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Wednesday

Polio is found in the U.K. for the first time in nearly 40 years. Here's what it means

Aerial view of the Beckton Sewage Treatment Works in London. Between February and May, U.K. scientists found several samples containing closely related versions of the polio virus in wastewater at the plant. mwmbwls/Flickr hide caption

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mwmbwls/Flickr

Goats and Soda

Polio is found in the U.K. for the first time in nearly 40 years. Here's what it means

Scientists in Britain have detected multiple versions of the virus in wastewater. Officials say the risk to the public is extremely low and urge people to ensure their polio vaccines are up to date.

Thursday

These female health-care workers won a huge WHO honor. They'd like a raise, too

Female community health care workers protest in New Delhi, India, in August 2020. The women are part of a government program called Accredited Social Health Activists — and are demanding higher pay and better working conditions. In May, the program won an award from the World Health Organization. T. Narayan/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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T. Narayan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

These female health-care workers won a huge WHO honor. They'd like a raise, too

India's all-female task force of community health-care workers won the World Health Organization's Global Health Leaders Awards. But instead of recognition, some want a better salary and benefits.

Wednesday

Friday

New USAID director aims to shake up 60-year-old aid agency. Here's her 'new vision'

USAID Administrator Samantha Power delivered a speech on her "new vision" for the agency on Nov. 4 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

New USAID director aims to shake up 60-year-old aid agency. Here's her 'new vision'

Like any government agency, the biggest American foreign aid group has its problems. This week, its new administrator Samantha Power outlined her solutions.

Tuesday

Two 14-Year-Olds Grill An Author About The Future Of Humanity

In his new book for young teenagers, Charles Kenny points out signs of global progress, including the growing number of kids in school. Above: The Oloo Education Center aims to provide an education to kids in Kibera, a poor community in Nairobi, Kenya. When you type "Kibera" into the Uber app, it comes up as "Kibera slum." Julia Gunther for NPR hide caption

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Julia Gunther for NPR

Goats and Soda

Two 14-Year-Olds Grill An Author About The Future Of Humanity

In his new book for Gen Z readers, Charles Kenny explains why despite all the gloom and doom, the world is getting better for billions. NPR turned to two Gen Zers to help ask him the tough questions.

Sunday

Opinion: How COVID Reveals The Hypocrisy Of The Global Health 'Experience'

Abraar Karan spent time in rural India in 2008 while working for Unite for Sight, a nonprofit group that provides eye care. Above: He interviews a woman about the challenge of living from severe cataracts. Daniel Carvalho hide caption

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Daniel Carvalho

Opinion

Goats and Soda

Opinion: How COVID Reveals The Hypocrisy Of The Global Health 'Experience'

Health workers from the West couldn't help out in other countries due to lockdowns and restrictions. So they turned to help at home. But what is their role in lower resource countries moving forward?

Friday

Saturday

Thursday

A Doc Was Mad That People Die From Preventable Diseases. So He Wrote A Book About It

Dr. Eugene Richardson in a helicopter during the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, where he worked as a clinical lead for Partner in Health's response to the outbreak. He is the author of the new book Epidemic Illusions: On the Coloniality of Global Public Health. Katie Barron hide caption

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Katie Barron

Goats and Soda

A Doc Was Mad That People Die From Preventable Diseases. So He Wrote A Book About It

Harvard professor Dr. Eugene Richardson explores colonialism's impact on global health in Epidemic Illusions: On the Coloniality of Global Public Health.

Thursday

Biden Administration Prepares To Overturn Trump Abortion Rule

President Biden signs executive actions hours after his inauguration on Wednesday. He is expected to reverse several Trump-era policies. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

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Evan Vucci/AP

President Biden Takes Office

Biden Administration Prepares To Overturn Trump Abortion Rule

In a move requested by abortion rights advocates, Biden is preparing to overturn the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits U.S. aid to groups that provide or refer for abortion in other countries.

Monday

Wednesday

Where The Women Aren't: On Coronavirus Task Forces

Surrounded by some members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, President Trump speaks at a press conference on COVID-19 in March in the Rose Garden. Of the 27 task force members, two are women, standing to Trump's left: Dr. Deborah Birx and Seema Verma (holding the sheaf of papers). Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Where The Women Aren't: On Coronavirus Task Forces

The pandemic is by some measures taking a greater toll on women. Yet women are underrepresented in expert groups that decide how to control the coronavirus and where funds should go.

Thursday

The U.S., according to the World Health Organization, has paid none of this year's assessed fees and still owes $81 million from last year.

The U.S., according to the World Health Organization, has paid none of this year's assessed fees and still owes $81 million from last year. Denis Balibouse/Reuters hide caption

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Denis Balibouse/Reuters

The Coronavirus Crisis

U.S. Was Behind On Payments To WHO Before Trump's Cutoff

President Trump put a hold on funds to the World Health Organization, but the U.S. is already behind in its dues to the organization by more than a year.

U.S. Was Behind On Payments To WHO Before Trump's Cutoff

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Tuesday

Explainer: What Does The World Health Organization Do?

World Health Organization leaders at a press briefing on COVID-19, held on March 6 at WHO headquarters in Geneva. Here's a look at its history, its mission and its role in the current crisis. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Explainer: What Does The World Health Organization Do?

The organization at the eye of the coronavirus pandemic is taking heat from U.S. critics. Here's a look at its history, its mission and its role in the current crisis.

Friday

U.S. Reports Highest Daily Death Toll Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Nurses and health care workers light candles outside Manhattan's Mount Sinai Hospital on Friday as they mourn and remember their colleagues who died during the coronavirus pandemic. Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images

Coronavirus Updates

U.S. Reports Highest Daily Death Toll Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

About 2,100 people died on Friday — the highest daily death toll in the United States so far. Confirmed cases of the coronavirus have been reported in nearly every country around the world.