Agence France-Presse - Table of Contents 'English'

2000

AFP maintains the most far-reaching network of any news service with journalists in 165 countries covering events 24 / 7. The AFP brand guarantees editorial quality and reliability, a reputation built since the agency was founded in 1835. The agency offers text, photo, graphic and video as well as multimedia products. AFP covers all the news worldwide, from politics and diplomacy to economy and finance, sports and culture to science, technology, health and people. Its clients include the world's major media organizations as well as corporations, governments and international agencies.

January February March April May June July August September October November December

December

Singapore-AIDS: Homeless AIDS patient who stirred Singapore's heart dies: Agence France-Presse - December 31, 2000; SINGAPORE, Dec 31 (AFP) - A homeless man whose publicised plight stirred Singaporeans to be more considerate of AIDS patients has died from complications of the disease, newspapers reported Sunday.
China-sex: Female condoms to launch in China: Agence France-Presse - December 28, 2000; SHANGHAI, Dec 28 (AFP) - Western-made female condoms are to be launched in the New Year in China, home of the one-child policy, the Shanghai Daily reported Thursday.
US-medicine-theft: Thieves snag AIDS drug from North Carolina laboratory: Agence France-Presse - December 27, 2000; WASHINGTON, Dec 27 (AFP) - An experimental AIDS drug was stolen from a North Carolina storage facility, leading to a warning from the US Food and Drug Administration.
Japan-AIDS: Japanese prosecuters demand jail for HIV blood scandal official: Agence France-Presse - December 27, 2000; TOKYO, Dec 27 (AFP) - Japanese prosecutors on Wednesday demanded a three-year prison term for a former government official accused of failing to prevent the distribution of contaminated blood, officials said.
Tanzania-morgue: Leap in death rates overwhelms Tanzania's major hospital morgue: Agence France-Presse - December 24, 2000; DAR ES SALAAM, Dec 24 (AFP) - A leap in death rates caused by AIDS-related illnesses and road accidents have overwhelmed the morgue at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), the country's largest medical centre, the state-owned Sunday News reported Sunday.
Bangladesh-AIDS: Bangladesh to launch 52 million dollar anti-AIDS project: Agence France-Presse - December 23, 2000; DHAKA, Dec 23 (AFP) - Bangladesh, with the help of the World Bank, is set to launch a massive 52 million dollar project to fights AIDS from the new year, a newspaper reported here Saturday.
UN-AIDS-US: UN doing too little about AIDS among peacekeepers: Holbrooke: Agence France-Presse - December 22, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Dec 22 (AFP) - US ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke on Friday severely criticized the organization for failing to do enough to prevent the spread of AIDS among peacekeepers.
Health-AIDS: Gene therapy in mice opens up new front against AID: Agence France-Presse - December 21, 2000; PARIS, Dec 21 (AFP) - French doctors said Thursday they had devised a gene therapy in mice that dealt a blow to the AIDS virus by fooling it into latching on to a passing protein rather than a cell, causing it to wither and die for lack of nutrition.
SAfrica-Angola-aid: South Africa makes donation to Angola, pledges solidarity: Agence France-Presse - December 20, 2000; PRETORIA, Dec 20 (AFP) - South Africa has donated more than four million rand (524,000 dollars / 579,000 euros) as well as goods like clothes and food to Angola's war victims, the social development minister said Wednesday.
Burundi-displaced: UN coordinator tours camps housing Burundi's displaced: Agence France-Presse - December 20, 2000; BUJUMBURA, Dec 20 (AFP) - A senior United Nations official is currently in Burundi touring camps housing thousands of people displaced in the civil war which has torn the country apart since 1993, the UN said.
Kenya-AIDS-vaccine: Trial of AIDS vaccine in Kenya delayed, patent dispute unresolved: John Nyaga; Agence France-Presse - December 20, 2000; NAIROBI, Dec 20 (AFP) - The clinical trials of an AIDS vaccine, developed by Kenyan and British scientists, which were due to begin here Wednesday, have been delayed pending official approval, Kenya's health minister said.
WHO-development: The right tools can cut disease in poor countries: WHO: Agence France-Presse - December 19, 2000; GENEVA, Dec 19 (AFP) - Thailand and Uganda's efforts to combat AIDS, Peru's fight against tuberculosis and Vietnam's strategy against malaria have shown how the widespread use of the right tools to deal with infectious diseases can be effective, a new report said Tuesday.
Kenya-AIDS-vaccine: Clinical trials of first AIDS vaccine to begin in Kenya: Agence France-Presse - December 19, 2000; NAIROBI, Dec 19 (AFP) - Kenyan authorities are this week expected to approve the clinical test of the first AIDS trial vaccine, developed by Kenyan and British scientists, sources close to the study said on Tuesday.
