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One World with Zain Asher
Outrage Grows After Hamas Releases Hostage Videos; Desperate Effort To save Ukrainian Soldier From Russian Attack; Trump Fires Labor Statistician Over Weak Jobs Report; Diddy Ex-Girlfriend Asks Judge For His Release; Gates Foundation Makes $2.5B Investment In Women`s Health; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired August 04, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:28]
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: Pressing ahead. The Israeli prime minister considers expanding the war as the families of hostages warned against it.
The second hour of "One World" starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACOB KURTZER, INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS: Reach an agreement. Let us do this critical work because as we can see, lives depend
on it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: It is needed desperately, but the Red Cross says its hands are tied until a ceasefire deal can be made.
Also ahead, she was supposed to testify against him in court. Now she`s asking for his release. Why Diddy`s ex-girlfriend is sticking up for the
disgraced mogul?
And later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MERYL STREEP, AMERICAN ACTRESS: You have no style or sense of fashion.
ANNE HATHAWAY, AMERICAN ACTRESS: I --
STREEP: No, no. That wasn`t a question.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: One of my all-time favorites, an absolute classic. First look now at the highly anticipated "Devil Wears Prada 2." That`s just ahead.
Hello, everyone. I`m Bianna Golodryga. Zain is off today. You are watching the second hour of "One World."
Stalled ceasefire talks. Fresh outrage over the conditions of hostages held in Gaza and more deaths of starvation. We begin from the deepening hunger
crisis in Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians are waiting for more aid to come in. This as the Israeli Prime Minister asks the international Red
Cross to deliver food and medicine to the remaining hostages, after militants release images showing two emaciated Israeli captives.
The ICRC says it is ready to help but would need a ceasefire first to operate in the enclave.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KURTZER: The security conditions remain very, very difficult. And so what we need to know is for the safety and security of our own colleagues that
the environment in which they would be able to do such a visit, if it were granted and if the parties came to such an agreement, is one that we
couldn`t ensure the safety of our colleagues, as well as the safety of the people that we seek to meet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: The developments come amid reports that Israel is considering further expanding the military campaign in Gaza. And Israeli officials says
Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing to free the hostages through the military defeat of Hamas, a move opposed by some of the families of hostages.
CNN`s Matthew Chance now has more on the stark images of two Israeli captives released by -- released by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic
Jihad. This is the video that they released. We must warn you, his report contains images that you may find disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The fragile figure of Evyatar David. One of the surviving Israeli hostages
still being held in Gaza, now 24 years old, and just skin and bone.
I haven`t eaten for days, he says. In this latest Hamas propaganda video cramped in a tunnel.
There`s not enough food. And barely enough water. Look how thin I`ve become, he says.
CHANCE: And this here is your brother, right here. This is two photos of him.
ILAY DAVID, BROTHER OF EVYATAR DAVID: Yes.
CHANCE (voice-over): Family members have approved use of the images released at the weekend.
But his brother Ilay, told me he could only bear to watch a few solitary frames.
DAVID: That was a young healthy man before he was abducted. Even a bit chubby. And now, he looks like a skeleton, a human skeleton buried alive.
That`s how he looks. And I don`t exaggerate.
CHANCE: Do you think he`s being starved because there is a shortage of food in Gaza? Or do you think he`s being starved intentionally by his captors?
DAVID: I`m sure he`s intentionally --
CHANCE: Because that`s an issue right now.
DAVID: I`m sure he`s intentionally, cynically, being starved by his captors. We know that his captors have plenty of food. They haven`t lost a
pound.
And they are doing the same to their own people, to the people of Gaza, they are starving them, although they have food.
CHANCE (voice-over): Israeli television, the newly released videos of emaciated hostages held captive since October the 7th, 2023, are provoking
outrage amid calls for negotiations with Hamas to quickly restart very quickly.
[12:05:01]
This is 22-year-old Rom Braslavski, another Israeli hostage shown writhing in pain in his Gaza prison. He`s barely anything to eat. I can`t sleep. I
can`t live, he sobs.
