DAWNS Morning Headlines: Big Pharma Cuts Costs for HPV Vaccine, Pakistanis Go to the Polls

Pharma Companies Sharply Cut HPV Vaccine Costs for Developing World

Excellent news in the fight against cervical cancer. “The lower prices — $4.50 for Merck’s Gardasil vaccine and $4.60 for GlaxoSmithKline’s Cervarix — were negotiated through the Gavi Alliance, which was created in 1999 with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to deliver more vaccines to the world’s poor. The low price will initially apply to a few million doses for demonstration projects in Kenya, Ghana, Laos, Madagascar and elsewhere, but Dr. Seth Berkley, the alliance’s chief executive officer, said he hoped that by 2020, 30 million girls in 40 countries would get the vaccine at that price or less.” (NYTimes http://nyti.ms/13km8Hk)

Pakistanis Go to the Polls in Bloody Election Season

There have been dozens of terrorist attacks, assassinations, and other forms of violence, killing hundreds of people in the lead up to tomorrows parliamentary elections. “Pakistanis head to the polls to vote on a new government Saturday, marking the first handover from one civilian government to another in the country’s history. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is seen as the likely winner in the parliament elections. He has apparently been able to capitalize on failures of the outgoing coalition government to tackle the power crisis, economic challenges and the Taliban insurgency.” (Voice of America http://bit.ly/13kntxJ)

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These are the top stories from DAWNS Digest, a subscription-based news clipping service and mobile app that delivers a daily snapshot of global humanitarian news. The following are the top stories from the digest. To learn more about the subscription service and what else DAWNS does, visit our website.

DAWNS Morning Headlines: US Aid for Syria, Bangladesh Factory Deaths Pass 800

US to Boost Aid for Syrian Relief

Expect the announcement today. “The Obama administration is providing $100 million in new Syria aid, U.S. officials said Wednesday, but the money is for humanitarian purposes only and not linked to any decision on arming Syrian rebels. The announcement will be made by Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday in Rome, where his diplomacy includes a meeting with Jordan’s foreign minister, the officials said. The new funds will help support 1.4 million Syrian refugees, including many in U.S. ally Jordan, and hundreds of thousands of other civilians still trapped by the violence inside Syria’s border. Total U.S. humanitarian assistance in the two-year war will climb to $510 million.” (Yahoo! http://yhoo.it/ZQta5I)

Bangladesh Garment Factory Death Toll Exceeds 800

The grim total keeps climbing higher. In the meantime, the government is cracking down on unsafe factories. “Bangladesh has shut down 18 garment plants for safety reasons since the Rana Plaza disaster, the Bangladeshi textile minister has confirmed. ‘We’ll ensure ILO standards in terms of compliance,’ Abdul Latif Siddique told AFP news agency. We have seen that those who claim to be the best compliant factories in Bangladesh have not fully abided by building regulations,’ he added.” (BBC http://bbc.in/ZQrkSv)

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These are the top stories from DAWNS Digest, a subscription-based news clipping service and mobile app that delivers a daily snapshot of global humanitarian news. The following are the top stories from the digest. To learn more about the subscription service and what else DAWNS does, visit our website.

DAWNS Morning Headlines: US and Russia Push on Syria, New Report on Infant Mortality, Syrian Rebels Kidnap UN Peacekeepers

US and Russia Announce New Diplomatic Push on Syria

This is key because the road to a political solution in Damascus passes through Moscow. “Russia and the United States have pledged to convene an international conference aimed at ending the civil war in Syria, hoping to give the situation a new diplomatic push following two years of bloodshed. John Kerry, the US secretary of state, and Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, announced the move at a midnight press conference in the Russian capital. Kerry also met Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow. The announcement of the joint initiative comes after months of stalled co-operation on Syria.” (Guardian http://bit.ly/12bEtVS)

