The World Health Organization has chosen Ghana, Kenya and Malawi as the countries where the world’s first malaria vaccine will be tested next year on young children. The injectable vaccine, known as RTS,S, or Mosquirix, was developed by the British pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline. The test will be conducted on babies and toddlers, aged 5 to 17 months. Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female mosquitoes. WHO said in a statement the pilot program “will assess the feasibility of delivering the required four doses of RTS,S, the vaccine’s potential role in reducing childhood deaths, and its safety in routine use. (VOA http://bit.ly/2paepMq)
Top Stories
Rome brokered a diplomatic breakthrough in Libya that has the potential to bring the two main warring sides together in a new political agreement after years of division, fighting and economic misery. (Guardian http://bit.ly/2pdzRlF)
Zambia’s main opposition party, whose leader has been arrested and charged with treason, accused the government of trying to frame it for arson as an excuse for greater political suppression. (Reuters http://bit.ly/2pY6sfR)
Urgent action is needed to help at least 23,000 unaccompanied child refugees stranded in squalid and unsafe Greek and Italian refugee camps, an official EU audit has warned. (Guardian http://bit.ly/2pa9cUV)
A Philippines lawyer filed a complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte and senior officials at the International Criminal Court, accusing them of crimes against humanity in a nationwide anti-drugs crackdown. (VOA http://bit.ly/2pa7ZN6)
A woman who was injured during a pro-government march in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, has died, ombudsman Tarek Saab said. (BBC http://bbc.in/2pa7Zwt)
Following up on a limited U.S. military strike against Syria, the Trump administration announced new “sweeping” sanctions on the Syrian government agency it blames for producing chemicals used in a deadly attack on Syrian civilians earlier this month. (LA Times http://lat.ms/2ptkMNE)
Torture and mistreatment of detainees by Afghan security forces is as widespread as ever, according to a United Nations report released on Monday, despite promises by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and new laws enacted by the government. (CSM http://bit.ly/2pdvKWO)
The lack of accountability for crimes perpetrated during the ongoing conflict in South Sudan remains one of the country’s “biggest challenges,” the Human Rights Director for the United Nations Mission said today as he wrapped up a visit to the north-western Wau region. (UN News Center http://bit.ly/2ptwbwV)
Thailand: Concerted campaigns in the Greater Mekong Subregion to radically reduce the impact of malaria has lifted hopes a vital target to eradicate malaria from the region may be within reach. (VOA http://bit.ly/2pdBcJ9)
Opinion/Blogs
The Security Council Goes to Washington (UN Dispatch http://bit.ly/2paaleS)
Climate Refugees explained (UN Dispatch http://bit.ly/2ptrumM)
Broken Politics and a Fragile World Economy (Bloomberg View https://bloom.bg/2p9X8D0)
Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Anti-Nepotism, and Conflicts of Interest (Global Anticorruption Blog http://bit.ly/2pabmna)
An engagement ‘life cycle analysis’ (From Poverty to Power http://bit.ly/2pdCMuo)
What do people in different African countries think about aid effectiveness (Waylaid Dialectic http://bit.ly/2pdtyyo)
Radio Monsoon aims to ensure safety reigns among fishermen in south India (Guardian http://bit.ly/2pdEgoO)
After Threatening to Starve U.N. of Funds, Trump Breaks Bread With Turtle Bay Dignitaries (Foreign Policy http://atfp.co/2pdneqw)
