDS within reach, but Kenneth Cole warns of reversal if treatment push lags
"Ending AIDS means controlling the spread of HIV and lessening its impact on people's lives, the Joint U.N. Programme fighting the epidemic (UNAIDS) has said, noting that the number of people on antiretroviral treatment today has surpassed the number of new infections each year, and more countries are reporting that zero mother-to-child transmission of HIV is in sight. But in the latest episode of the U.N. Radio podcast series 'The Lid is On,' newly appointed UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador Kenneth Cole says that if 'there isn't a continuation of this initiative, we will see that reverse'..." (7/11).
4. VICE News, Partners Report On HIV Epidemic In Chile
VICE News: HIV is spreading in Chile -- and lots of people don't know they have it
"VICE News has partnered with the University of British Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism and student journalists from the International Reporting Program for 'Hidden in Plain Sight: Stories of HIV and migration in Chile'" (Hauka, 7/11).
5. On World Population Day, Focus Turns To Improving Lives Of Teenage Girls
Deutsche Welle: World Population Day: investing in women
"The world's population grows by roughly 2.6 people per second. In 15 years, the number of people on earth will have increased from 7.3 billion to 8.5 billion, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). ... Better living conditions for women and girls could change this trend, which is why 'Investing in teenage girls' is the motto of this year's World Population Day..." (Cwienk, 7/11).
Devex: How to improve the futures of teenage girls
"In 1987, the United Nations Development Program governing council designated July 11 as World Population Day to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues. ... This year's World Population Day theme is 'Investing in teenage girls,' so Devex spoke with actors across the global development space about what they're doing to improve the futures of this particular population..." (Espinosa, 7/11).
U.N. News Centre: Stand up for and invest in teenage girls, U.N. says on World Population Day
"...Despite significant gains made in reducing poverty and improving opportunity and well-being for many people around the world, hundreds of millions remain desperate for a chance of a better future, said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [Monday] in his message on [World Population Day], celebrated annually on 11 July..." (7/11).
6. U.K.’s Brexit Referendum To Impact Aid Amounts To Developing Nations
Devex: The best Brexit for aid
"...The instability caused by the referendum sent the British pound plummeting in the greatest one-day loss since the beginning of the Bretton Woods system. The currency now hovers at a 12 percent loss against the dollar, with knock-on effects for the U.K. aid budget. Currently valued at about $19 billion, British aid has lost $1.9 billion in value since the pound dropped. The aid budget, experts warned, is now under even greater threat. Spending is tied by law to 0.7 percent of gross national income, but growth of gross domestic product will drop by an estimated three percent for 2016. The accompanying decline in GNI will cause a net reduction in aid..." (Anders, 7/11).
Humanosphere: Developing countries take $3.8 billion loss thanks to Brexit
"...For developing countries, the short-term losses add up to about $3.8 billion, according [to a report from] the U.K.-based think tank the Overseas Development Institute. There are some potential benefits in the long term as the U.K. will hopefully stabilize its economy and work out new trade deals, but a lot of uncertainty remains. ... The second hit comes from the value of foreign aid dropping by $18.7 billion (based on a 10 percent devaluation of the currency)..." (Murphy, 7/11).
7. WFP Launches Innovation Accelerator Initiative To Help End Hunger By 2030
U.N. News Centre: U.N. food relief agency launches innovation project to spur progress towards ending hunger by 2030
"The United Nations food relief agency launched [Monday] an initiative to identify and nurture new technologies and business models which will contribute to the global goal of ending hunger by 2030. Based in Munich, Germany, the Innovation Accelerator combines staff of the World Food Programme (WFP) with experts and entrepreneurs from across the private sector and civil society..." (7/11).
8. Africa Regional Commission Certifies Mozambique Polio-Free
Reuters: Mozambique certified polio free: health ministry
"Mozambique has been certified free of polio, the health ministry said on Monday, comparing the achievement to the country's elimination of leprosy in 2008. The announcement, made on the state news agency, follows a meeting of the Africa Regional Certification Commission for Polio Eradication, ... which reviewed the certification progress of Mozambique, Niger, and Chad..." (Dludla, 7/11).