Kenya-AIDS-campaign: Kenya's macho minibuses to help fight AIDS: Sam Aola-Ooko; Agence France-Presse - December 18, 2000; MOMBASA, Kenya, Dec 18 (AFP) - Campaigners in Kenya have come up with an ingenious new weapon in the fight against HIV and AIDS: the minibus.
Russia-AIDS-drugs: Deadly youth drugs culture flourishes in post-Soviet moral vacuum: Henry Meyer; Agence France-Presse - December 18, 2000; IRKUTSK, Russia, Dec 18 (AFP) - In a snow-covered forest outside the Siberian city of Irkutsk, three former heroin addicts have taken over an old Soviet-era pioneer camp to try and help others to kick their habit.
Britain-health: Sexually transmitted diseases hit 10-year high in Britain: Agence France-Presse - December 15, 2000; LONDON, Dec 15 (AFP) - The number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases in Britain has reached a 10-year high, according to figures published Friday.
Year-SAfrica-AIDS: Blazing AIDS row disrupted South Africa in 2000: Jean-Claude Boksenbaum; Agence France-Presse - December 15, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Dec 15 (AFP) - A blazing row initiated by President Thabo Mbeki over the link between HIV and AIDS erupted this year in South Africa, which harbours the world's greatest number of people infected with the virus.
SAfrica-US-aid: US aid to South Africa exceeded 45 million dollars in 2000: Agence France-Presse - December 14, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Dec 14 (AFP) - The US provided more than 350 million rand (45 million dollars/51 million euro) in development aid to South Africa in 2000, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) said Thursday.
Bangladesh-WBank: World Bank approves 40 mln dlrs for anti-AIDS scheme in Bangladesh: Agence France-Presse - December 14, 2000; DHAKA, Dec 14 (AFP) - The World Bank has approved credit worth 40 million dollars for a project to fight AIDS in Bangladesh, a bank statement said Thursday.
Ethiopia-Bank: World Bank lends Ethiopia up to 800 million dollars: Agence France-Presse - December 14, 2000; ADDIS ABABA, Dec 14 (AFP) - The World Bank is lending Ethiopia up to 800 million dollars to help rebuild its shattered economy after two years of bitter border war with Eritrea, Bank officials have said here.
IMF-Zimbabwe: IMF voices "deep concern" about Zimbabwe, calls for corrective steps: Agence France-Presse - December 13, 2000; WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (AFP) - The IMF on Wednesday voiced "deep concern" about economic and social conditions in Zimbabwe and called for urgent measures to prevent a deepening in what it described as an economic crisis.
US-Americas-Gates: 4.9 million from Gates foundation for blood safety in the Americas: Agence France-Presse - December 13, 2000; WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (AFP) - A foundation established by Microsoft chairman Bill Gates will provide 4.9 million dollars to strengthen blood-safety programs throughout the Americas, the Pan-American Health Organization said Wednesday.
WBank-Kenya: World Bank approves 50 million dollar anti-AIDS credit for Kenya: Agence France-Presse - December 12, 2000; WASHINGTON, Dec 12 (AFP) - The World Bank on Tuesday approved a 50 million dollar interest-free credit to help Kenya improve its health care sector and step up the campaign against AIDS.
Russia-AIDS-victims: A hostile world leaves Irkutsk HIV victims in despair: Henry Meyer; Agence France-Presse - December 12, 2000; IRKUTSK, Russia, Dec 12 (AFP) - Shunned by society, thousands of young people like Maxim afflicted by a fast-growing HIV epidemic in the Siberian city of Irkutsk have all but succumbed to despair.
Russia-AIDS: Siberian city faces threat of full-blown AIDS epidemic: Henry Meyer; Agence France-Presse - December 12, 2000; IRKUTSK, Russia, Dec 12 (AFP) - A week ago Masha, a 19-year-old heroin addict, found out that she is HIV positive. Now she fears she may have passed on the deadly virus to her boyfriend when he was back on army leave last summer.
Nigeria-US-AIDS: US medical school donates 25 mn dlrs to fight AIDS in Nigeria: Agence France-Presse - December 12, 2000; LAGOS, Dec 12 (AFP) - The Harvard School of Public Health is to donate 25 million dollars to programmes to fight AIDS in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, US officials said Tuesday.
Botswana-US: Madeleine Albright visits AIDS clinic in Botswana: Agence France-Presse - December 11, 2000; GABORONE, Dec 11 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Monday visited an HIV/AIDS clinic in Botswana and promised continued US funding for the fight against the disease.
Uganda-AIDS-condoms: Moralists threaten Uganda's anti-AIDS campaign: Vincent Mayanja; Agence France-Presse - December 11, 2000; KAMPALA, Dec 11 (AFP) - Uganda's successful campaign against HIV/AIDS has suddenly come under threat following demands here by moralists that radio advertisements on how to use female condoms be withdrawn forthwith.
Botswana-US: Albright arrives in Botswana on third leg of Africa tour: Agence France-Presse - December 10, 2000; GABORONE, Dec 10 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright arrived in Botswana late Sunday from Mauritius for the third leg of her swansong African tour.