His own mother who approved the release of these latest horrifying images say her son`s weak voice sounds like he`s accepted. He may never come out
alive.
And now, hostage families are calling for renewed international pressure on Hamas, not just Israel, for the agony in Gaza to end.
DAVID: If they want the people of Gaza to stop, let`s do it. And they are the ones to blame and we cannot -- we cannot blame only Israel for that.
Hamas is holding all of us hostages right now. All of us, the people of Gaza as well. And they need to be out of the picture.
What I`m doing now is digging my own grave, says Evyatar David, as he scrapes the dirt in his cramped tunnel.
Everyday, my body becomes weaker and weaker, he says, and time is running out.
Matthew Chance, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: And Ilay David joins me now from Kefar Sava, Israel. His brother is the hostage in that video, Evyatar David. Thank you so much, Ilay, for
taking the time to join us.
I can`t begin to imagine what these horrific days, six hundred and thirty- plus days, have been like for you and your family. I know you saw video the first proof of life of your brother just a few months ago. It was a savage
video, one of the hardest, I think. I`ve even covered as a journalist having followed these hostage families like yours for so many months now
since October 7th, where they were exposed to some of the other hostages at their release only to be taken back quickly in their torture chambers.
And now a few months later, we see your brother in even worse conditions. Your sister, Yila (ph), addressed your brother in Hebrew over the weekend
and said, mom is shattered and not functioning. Dad, here`s your voice at night and doesn`t close his eyes, but Ilay and I are taking care of them.
Can you talk about the strength and the determination of your family to grieve publicly like this? Your whole life shattered while also knowing
that with going public, you are speaking not only for your brother but for so many of these hostage families?
DAVID: First, thank you for having me. We are shattered. We are broken. But since day one, since October 7th, as we are understanding that Evyatar has
been kidnapped, we said to ourselves, we are staying united and we are not losing hope.
Although we know it`s going to be a very tough roller coaster of emotions, a very long journey. We are staying together and we are not losing hope. If
Evyatar survives, if he has faith, we fight until he`s home on his feet healthy and safe.
GOLODRYGA: This video you say, and I think the world agrees is a violation of international law. You went to say it`s an assault on every shred of
basic human decency and act so vile it scars the very soul of humanity.
Obviously, this is a horrific form of psychological warfare and there are now renewed pressures on the Israeli government to do more, to agree to a
ceasefire deal. We know that Hamas has been the party here that has been avoiding one at this point.
And in that interview with Matthew Chance, you also talk about the need to put more global pressure on Hamas. Do you think enough is being done
globally by the international community to put that same type of pressure on Hamas?
DAVID: I don`t think so. I don`t think so. That`s why Hamas pulled out of the negotiations recently. That`s why he`s using my brother. And he`s
twisted sick experiments on human lives because he`s not pressured enough because not enough leverages are putting pressure on him.
And right now, all the leaders of the world, all the leaders of all nations should stand up together, united, and put every ounce of pressure they can
on Hamas. Hamas must be begging for a deal and they must be begging for a ceasefire and they must give treatment, proper medical care, and proper
food to Evyatar, my brother, right now, because as we saw Hamas has plenty of food but they don`t give it to the hostages.
[12:10:14]
They are intentionally starving Evyatar, my brother, and all the others. And he can give them food and medical care at any moment, but he -- he`s
not doing it and the world must act now before it`s too late.
GOLODRYGA: I interviewed Omer Shem Tov a few weeks after his release, after five hundred and five days of captivity. This was before the ceasefire was
broken and the blockade was put in by Israel.
But at the time he told me throughout his captivity that he saw that Hamas had stored that his captives and the terrorists had stored a great deal of
food for themselves and gave him very, very little. It was only ahead of his release so they started to feed him more.