Report: One Million Newborns Die on the Day They are Born

Save the Children released its flagship “State of the World’s Mothers” report, and this year’s paper included for the first time a new Birth Day Risk index, which ranks countries by the chances that a baby will die on the first day of life. Ten countries in the developing world account for two thirds of the deaths, but the US also ranks alarmingly high. “According to the new report, themed ‘Surviving the First Day,’ every year more than 1 million babies die on the day they are born, making a baby’s birth day the most dangerous day of life—in the United States and almost every country in the world.” (Save the Children http://bit.ly/12bzZyw)

Four Peacekeepers Kidnapped By Syrian Rebels in Golan Heights

Just a few months after a rebel group detained 20 peacekeepers, it seems they are at it again. “Syrian rebels said on Tuesday they were holding four Filipino U.N. peacekeepers on the ceasefire line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights after clashes in the area had put them in danger. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the detention and called for the peacekeepers’ immediate release. They were detained as they patrolled close to an area where 21 Filipino observers were held for three days in March.” (Yahoo! http://yhoo.it/141ixN0)

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These are the top stories from DAWNS Digest, a subscription-based news clipping service and mobile app that delivers a daily snapshot of global humanitarian news. The following are the top stories from the digest. To learn more about the subscription service and what else DAWNS does, visit our website.

DAWNS Morning Headlines: Syrian Civil War May Spread, London Conference on Somalia

Syria ‘Civil War’ Risks Turning into Regional Conflict

The Israeli strikes signal a new international phase of this conflict. “Concerns flared about whether Hezbollah might attack Israel in retaliation, possibly drawing Lebanon into the conflict. Israel deployed two of its Iron Dome missile-defense batteries in its northern cities. Iran’s IRNA news agency said Israel could expect a ‘crushing’ retaliation from Syria or ‘the resistance,’ meaning Hezbollah. An
alysts said Syria, weakened by the conflict, and Hezbollah, overstretched as it commits more forces to support the Syrian government, were unlikely to act, but they cautioned that a miscalculation by either side that set off an escalation could not be ruled out.” (NYTimes http://nyti.ms/10eU3ff)

London Conference on Somalia Kicks Off

After 20 years of strife, Somalia is just getting back on its feet and needs some help from the international community. That’s what this conference is all about. “The British Foreign Office says more than 50 international partner countries and organizations have been invited to Tuesday’s conference, co-hosted by the British and Somali governments. Participants are slated to discuss the Somali government’s plans for developing the armed forces, the justice sector and other institutions weakened during more than 20 years of chaos that followed the ousting of President Siad Barre in 1991.” (Voice of America http://bit.ly/11Ovk3F)

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These are the top stories from DAWNS Digest, a subscription-based news clipping service and mobile app that delivers a daily snapshot of global humanitarian news. The following are the top stories from the digest. To learn more about the subscription service and what else DAWNS does, visit our website.

DAWNS Evening Headlines: Syrian Rebels Using Chemical Weapons, Church Bombing in Tanzania, Tribal Leader Killed in Sudan

UN Human Rights Investigator: Syrian Rebels Have Used Chemical Weapons

This would certainly complicate international efforts to support the rebels. “U.N. human rights investigators have gathered testimony from casualties of Syria’s civil war and medical staff indicating that rebel forces have used the nerve agent sarin, one of the lead investigators said on Sunday.’Our investigators have been in neighboring countries interviewing victims, doctors and field hospitals and, according to their report of last week which I have seen, there are strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof of the use of sarin gas, from the way the victims were treated,’ [Carla] Del Ponte said in an interview with Swiss-Italian television.” (Yahoo! http://yhoo.it/10cLAZZ)

Church Bombing in Arusha, Tanzania

This could be a major escalation of sectarian tensions an the erstwhile peaceful country. “A suspected bomb attack on a new Catholic church in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha killed at least one person and wounded dozens of others on Sunday, police said. The Vatican’s ambassador to Tanzania, Archbishop Francisco Montecillo Padilla, was attending the official opening of the church when the explosion occurred, but escaped unharmed…Two Christian leaders were killed in Tanzania’s semi-autonomous, predominantly Muslim islands of Zanzibar earlier this year and there have been attacks on Muslim leaders and mosques.” (Voice of America http://bit.ly/10do0lC)