Iran-AIDS-crime: Raging Iran father kills his HIV-infected son with axe: paper: Agence France-Presse - December 10, 2000; TEHRAN, Dec 10 (AFP) - An Iranian father chopped up his 23-year-old son with an axe after finding out that he was infected with the deadly HIV-virus which causes AIDS, newspapers reported Sunday.
Singapore-AIDS: Singapore nursing homes asked to take in AIDS sufferers: Agence France-Presse - December 10, 2000; SINGAPORE, Dec 10 (AFP) - Singapore's ministry of health has taken the position that nursing homes, hospices and community hospitals can admit people suffering from AIDS, the Sunday Times said.
Thailand-AIDS: Thai AIDS activists call for home test kits to be banned: report: Agence France-Presse - December 10, 2000; BANGKOK, Dec 10 (AFP) - HIV-AIDS activists in Thailand, which is facing one of Asia's worst outbreaks of the deadly virus, have called for self-testing kits available over the Internet to be banned, a report said Sunday.
SAfrica-US: Albright ends S. African tour, heads for Mauritius: Agence France-Presse - December 9, 2000; PRETORIA, Dec 9 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright ended a visit to South Africa Saturday with a breakfast meeting with Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
SAfrica-US: US interest in Africa will continue: Albright: Christophe de Roquefeuil; Agence France-Presse - December 8, 2000; PRETORIA, Dec 8 (AFP) - US interest in Africa will continue, with the next president -- whoever he is -- bound to pursue an active policy toward the continent, visiting Secretary of State Madeleine Albright declared in Pretoria Friday.
SAfrica-US: Albright visits South African AIDS research centre: Agence France-Presse - December 8, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Dec 8 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright toured an AIDS research unit at a hospital in Johannesburg's Soweto township Friday, the first day of her visit to South Africa.
HongKong-AIDS: Mother abandons a one-year-old HIV-infected boy in HK hospital: Agence France-Presse - December 8, 2000; HONG KONG, Dec 8 (AFP) - A mother has abandoned a one-year-old HIV-infected boy in a Hong Kong hospital and is believed to have left the territory, it was reported here Friday.
SAfrica-US: Albright arrives in Cape Town at start of African tour: Christophe de Roquefeuil; Agence France-Presse - December 7, 2000; CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Dec 7 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright arrived in Cape Town Thursday evening at the start of a tour of South Africa, Mauritius and Botswana.
SAfrica-US-AIDS: Albright to discuss AIDS with Mbeki: Agence France-Presse - December 7, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Dec 7 (AFP) - The fight against AIDS is expected to figure high on the agenda in talks on Friday between South African President Thabo Mbeki and visiting US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, her aides said.
Zambia-social-sex: Zambian police crack down on prostitution in tourist town: Agence France-Presse - December 7, 2000; LUSAKA, Dec 7 (AFP) - Zambian police are cracking down on on prostitution in the country's major tourist town, Livingstone, where they have arrested 57 sex workers this week, police spokesman Lemmy Kajoba said Thursday.
Japan-health-disease: Medecins sans Frontieres urges cheaper drugs for developing world: Kiriko Nishiyama; Agence France-Presse - December 7, 2000; TOKYO, Dec 7 (AFP) - International relief organisation Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) on Thursday urged an international conference on infectious diseases in Okinawa to ensure "millions of people" did not die for lack of affordable drugs.
Ethiopia-Rwanda: Rwanda's Kagame and Ethiopia's Zenawi hold talks: Agence France-Presse - December 6, 2000; ADDIS ABABA, Dec 6 (AFP) - Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi held talks this week in Addis Ababa on "economic and social" matters, the Ethiopian news agency ENA said Wednesday.
Africa-AIDS: African leaders join AIDS conference in Addis Abab: Agence France-Presse - December 6, 2000; ADDIS ABABA, Dec 6 (AFP) - Four African leaders, presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Festus Mogae of Botswana and Senegalese Prime Minister Moustapha Niasse, arrived here Wednesday for a conference on HIV-AIDs in Africa, an official said.
SAfrica-AIDS: Three S. African Nobel peace prize winners pray against AIDS: Agence France-Presse - December 6, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Dec 6 (AFP) - South African Nobel Peace Prize winners Nelson Mandela, Frederik de Klerk and Desmond Tutu joined in prayer Wednesday against the AIDS epidemic ravaging the country.
Oman-AIDS: 900 AIDS cases in Oman since 1984: Agence France-Presse - December 6, 2000; MUSCAT, Dec 6 (AFP) - Some 600 people, including 180 women, are suffering from AIDS in Oman where 300 have died from the virus since it was first diagnosed in the sultanate in 1984, according to health ministry figures published Wednesday.