I do want to ask you about what we saw from the Israeli Prime Minister over the weekend where he put pressure in the request for the international Red
Cross to do more to get aid to hostages like your brother. We know that there are at least 20 hostages that are still believed to be alive.
The International Red Cross says that they can only do so during a ceasefire. There had been pressure from Israelis for the International Red
Cross to do more since October 7th. What more do you think they can be doing?
DAVID: I think, first, I want to say that I -- I -- I do have faith in the intention of the Israeli government. And I do believe that all the people
of Israel and whoever is a decent human wants the hostages home as soon as possible and wants to save their lives and also count President Trump -- I
count his intentions. I know that he`s very, very determined to bring back the hostages and making an end to Hamas atrocities immediately.
But right now, we have to be focused on saving Evyatar`s life because as doctors are saying he has days left and this severe condition of starvation
is not only suffering a tremendous pain all over his body, he`s also can die soon.
And the only reason he didn`t die yet is because he still has faith. He still has hope. He didn`t give up. So, we must not give up as well. And we
must demand every organization to do whatever it takes to bring the hostages to proper care they need.
If it means a short ceasefire to bring the Red Cross to the hostages, so be it. If it means that the -- the captors themselves need to bring a doctor
to see my brother and give him food because we know they have doctors. We know they have food, then shall be it.
And we need the proof. We have to see it on our own eyes that`s why the Red Cross are important. We need to see it. And I don`t count on the terrorists
to give us the proof.
GOLODRYGA: I know that Steve Witkoff met for many hours over the weekend with the families of hostages. And he said now Hamas should be all or
nothing in terms of a deal that once and for all, all of the hostages, those who are deceased and those who are remain living like your brother
should be released.
This comes at a point where the Israeli cabinet is likely to vote on IDF expanding its operation in Gaza.
Just talk about some of the concerns that you may have or maybe you don`t. I know you said you have confidence in the Israeli government about what an
expanded operation may look like.
DAVID: I think, first, that I spoke with Mr. Witkoff and also spoke with Prime Minister. And I stressed before them same thing I stressed before
you, same call I call to you and to the rest of the leaders of this world.
They need medical care now. They need food now to save their lives. And silence is complicity. So we need to be very accurate right now, very
focused.
We have to remember that my brother went to a festival to have fun. I mean, he`s a younger man, he`s my younger brother. He went -- when he was 22,
he`s already 24, just to celebrate to dance with his friend, to have fun. He had the tickets to fly to Thailand with his friend. He has dreams to
learn music production.
I just want him to come back home and we could play music again. He plays the guitar. I play the piano and we can make music again. That`s what they
want. I want him to be happy. I want him to hug my parents. That`s what`s in front of my eyes.
[12:15:07]
And I am concerned for his life, every day that passes, every day. That`s the only thing I know.
GOLODRYGA: Your words carry so much strength and importance right now, Ilay, as we look at the pictures of your brother as he should be right now
with you, traveling the world, enjoying life. Another innocent civilian who is suffering unimaginably in those dungeons held by Hamas.
I just want you to know, as I`m sure you know, so many people are praying for your brother`s return along with the other hostages, especially those
hostages that have come back, Omer Shem Tov, and they all tell me how much they think about the remaining hostages and how they also pray and fight
for their return.
Ilay David, thank you so much for joining us.
DAVID: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: Well, this could be a pivotal week when it comes to the war in Ukraine. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is headed to Moscow Wednesday.
That is according to Russian state media.
The Kremlin says it`s open to Witkoff meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Now, this comes ahead of President Trump`s Friday deadline
for Putin to make progress in ending the war or face more U.S. sanctions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, there`ll be sanctions, but they seem to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions. You know, they`re
wily characters, and they`re pretty good at avoiding sanctions. So we`ll see what happens.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Meanwhile, on the ground in Ukraine, a Russian missile strike on the southern city of Mykolaiv over the weekend, injured at least seven
people. The assault damage dozens of homes and buildings.
