Top of the Morning: RIP to a Latin American Polio Warrior

Brazilian Epidemiologist Ciro de Quadros, whose work helped eradicate polio and eliminate other vaccine preventable illnesses in Latin America has died at the age of 74. “Dr. de Quadros was relatively little known outside the loosely affiliated web of national and international health authorities that track and combat communicable diseases. But as a director of one of those groups, the Pan American Health Organization, he was widely credited with carrying out one of the boldest — and seemingly least likely — projects in modern epidemiological history.”  (NYT http://nyti.ms/1kCV1Mg)

Police Fire Water Cannons at Indian Women Protesting Violence Against Women….The protests were in connection to yet another horrific rape, and alleged police coverup. “Officials say five men have been arrested in connection with the rape of two girls, 14- and 15-year-old cousins, who went missing May 27 after going to a field to relieve themselves because their homes have no toilets. Two police officers, being held on suspicion of attempting to cover up the crime, were among the five.  (VOA http://bit.ly/1nI96Af)

And how these rape and murders expose India’s caste faultines. NPR http://n.pr/1kCVa2b

Global Dispatches Podcast: International Crisis Group chief and human rights pioneer Louise Arbour tells Mark about her amazing journey from law school in Quebec to the war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda —  and how one dark episode of Canadian history propelled her to fight governments that abuse their citizens.  http://bit.ly/1nYiX2m

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Africa

Despite a raft of legislation dealing with the environment, African countries are still falling short when it comes to enforcing the legal instruments that respond to challenges posed by climate change, researchers say. (IPS http://bit.ly/1nI87jv)

African Union peacekeepers from the Republic of Congo operating in the Central African Republic have been accused of abuses, including torture, killings and detentions, Human Rights Watch said. (Reuters http://bit.ly/1pMskBF)

Malawi President Peter Mutharika said economic stability and national unity would be the focus of his government as he became the fifth leader of the southern African state following a disputed election. (Reuters http://bit.ly/1nI8pH6)

Recent bombings in Kenya have dented President Uhuru Kenyatta’s plans to boost tourism and undermined his pledge to restore security after last year’s Westgate shopping mall attack. (Reuters http://bit.ly/1pMszMW)

Health officials in South Sudan were scrambling to contain a cholera outbreak as the death toll from the diarrheal disease rose and infections were reported beyond the capital, Juba, and in other parts of Central Equatoria state and in distant Upper Nile state. (VOA http://bit.ly/1pMtuNs)

Somalia is again facing growing food insecurity. The UN’s FAO blames it on late rains, a poor harvest and ongoing conflict. It’s estimated 800,000 Somalis currently are in need of food aid. (VOA http://bit.ly/1nI9iPN)

Protests by supporters of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram have been banned in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, police said on Monday. (AP http://yhoo.it/1nIZ4yy)

MENA

Young mothers who fled Syria’s war for dismal refugee camps in Lebanon struggle to imagine a future for their babies, even though they find their newborns a rare source of joy. (AFP http://yhoo.it/1pMvIwb)

The conflict in Syria has cost Lebanon $7.5 billion as it struggles to cope with hosting more than a million refugees from the neighbouring country, according to World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim. (AFP http://yhoo.it/1pMyKRj)

Asia

A law passed in Pakistan’s Sindh province shows that despite religious opposition, steps taken to outlaw child marriage are taking effect. (Guardian http://bit.ly/1pMsXem)

Consumer products giant Unilever scrambled to remove advertising banners from shops in western Myanmar that prominently displayed the symbol of the Buddhist extremist movement blamed for a wave of bloody attacks against minority Muslims. (AP http://yhoo.it/1pMw3ip)

The dramatic deal to free soldier Bowe Bergdahl in exchange for Taliban prisoners ignited criticism after the insurgents’ leader declared a “big victory”, but also raised hopes for peace as the US prepares to leave Afghanistan. (AP http://yhoo.it/1pMu5ic)

The Americas

It’s not just fans traveling to the World Cup who should be worried about the looming demonstrations — but the players too, says a leading researcher into one of Brazil’s main protest groups. (CNN http://cnn.it/1pMsIjA)

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet is fighting fierce conservative opposition to allow abortion for women and girls who are raped, carrying non-viable fetuses or facing life-threatening pregnancy complications. (AFP http://yhoo.it/1nIZgho)

Opinion/Blogs

Is this the most evil Aid program in the world? (Campaign for Boring Development http://bit.ly/T7HGGe)

Mexico Underlines Transformation in Global Climate Change Debate (IPS http://bit.ly/1nI833g)

David Miliband’s aid goals ignore evolution of humanitarian industry (Guardian http://bit.ly/1pMsOb1)

The Dangers of Digitising Land Data (SciDevNet http://bit.ly/1tC4poF)

Is Africa Prepared for the Harsh Realities of Climate Change? (New Times http://bit.ly/1tC4RDE)

The Global Impact of Obama’s Climate Change Proposal (UN Dispatch http://bit.ly/T7HQNR)

The world’s new number 2 spot for migration: Germany (Humanosphere http://bit.ly/T7I0Vj)

A Woman I Regarded as a Hero, and New Doubts (NYTimes http://nyti.ms/1pMFcrj)

Research/Reports

Sweden will give four Western Balkan countries 400 million euros ($546 million) in aid to carry out reforms needed to qualify to join the European Union, the Swedish ambassador in Bosnia said. (AP http://yhoo.it/1nIeByP)

Hungarian government agents on Monday raided the offices of three non-government organizations that help distribute Norwegian grants in a conflict that has soured bilateral relations. (Reuters http://yhoo.it/1nIeROl)

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