SAfrica-CWealth-AIDS: Plant potions keeps Tanzanian AIDS victims alive longer: conference: Agence France-Presse - December 5, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Dec 5 (AFP) - Potions made of bark and crushed leaves are being used successfully to treat infections plaguing AIDS victims in Tanzania's Tanga region, a Commonwealth conference on phytomedicines heard here Monday.
Nepal-AIDS: Nepal crown prince calls for united effort to fight HIV/AIDS: Agence France-Presse - December 5, 2000; KATHMANDU, Dec 5 (AFP) - Nepalese Crown Prince Dipendra Tuesday stressed the need for united efforts to contain and control the HIV/AIDS epidemic, state-run radio announced.
AIDS-EEurope: Eastern Europe facing Africa-style AIDS disaster, warns UN: Agence France-Presse - December 5, 2000; COPENHAGEN, Dec 5 (AFP) - UN agencies on Tuesday issued an urgent appeal to European governments to help stop the spread of AIDS across Eastern Europe and former Soviet states or risk facing an Africa-style epidemic.
AIDS-Africa: UNAIDS head appeals for social mobilisation against AIDS: Agence France-Presse - December 4, 2000; ADDIS ABEBA, Dec 4 (AFP) - The head of UNAIDS, Peter Piot, appealed here Monday for a social mobilisation against AIDS, which affects more than 25 million people in sub-Saharan Africa.
RedCross-appeal: Red Cross Federation appeals for 236 million euros for 2001-02: Agence France-Presse - December 4, 2000; GENEVA, Dec 4 (AFP) - The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched a 355 million Swiss franc (236.6 million euros, 196.1 million dollars) appeal Monday to fund 81 programmes worldwide in 2001-2002.
SAfrica-vote-Hadebe: S. African chief rules from a spartan colonial farmhouse: Claire Keeton; Agence France-Presse - December 4, 2000; ESCOURT, South Africa, Dec 4 (AFP) - It is unusual to meet a South African chief who lives in a colonial farmhouse, but chief Mzwenkosi Hadebe was given his house by the Amahlubi tribe in keeping with his status.
Nigeria-SAfrica-AIDS: Mbeki 'made a mistake' on AIDS, says de Klerk: Agence France-Presse - December 3, 2000; LAGOS, Dec 3 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki was badly advised and "made a mistake" with comments on AIDS, former president Frederick de Klerk told a Nigerian newspaper published Sunday.
Africa-AIDS: UN for drastic steps after Africa failed to face AIDS in time: Guebray Berhane; Agence France-Presse - December 3, 2000; ADDIS ABABA, Dec 3 (AFP) - African decision-makers must take drastic steps after failing to face up fast enough to the AIDS epidemic now affecting 25.3 million people in sub-Saharan countries, a senior UN official said Saturday.
Singapore-AIDS: Singapore lifts 24-hour rule for AIDS deaths: report: Agence France-Presse - December 2, 2000; SINGAPORE, Dec 3 (AFP) - Singapore has lifted a rule requiring that people who die of AIDS must be buried or cremated within 24 hours, the Sunday Times reported.
Senegal-AIDS: Senegal makes anti-AIDS drugs free for pregnant women: Agence France-Presse - December 2, 2000; DAKAR, Dec 2 (AFP) - The Senegalese government has decided to make anti-retroviral drugs available at no cost to pregnant HIV-positive women to avoid them passing on the deadly virus to their babies, officials said.
AIDS-Uganda: Uganda announces reduction in prices of AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - December 2, 2000; KAMPALA, Dec 2 (AFP) - The Ugandan health ministry Saturday announced a major reduction in the cost of anti-retrovirals, the drugs used to improve the health and prolong the life of those suffering from AIDS.
Africa-AIDS: Key forum aims at new boost for AIDS solutions for Africa: Agence France-Presse - December 2, 2000; ADDIS ABABA, Dec 2 (AFP) - More than 1,500 key Africans gather here Sunday in a bid to step up Africa's struggle against AIDS and persuade its leaders to make fighting the disease their top development priority.
Algeria-AIDS: AIDS, with 468 cases, poorly known and 'shameful' in Algeria: Agence France-Presse - December 2, 2000; ALGIERS, Dec 2 (AFP) - Algeria has 468 cases of AIDS and 997 people carrying the HIV virus, according to official figures published on Saturday, but doctors and an opinion poll suggested that these were low estimates.
AIDS-Nigeria: Obasanjo and ministers should test for AIDS: labour leader: Agence France-Presse - December 2, 2000; LAGOS, Dec 2 (AFP) - President Olusegun Obasanjo, his cabinet, and lawmakers should all take an AIDS test to raise awareness of the disease, Nigeria's main trade union leader told Saturday newspapers.
Afghan-AIDS: Islam only way to control AIDS: Taliban: Agence France-Presse - December 2, 2000; KABUL, Dec 2 (AFP) - The Afghan Taliban Information Minister Mawlawi Qudratullah Jamal Saturday said Islam prescribed the best ways to control AIDS throughout the world.