Ukraine`s military says it struck oil facilities inside Russia on Saturday, as well as a military airfield and an electronics factory. And Russia has
confirmed a Ukrainian drone attack damaged a power line, which sparked a fire at a railway station there. Happened in the southern region of
Volgograd.
Speaking of drones, our Nick Paton Walsh has the story of how Ukrainian soldiers used a drone to help an injured soldier pin down by Russian
attacks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR (voice-over): This Russian assault, brutal, even throwing land mines into the bunkers, had
left all three of his fellow soldiers dead in the trench next to him.
And Andriy (ph), with his leg wounded, unable to run, thought like so many Ukrainian soldiers in tiny isolated positions pinned down by Russian drones
that he was done.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I didn`t think I would get out of there because I couldn`t move. My leg was seriously injured. I couldn`t
walk.
WALSH (voice-over): But back at his command bunker watching on drones, they had an idea. Maybe Andriy had the strength to cycle out. So they attached
an electric bicycle to a drone like this, moving it slowly, perilously in pieces to the front. It was dropped to Andriy whole, and then remarkably,
he cycled out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): I thought, do or die. Either I make it or I don`t. I was just riding in one direction. Whatever happens, happens. If I
make it, good. If I don`t, so be it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Come on, "Tankist." Speed up, speed up. As fast as you can. As fast as you can.
WALSH (voice-over): The Ukrainians who try to insure the skies were free of Russian drones, but that wasn`t enough. Andriy hit a landmine.
The drone operator`s heart sank, had it all come to nothing. But then this tiny figure emerged limping out of the smoke, somehow alive, walking on his
bandaged leg visible.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): It grazed my forehead a bit. The wheel and fork were torn apart, but I was fine. I just fell on my side. That`s all.
WALSH (voice-over): Greeted by a Ukrainian and helped into another bunker where he had to wait two more days for rescue.
Necessity is the mother of invention in Ukraine, but nothing can beat luck.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Kyiv, Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Well, he may not have any evidence to back it up, but Donald Trump continues to say that U.S. economic statistics are rigged against
him.
Trump says he will name a new person to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the next few days. On Friday, he fired Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the
commissioner of that bureau claiming that she had altered jobs data for partisan purposes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: If you remember, just before the election, this woman came out with these phenomenal numbers on Biden`s economy, phenomenal numbers. And then
right after the election, they announced that those numbers were wrong. And that`s what they did the other day. So, it`s a scam, in my opinion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[12:20:04]
GOLODRYGA: Trump has offered no evidence to back up that claim, which came after weak jobs numbers he didn`t like.
The collection and reporting of economic data is traditionally a nonpartisan activity, and critics say Trump is dangerously injecting
politics into the process.
CNN`s Matt Egan is tracking the story for us with an eye towards how the markets and the business community feel about all of this.
It is interesting on the hand, Matt. Despite this troubling developments that we`ve seen in interference over the past six months from the president
on what`s traditionally independent oversight, we`ve seen the markets react basically shrugging their shoulders as if nothing to see here, though so
many economists, from both sides of the isle, are sounding the alarm.
Just talk about the impact this is having.
MATT EGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Bianna, that`s right. And I think alarm is the way that I would describe it when I`m talking to economists and
investors and former U.S. officials as they react to this firing.
I mean, it was really stunning to see it, just hours after the worst jobs report in years, the president goes out and fires the commissioner in
charge of the agency that collects the jobs report.
I mean, this would be like an NFL owner who responds to his team losing big by immediately firing the scoreboard operator. It`s not going to change the
score or the problems that led to that score, but it is going to raise some questions about the future scores. And that`s kind of where we are right
now.
We should note, as you did at the top that there is no evidence to support this idea that the BLS was somehow cooking the books to hurt Republicans as
the president has alleged.
In fact, William Beach, who was the former commissioner of the BLS during Trump`s first term. Beach said that it`s not even possible for the BLS
commissioner to manipulate the numbers for political reasons.
