Important New York Times Articles This Week

I'd like to draw your attention to two articles that appeared in the New York Times this week.

The first, "Study Finds Pattern of Severe Droughts in Africa," describes scientists' recent documentation of recurring, centuries-long megadroughts in Africa.  These droughts are both unavoidable and unpredictable.  The last such drought ended in 1750, after lasting about 300 years.  Megadroughts are primarily a problem in West Africa, an area known to be significantly drier than other parts of the continent.

The second article, "Plan Tries to Lower Malaria Drug Cost," details a new plan to provide the most effective malaria medication at a low cost to people in developing countries.  The program, beginning with a budget of $225 million, will pressure drug companies to reduce the private-sector price of the drug from $4 to $1 and will use donor funds to pay $0.95 of the cost.  With a wholesale price of $0.05, the retail price in poor countries should be around $0.20.  International health organizations, non-profit organizations, and several European countries are backing the plan, but the U.S. has yet to offer support for it.