AIDS-Italy: Italy's health minister denounces hypocrisy over AIDS prevention: Agence France-Presse - December 2, 2000; ROME, Dec 2 (AFP) - Italy's Health Minister Umberto Veronesi denounced the "general hypocrisy" in the country over AIDS prevention in an interview with the Reppublica newspaper on Saturday.
AIDS-Canada: Canadian AIDS activists form hand chain to mark World AIDS Day: Stefanie Batcho; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; TORONTO, Dec 1 (AFP) - AIDS activists clasped hands across a chilly bridge near Ottawa Friday, while others here lined up 5,000 empty prescription bottles to demonstrate the heavy financial toll that the disease takes on its victims in activities to mark World AIDS Day.
AIDS-SAfrica-Mandela: Mandela describes AIDS as worse than war: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Dec 1 (AFP) - Former South African President Nelson Mandela described the AIDS pandemic as worse than war Friday in a World AIDS Day message broadcast on South African state television.
AIDS-Tanzania: Tanzania's president urges massive AIDS testing: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; DAR ES SALAAM, Dec 1 (AFP) - Tanzania's President Benjamin Mkapa Friday urged the country's residents to take AIDS tests in a bid to curb the spread of the disease.
AIDS-Britain-people: Buyers snap up Elton John's wardrobe in AIDS charity sale: Daniel Ortelli; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; LONDON, Dec 1 (AFP) - Londoners were rushing on Friday -- World AIDS Day -- to buy shoes, shirts and stage costumes belonging to flamboyant British pop star Elton John, who has put part of his legendary wardrobe on sale to raise money to help fight the disease.
AIDS-world: Don't give up the fight: warning on World AIDS Day: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; PARIS, Dec 1 (AFP) - World AIDS Day unfolded Friday to appeals for a relentless effort against a virus that has scythed through southern Africa, has Asia firmly in its sights and could revive in complacent rich nations.
AIDS-Uganda: Uganda gains recognition for battles won in fight against AIDS: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; RAKAI, Uganda, Dec 1 (AFP) - It's no coincidence that the man heading the United Nations fight against AIDS chose to travel to Uganda to mark World AIDS Day: a decade of action has halved the rate of HIV transmission in the east African country.
AIDS-Poland: Polish couple seeks compensation in AIDS infection case: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; WARSAW, Dec 1 (AFP) - An HIV-positive couple is seeking a million zlotys (258,000 euros, 226,000 dollars) in compensation from the Polish government after doctors failed to warn one of them he was infected with the virus, AIDS activists said Friday.
AIDS-Nigeria: On verge of AIDS crisis, Nigeria struggles to cope: Ola Awoniyi; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; ABUJA, Dec 1 (AFP) - On the verge of an AIDS crisis, Nigeria, Africa's most populous country is struggling to stop the spread of the disease before it is too late, a top official said Friday.
AIDS-Kenya: Kenya steps up fight against AIDS: Juliette Hollier-Larousse; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; NAIROBI, Dec 1 (AFP) - Authorities in Kenya stepped up the fight against AIDS on Friday, the day dedicated across the world to combatting a the syndrome which affects two million people in this country.
FAO-AIDS: Male-dominated society contributing to Africa's AIDS disaster: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; ROME, Dec 1 (AFP) - Violence against women, male promiscuity and the patriarchal treatment of women is helping to spread the AIDS epidemic into rural Africa "with alarming speed", the UN food agency reported Friday.
AIDS-France: Rise of Paris "backrooms" highlights risk of AIDS complacency: Bernard Besserglik; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; PARIS, Dec 1 (AFP) - French gay activists who favour safe-sex practices are warning of growing complacency over AIDS among homosexuals, and cite popular "backroom" clubs which offer anonymous sex with multiple partners as a particular source of danger.
AIDS-Namibia-prisons: Namibian jails won't distribute condoms despite high HIV infection: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; WINDHOEK, Dec 1 (AFP) - Namibian prison authorities are refusing a health ministry directive to distribute condoms despite a 23 percent HIV infection rate in the country's jails, parliament heard.
AIDS-Russia: Russia fears epidemic as world marks AIDS day: Viktoria Loguinova; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; MOSCOW, Dec 1 (AFP) - Russia marked World AIDS days Friday with alarm at its unpreparedness to combat the rapid spread of HIV in a country where Soviet taboos still hamper efforts to educate people about sexually-related diseases.
AIDS-Turkey: True AIDS picture in Turkey remains unclear: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; ISTANBUL, Dec 1 (AFP) - The Turkish government has revealed that 1,067 people in the country are suffering from the human immuno-deficiency virus, HIV - but the true impact of AIDS remains unclear.
SAfrica-AIDS-Pfizer: Pfizer signs agreement to provide S. Africa with AIDS drug for free: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Dec 1 (AFP) - US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer will supply the AIDS drug fluconazole at no cost to the South African government for two years under an agreement signed in Johannesburg Friday.