Take a listen to what he said to Kasie Hunt over the weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM BEACH, FORMER BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMMISSIONER: I don`t know if there`s any grounds at all for this -- for this firing. And it really
hurts the statistical system. It undermines credibility.
KASIE HUNT, CNN ANCHOR: The president said that the BLS commissioner rigged these numbers.
BEACH: Yes.
HUNT: What do you think?
BEACH: There`s no way for that to happen. The commissioner doesn`t do anything to collect the numbers. The commissioner doesn`t see the numbers
for until Wednesday before they`re published.
I was commissioner and I -- I -- I sometimes locked out of the process of actually, you know, where the people were working in the building. So,
there`s no way for doing that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
EGAN: No way for doing that. That`s, again, from the president`s former BLS commissioner himself.
And look, there`s a lot at stake here because the BLS, it doesn`t just compile and put out the jobs report that we pay so much attention to every
single month. They`re also in charge of collecting data on prices, right? They compile the consumer price index, CPI inflation report, wholesale
inflation, a number of different indicators on wages and hiring and job openings, import, export prices.
And there`s practical implications here too because the BLS is in charge of the data that goes into deciding how big of a cost of a living adjustment
Social Security benefits will take.
And we know that CEOs, investors, small business owners, they rely on accurate and trustworthy data from the government. Without it, they would
be flying blind.
Same thing for the Federal Reserve, which relies on all of these numbers to decide whether or not to raise or lower interest rates.
I talked to Mark Zandi, the former -- the current economist over at Moody`s, and he said he hires a number of former BLS officials. He said
they do great work.
He also said, speaking about the BLS, he said that the agency has done its work to the highest standard. And anything that undermines that or even the
perception of that high standard is deeply worrisome.
Now, it`s true that the BLS is not perfect. They do make revisions, make sense though, right? As they get new information in from the businesses
that they survey. Of course they`re going to revise their numbers higher or lower.
It`s like a meteorologist who adjusts his or her hurricane forecast based on new data that comes in.
I thought "The Wall Street Journal," they put out an op-ed, they summed it up best. They said that Mr. Trump`s data denial is one more reason that
fewer Americans will trust the government.
And one last point here, Bianna, you know, this does cut both ways, right? If there`s all these questions now about who`s in charge and whether or not
we can trust the numbers, I mean, that means that not only could people question the bad jobs reports or bad indicators coming up, maybe they`re
going to be worried that they`re being sugar-coated. It`s actually worse than this.
And the other way too, right? If there`s a great report, you don`t want people to question that either. And so it`s a slippery slope here.
And if you`re the president of the United States, you should want people to not be afraid to deliver the bad news. Because if you don`t get that bad
news until it`s too late, you know, that`s not -- that`s not helpful either. Back to you.
[12:25:02]
GOLODRYGA: Yes. There`s -- there`s history here. Just look at countries like Argentina, China, Greece, just to name a few, what happens when you
can`t trust official data. Nothing good.
CNN`s Matt Egan, thank you so much.
EGAN: Thanks, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: Still to come for us, an investment in women`s health is an investment in the future. Just ahead, the Bill Gates Foundation is putting
women`s issues front and center with a huge commitment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: An ex-girlfriend to rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs has written a letter to the judge, asking for his release on bail.
Gina Huynh was identified in the criminal case against Combs as victim three and was set to testify against him, but mysteriously disappeared
before the trial began.
Combs was convicted last month of true prostitution charges, but was cleared of the more serious charges that he was facing.
And Elizabeth Wagmeister joins me more with the latest. How much of a surprise, Elizabeth, does this letter come from his ex-girlfriend?
ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: This is a huge surprise, Bianna. I mean, you put this into perspective. This is someone
who was supposed to be one of the prosecution`s main three alleged victims. And now, here she is writing a letter for the defense.
So, let me walk you through this. Gina was expected to testify in the trial, but just about a week before the trial got underway in May,
prosecutors said that they had lost touch with her. They had subpoenaed her, but that they were no longer in touch with her attorney. And then
ultimately, she was not called to testify.