Top Tribal Leader Killed in Abyei

A militia allied with Sudan surrounded a convoy carrying Kuwal Deng Mayok, the top Dinka leader who allies with South Sudan, and killed him along with a UN peacekeeper. “A top tribal leader allied to South Sudan was killed in clashes involving a rival Sudanese tribe in the Abyei region disputed by the African neighbors on Saturday, both sides said, an incident that risks fuelling new tensions in the flashpoint area.” (Reuters http://reut.rs/10cL2TZ)

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These are the top stories from DAWNS Digest, a subscription-based news clipping service and mobile app that delivers a daily snapshot of global humanitarian news. The following are the top stories from the digest. To learn more about the subscription service and what else DAWNS does, visit our website.

DAWNS Morning Headlines: Data on the 2011 Somalia Famine; SARS-Like Virus in Saudi Arabia

New Data Quantifies The Deadly Toll of 2011 Somalia Famine

Unacceptable, and perfectly avoidable but donor government policies interfered with an effective response. “The 2011 famine in Somalia, which the famine early warning systems network (Fewsnet) and the food security nutrition and analysis unit (FSNAU) estimate in a report published on Thursday to have killed almost 260,000 people, was avoidable…these warnings fell on deaf ears. Donor governments failed to increase aid, and humanitarian agencies failed to increase their appeals. Only when famine was declared did the humanitarian system mobilise, by when the opportunity to avert disaster had passed.” (Guardian http://bit.ly/133nOUv)

SARS-Like Virus Claims Five More Lives in Saudi Arabia

The SARS-like ‘novel coronavirus’ is seriously alarming health officials. Saudi Arabia has been the worst affected, but infections have been confirmed elsewhere. “Sixteen people have now died from 23 cases detected in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Germany and Britain. Riyadh has accounted for most of the deaths, with 11 people including the five new fatalities. Coronaviruses cause most common colds and pneumonia, but are also to blame for unusual conditions such as SARS which killed more than 800 people when it swept out of China in 2003.” (Daily Star http://bit.ly/10ZxW3H)

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These are the top stories from DAWNS Digest, a subscription-based news clipping service and mobile app that delivers a daily snapshot of global humanitarian news. The following are the top stories from the digest. To learn more about the subscription service and what else DAWNS does, visit our website.

DAWNS Morning Headlines: Bolivia Expels USAID; Brahimi to Resign as Syria Envoy

Bolivia Expels USAID

Bad news for the thousands of Bolivians served by USAID’s health programs. “President Evo Morales acted on a longtime threat Wednesday and expelled the U.S. Agency for International Development for allegedly seeking to undermine Bolivia’s leftist government, and he harangued Washington’s top diplomat for calling the Western Hemisphere his country’s ‘backyard.’ Bolivia’s ABI state news agency said USAID was ‘accused of alleged political interference in peasant unions and other social organizations.’” (WaPo http://wapo.st/Yno2XU)

Brahimi to Resign as Syria Envoy

His job was always going to be impossible so long as the Security Council remained so divided. “Lakhdar Brahimi wants to resign as the joint United Nations-Arab League envoy to Syria because his efforts to find a political solution to the escalating conflict have failed, U.N. diplomats said Wednesday. Brahimi has found that speaking for two organizations with different views on Syria has made his role of trying to mediate a political transition almost impossible, two diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because their discussions with Brahimi were private.” (Miami Herald http://hrld.us/Ynom9c)

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These are the top stories from DAWNS Digest, a subscription-based daily news clipping service and mobile app that delivers a daily snapshot of global humanitarian news. The following are the top stories from the digest. To learn more about the subscription service and what else DAWNS does, visit our website.