AIDS-SAfrica-Nigeria: Use education to fight AIDS, De Klerk urges African leaders: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; LAGOS, Dec 1 (AFP) - African leaders must use the schoolroom to spread knowledge among the young about the dangers of AIDS, former South African president Frederik de Klerk said in remarks quoted Friday.
Nepal-AIDS: Men told to exercise restraint to help curb AIDS in Nepal: Shusham Shrestha; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; KATHMANDU, Dec 1 (AFP) - Nepal marked World AIDS Day on Friday by calling on men to exercise more willpower.
India-AIDS-drugs: Drug addiction main cause of HIV infection in India's northeast: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; GUWAHATI, India, Dec 1 (AFP) - Thousands of people in India's northeastern region have pledged to fight a growing AIDS threat, amid an alarming increase in prostitution and the number of intravenous drug users.
AIDS-Asia: AIDS figures that don't add up in Asia: Barry Neild; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; HONG KONG, Dec 1 (AFP) - Asian nations still bury their heads in the sand over AIDS, with official case numbers revealing only a fraction of the true picture, according to health workers.
Singapore-AIDS: Singapore AIDS sufferers left homeless: Bernice Han; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; SINGAPORE, Dec 1 (AFP) - Growing numbers of AIDS sufferers in affluent Singapore are being left homeless and without treatment because of discrimination against them, activists said Friday.
AIDS-Pakistan: Pakistan at "high risk" from AIDS epidemic: officials: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; ISLAMABAD, Dec 1 (AFP) - Health officials here Friday warned that Pakistan is at "high risk" from the AIDS epidemic although less than 200 cases have been recorded in the country since 1986.
AIDS-China: China aware of AIDS threat to vast population, amid dire warnings: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; BEIJING, Dec 1 (AFP) - China promised Friday to shoulder its responsibility in controlling the spread of AIDS in the world's most populous country, but experts warned it was facing catastrophe without urgent action.
Bangladesh-AIDS: Low-key rallies mark World AIDS Day in Bangladesh: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; DHAKA, Dec 1 (AFP) - Bangladesh observed World AIDS Day on Friday with low-key rallies, meetings and official programmes in the capital.
China-AIDS-stories: Heartbreak stories tell of painful AIDS ignorance in China: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; SHANGHAI, Dec 1 (AFP) - Chinese families with relatives battling the AIDS virus frequently face painful discrimination and ignorance which is helping to spread the disease through society, state media reported Friday.
AIDS-Thailand: Sombre ceremonies mark World Aids Day in Thailand: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; BANGKOK, Dec 1 (AFP) - Thailand held a series of sombre, low-key events Friday to mark World Aids Day, with ceremonies to commemorate the 300,000 people who have already died of AIDS here.
AIDS-Vietnam: Pink buses hit the streets in Vietnam anti-AIDS campaign: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; HANOI, Dec 1 (AFP) - Some 20 pink buses decorated with condoms and red ribbons took to the streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on Friday as part of a UNAIDS campaign to raise public awareness on World AIDS Day.
Malaysia-AIDS: Malaysian AIDS victims stay anonymous to avoid reprisal: council: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 (AFP) - Malaysia has more than 35,000 HIV/AIDS victims but most remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, the Malaysian AIDS Council said Friday.
AIDS-India: Indian state to rope in industry leaders in fight against AIDS: Madhu Nainan; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; BOMBAY, Dec 1 (AFP) - India's most industrialised state, Maharashtra, which has the country's largest number of HIV carriers, is planning to recruit its captains of industry in the fight against AIDS.
Britain-AIDS: Sharp rise predicted in HIV cases in Britain: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2000; LONDON, Dec 1 (AFP) - The number of people diagnosed as HIV positive in England and Wales is set to rise 40 percent in the next three years, experts warned Friday.

November

US-Clinton-AIDS: Clinton calls AIDS menace to international security: Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2000; WASHINGTON, 30 nov (AFP) - On the eve of World AIDS Day, US President Bill Clinton Thursday called the deadly condition a menace to international security and said the United States was committed to finding a cure.
SAfrica-AIDS-drug: S. African council gives green light to import generic AIDS drug: Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 30 (AFP) - South Africa's Medicines Control Council (MCC) gave the green light Thursday for the importation of a generic AIDS drug from Thailand.
Africa-AIDS: Look this gift-horse in the mouth, Africa told over cheap AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2000; NAIROBI, Nov 30 (AFP) - Offers by big drug firms to cut the price of AIDS drugs should not sway poor countries from considering even cheaper options such as importing or manufacturing generic versions, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) urged Thursday.
Russia-AIDS-Europe: Southern Europe more vulnerable than north to AIDS: Russian scientist: Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2000; MOSCOW, Nov 30 (AFP) - The peoples of southern Europe are more susceptible to the AIDS virus than those living in the north, an eminent Russian scientist said Thursday.