While yesterday, I have obtained this letter that Gina sent to the judge. This comes as Sean Combs` team has been working tirelessly, relentlessly to
try to get him released on bail. They have even filed a motion asking the judge to fully acquit him or give him a new trial.
I want to read you a part of Gina`s letter to the judge, Bianna. Here is part of what she had to say, quote, "Our relationship, like many, was not
always perfect. We experienced ups and downs and mistakes were made, but he was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and make better decisions in the
future."
She goes on to say, quote, "To my knowledge, he has not been violent for many years. And he has been committed to being a father first. I am writing
because I do not view Mr. Combs as a danger to me or to the community."
Now, here`s where things get even more surprising, Bianna. Back in 2019, so about five to six years ago, Gina did an interview with the YouTuber, Tasha
K. In that interview, she came forward publicly saying that she had been physically assaulted by Combs. Take a look.
[12:30:11]
GINA HUYNH, SEAN COMBS` EX-GIRLFRIEND: He started like punching me like this. Like he avoided my face, but he like started punching me like on the
side of my head and I was just like covering my face. And he did that. He did that.
And then -- and then after he got done doing that, he like -- because he was standing. His legs were like stick in between me. So, he like -- he
like stomped on my stomach, like really hard. And I like took the wind out of my breath. I couldn`t even -- I couldn`t even breathe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WAGMEISTER: So, obviously, very serious allegations from her back in 2019 and the tables have clearly turned now.
Now, I do want to note I have reached out to Combs` team for comment on those allegations from Gina in 2019. I have not heard back.
But during the trial, he did admit to physically assaulting former girlfriends, not specifically Gina though
Now, of course, the big question is why, why now was she coming forward? But this will all be up to the judge who has to come out with his ruling on
whether or not he will release Combs on bail. Bianna?
GOLODRYGA: That video where she was describing her abuse there was really, really disturbing to watch.
Elizabeth Wagmeister, thank you so much.
And we`ll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:35:05]
GOLODRYGA: Women`s health continues to be ignored, underfunded and sidelined. Those words spoken from one of the richest men in the world,
Bill Gates. His foundation is making moves to change that with a huge investment.
The Gates Foundation just announced a $2.5 billion investment to fund research and development focused exclusively on women`s health. The money
will support the advancement in critical and underfunded areas of women`s health, particularly in low and middle income countries.
Now, according to one study, just one percent of healthcare research is invested in female specific conditions beyond cancer studies. The Gates
Foundation is hoping to change that.
Time now for "The Exchange." And joining me as president of the Gender Equality Division at the Gates Foundation, Dr. Anita Zaidi. Dr. Zaidi,
thank you so much for taking the time and for joining us to introduce this really promising initiative.
So, we`re talking about $2.5 billion running through 2030 of investment. And the underfunded areas of women`s health that this money is going
towards is maternal care and immunization, maternal nutrition, gynecological and menstrual health, contraceptive innovation, and sexually
transmitted infections.
How were these five priorities chosen?
ANITA ZAIDI, PRESIDENT, GENDER EQUALITY DIVISION, GATES FOUNDATION: Thank you very much for having me, Bianna. It`s great to be talking to you today.
For too long, women have suffered from health conditions that are misunderstood, misdiagnosed or totally ignored. And we want this investment
to spark the new era of women-centered innovation when one where women`s lives, bodies, and voices are prioritized within the R&D ecosystem.
So, why these areas? There are three reasons. One is that they are responsible for problems that hundreds of millions of women suffer around
the world and don`t have good solutions.
Two, these are particularly neglected areas of health R&D funding. And three, we feel that in the next five years, attention and acceleration of
progress can really make a difference in 40 different innovations that are within -- that are housed within this announcement that can be available to
women around the world. So, that is why we chose these particular areas.
GOLODRYGA: And of the $2.5 billion, 70 percent I know is earmarked for R&D. What type of innovations over the next five years are you most excited
about?
