Morning Briefing

"It is not just quantity of aid that counts nowadays, but the quality and perspective of that aid, as well as innovation, investment and experience domestically," Jonathan Glennie, a research fellow at the Overseas Development Institute, writes in the Guardian's "Poverty Matters Blog." Noting a newly released report from the Global Health Strategies initiatives (GSHi) that says the BRICS nations -- Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa -- are increasing their global health and development aid, Glennie continues, "Most of the BRICS are still developing countries in the traditional sense of that term, which means that they are combating extreme poverty, hunger and disease at home as well as in their aid programs." He adds, "This is the main characteristic that sets them apart from traditional donors and philanthropic mega-foundations."