Kenya-AIDS: Kenya's HIV carriers reduced to dreaming of coloured pills: Juliette Hollier-Larousse; Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2000; NAIROBI, Nov 30 (AFP) - Diagnosed HIV-positive eight years ago, Omari has little hope of ever receiving the drugs used in the west to fight AIDS, except in his imagination.
AIDS-RedCross: Red Cross launches appeal for funds to fight AIDS in Africa: Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2000; GENEVA, Nov 30 (AFP) - The Red Cross and Red Crescent movement appealed on Thursday for 10.4 million dollars (12 million euros) in funds to help combat the AIDS epidemic in Africa, admitting that it had failed to adequately address the crisis there.
AIDS-Baltics: Baltics hit by boom in HIV cases as virus infects intravenous drug users: J. Michael Lyons; Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2000; RIGA, Nov 30 (AFP) - While Lithuania boasts one of the lowest growth rates in HIV infections in Europe, its Baltic neighbors Estonia and Latvia are experiencing an explosion in the number of new cases as the disease gains ground among intravenous drug users.
Mozambique-AIDS: Donors pledge 105 million dollars for Mozambique anti-AIDS plans: Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2000; MAPUTO, Nov 30 (AFP) - International donors have pledged 105 million dollars in bilateral aid to help fund the Mozambique government's plan to battle AIDS over the next three years, Health Minister Francisco Songane said Thursday.
Kuwait-health: Kuwait has detected 787 HIV cases since 1984: Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2000; KUWAIT CITY, Nov 30 (AFP) - Some 787 people have tested HIV-positive and 50 have contracted full-blown AIDS in Kuwait since the start of screening in 1984, the emirate's top public health official said Thursday.
Belarus-HIV: More than 3,000 HIV-positive cases in Belarus: official: Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2000; MINSK, Nov 30 (AFP) - More than 3,000 Belarussians are HIV-positive, the overwhelming majority of them young, a top Belarus health official said Wednesday.
AIDS-China: Chinese village riddled with AIDS left to die by government: Cindy Sui; Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2000; WENLOU, China, Nov 30 (AFP) - The village of Wenlou has been devoured by AIDS, but the authorities have abandoned the sick to a painful death and tried to cover up a phenomenon which has terrifying implications for China.
US-Pfizer-SAfrica: Pfizer to announce plans to give away AIDS drug in South Africa: Agence France-Presse - November 29, 2000; WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (AFP) - The US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on Friday is scheduled to unveil plans to provide the South African government with a two-year supply of its AIDS medication Diflucan at no cost, a company spokesman said Wednesday.
France-AIDS-politics: Two condoms and a syringe for each French deputy: Agence France-Presse - November 29, 2000; PARIS, Nov 29 (AFP) - Wednesday's session in France's lower house of parliament took a provocative turn when each deputy received a package containing a male condom, a female condom, lubricating gel and a syringe.
Africa-AIDS: Drugs giants in Kenya to negotiate cut-price AIDS treatments: Agence France-Presse - November 29, 2000; NAIROBI, Nov 29 (AFP) - Several multinational pharmaceutical firms have begun talks with the Kenyan government with a view to supplying discounted AIDS treatments, an industry source told AFP on Wednesday.
SAfrica-Belgium-AIDS: Flanders government donates money to help S. African AIDS orphans: Agence France-Presse - November 29, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 29 (AFP) - Belgium's regional Flanders government, handed over a donation of a million rand (130,000 dollars /150,000 euros) Wednesday to former president Nelson Mandela to help South Africa's AIDS orphans.
Africa-age: Africa to tackle the continent's old age: Vincent Mayanja; Agence France-Presse - November 29, 2000; KAMPALA, Nov 29 (AFP) - African countries have realised that although politics has often kept them wide apart, social welfare problems, especially for the elderly, are common to all of them and need common instruments.
AIDS-world-figures: Numbers of adults and children estimated with HIV/AIDS: Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2000; BERLIN, Nov 28 (AFP) - Here are by region the number of adults and children estimated by the joint UNAIDS/WHO programme to be infected with or suffering from HIV/AIDS by the end of 2000.
Youth-poll: MTV poll shows widespread ignorance of AIDS among youth: Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2000; WASHINGTON, Nov 28 (AFP) - Fewer than a quarter of young people surveyed in 16 countries across Asia, Europe and the Americas consider themselves well-informed abot HIV/AIDS, according to a study released Tuesday by MTV: Music Television.
Yugo-AIDS: 6,000 people infected with HIV in Yugoslavia: expert: Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2000; NOVI SAD, Yugoslavia, Nov 28 (AFP) - Some 6,000 people in Yugoslavia are estimted to be infected with HIV, almost eight times more than officially registered, Borisa Vukovic, chief of the government expert group dealing with the disease, said Tuesday.