ZAIDI: So, I`ll talk about the ones that I think are closest. So, AI, artificial intelligence-enabled ultrasound as a point of care, which does
not need any skilled worker. Anybody can do this. Even a non-health worker could do these ultrasounds. Just blind sweeps and you can tell so much
about the baby`s health and the mom`s health from doing that ultrasound.
I think that will be a reality in the next two, three years for women around the world. Currently, we live in a situation where 70 percent of
women don`t even have access to ultrasound during pregnancy.
The other one that I`m talking about is a harder one, but I think again, with AI-enabled discovery, finding a treatment for preeclampsia. So,
preeclampsia is a disorder that develops during pregnancy. It`s high blood pressure or hypertension during pregnancy that right now has no cure or no
treatment. The only way that you get rid of this problem, which is lethal to the mom and lethal to the baby, is by delivering the baby.
And as a pediatrician, I have seen too many moms and babies having to be delivered prematurely because they developed preeclampsia and there was
nothing else that we could do. And sometimes these babies die. And sometimes the mothers die from lack of care.
So, these are two areas that I`m most excited about the possibility of innovation really finding solutions.
GOLODRYGA: And in the introduction there, we show that at least according to one study, just one percent of healthcare research is invested in female
specific conditions outside of cancer.
How will this initiative improve some of the baseline research and study and data that you`re hoping to collect specific to women`s healthcare?
ZAIDI: Yes. So women`s health has been so -- it`s been such a blind spot in health research, diseases that women suffer exclusively that bringing
attention to these areas that -- that there is a possibility of making very fast progress in these areas, that these are worth investing in, that there
are good solutions out there.
We feel will be a catalyst or a spark for the investor community, the researcher community, the innovator community to join hands and make rapid
progress in these areas.
So, yes, so currently the situation is one percent outside of cancer is how much is spent on women`s R&D, but women are half the world`s population.
GOLODRYGA: Right. And we`ve covered this as it applies to heart health and other areas that for so many years have been focused just on male studies
and women`s studies now in exposing more funding towards women`s healthcare has proven that -- that it can be a -- a lifesaver.
[12:40:15]
You`ve described this $2.5 billion. Obviously, a lot of money as just a drop in the bucket, $2.5 billion over five years. And I know you`ve made a
real push towards governments, the private sector, to do more.
Can you talk about the impact or your reaction from the USAID cuts that we`ve seen from the Trump administration just as far in concern, perhaps if
that could have two initiatives like yours around the world?
ZAIDI: So, no foundation or groups of foundations can hope to match the amount of funding and the resources that the U.S. government has
historically provided for fighting disease, poverty, hunger, and including funding for global health innovation and R&D. That is cannot be replaced by
any foundation or group of foundations. Women`s health, as I`ve said, is such a neglected area of health and so any cuts cut very deep.
GOLODRYGA: Well, Dr. Anita Zaidi, this clearly is an important initiative and announcement, and hopefully, this will now incentivize other
organizations and governments, the private sector as well, to match some of this funding.
Thank you so much for taking the time to announce this initiative here with us on "One World."
ZAIDI: Thank you very much.
GOLODRYGA: Well, it looks like the devil is still wearing Prada, rest assured.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: By all means move at a glacial pace. You know how that thrills me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you please --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: New eyewitness video shows Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway in New York City filming the sequel to the classic night. I can`t believe it`s
been 19 years. Wow. After the 2006 comedy first hit theaters.
The new film will welcome back Streep, along with Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt, whose career was launched by the hit first movie.
It is set for release May 1st of next year. Can`t wait to watch that. I love seeing these videos posted on social media. It means it`s actually
happening.
All right. Well, that does it for this hour of "One World." I`m Bianna Golodryga. Don`t go anywhere. I`ll be back in 15 minutes with "Amanpour."
In the meantime, "African Voices Changemakers" is up next.
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(AFRICAN VOICES CHANGEMAKERS)
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