AIDS-Annan: AIDS prevention: UN secretary general urges men to care more: Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2000; BERLIN, Nov 28 (AFP) - United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan focussed on the attitude of men in a World AIDS Day message Tuesday, saying the actions of everyone can help make a difference in fighting the disease.
AIDS-World: AIDS infection jumps by 5.3 million people in last year: Michael Anders; Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2000; BERLIN, Nov 28 (AFP) - Some 5.3 million people caught the AIDS virus over the last year, with an explosion of infections in eastern Europe, and experts fear the number of carriers and sufferers will top 36 million by the end of the 2000, an official report said Tuesday.
AIDS-Africa: AIDS in Africa "catastrophic": UN: Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 28 (AFP) - The AIDS situation in Africa is "catastrophic", the UN AIDS agency warned Tuesday, presenting figures showing that sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 70 percent of the world's cases.
AIDS-EEurope: HIV/AIDS epidemic is "exploding" in eastern Europe: official: Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2000; BERLIN, Nov 28 (AFP) - The AIDS epidemic is exploding in the former Soviet bloc, with the number of cases of HIV infection soaring to 700,000 compared with 420,000 just a year ago, UNAIDS, the joint United Nations programme on AIDS and the World Health Organisation, said Tuesday.
AIDS-youth: Young people are key to fighting AIDS epidemic: UNICEF: Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2000; BERLIN, Nov 28 (AFP) - Young people in particular are threatened by the world AIDS epidemic, and they hold the key to fighting the spread of the disease, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said Tuesday.
Russia-AIDS: Top Russian is HIV-positive, says AIDS expert: Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2000; MOSCOW, Nov 28 (AFP) - A senior member of Russia's governing elite is infected with the AIDS virus, the country's leading expert on the disease, Vadim Pokrovsky, claimed Tuesday.
China-media: China bans misleading sex, cancer, AIDS adverts: state media: Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2000; BEIJING, Nov 28 (AFP) - The Chinese government has banned adverts for medicines claiming to boost sexual performance, combat drug addiction, and cure cancer and AIDS, state media reported Tuesday.
India-AIDS: Indian corporates need clear policy for HIV carriers: government: Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2000; NEW DELHI, Nov 28 (AFP) - Corporate India must take into account the problems faced by HIV-positive employees, including provisions for preserving their privacy, a senior government official said Tuesday.
SAfrica-AIDS-orphans: AIDS epidemic hits breadwinners, forces orphans into adulthood: Claire Keeton; Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2000; PORT SHEPSTONE, South Africa, Nov 28 (AFP) - On her 18th birthday this month Nomfanelo Simamane had little to celebrate: orphaned at 11, she looks after one-year-old twins and a five-year old boy whose mother died of AIDS last year.
Japan-health-HIV: Sperm from HIV-positive man to be used for in vitro fertilization: Shino Yuasa; Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2000; TOKYO, Nov 28 (AFP) - Japanese doctors are to carry out an in vitro fertilization (IVF) using sperm taken from an HIV-positive man in a revolutionary technique that reduces the risk of infecting the wife and unborn baby to almost zero.
Vietnam-AIDS: More than 27,000 HIV cases in Vietnam, nearly 2,400 dead: Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2000; HANOI, Nov 28 (AFP) - There were 27,290 HIV cases in Vietnam and 2,371 people have died of AIDS, the latest official figures published Tuesday showed.
Russia-AIDS: Russia failing to tackle AIDS "catastrophe": expert: Agence France-Presse - November 27, 2000; MOSCOW, Nov 27 (AFP) - Russia is failing to tackle its AIDS "catastrophe," devoting woefully inadequate resources to combatting the HIV virus, now spreading at a faster rate than in Africa, a top Russian expert warned Monday.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. African doctors to demand government action on AIDS babies: Agence France-Presse - November 27, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 27 (AFP) - South African doctors will demand on Friday -- World AIDS Day -- that the government supply drugs to women to prevent transmission of HIV to newborn infants, they announced Monday.
Iran-AIDS: 10,000 Iranians believed to be infected with HIV: official: Agence France-Presse - November 27, 2000; TEHRAN, Nov 27 (AFP) - Some 10,000 Iranians are believed to be infected with the deadly HIV virus which causes AIDS, an official from the health ministry said Monday, cited by the official IRNA news agency.
Italy-AIDS: Italian hospitals accused of violating anonymous AIDS test provision: Agence France-Presse - November 27, 2000; ROME, Nov 27 (AFP) - An Italian AIDS expert criticized health centers Monday for breaching legal provisions which stipulate that free AIDS tests including those for non-residents must be anonymous.
Iran-AIDS-tattoo: Iran bans tattoos in bid to slow spread of HIV: Agence France-Presse - November 26, 2000; TEHRAN, Nov 26 (AFP) - Iran's health ministry has banned tattooing in a bid to control the "time bomb" of the deadly HIV virus which causes AIDS, the official IRNA news agency reported Sunday.
Pakistan-drugs-AIDS: Drug abuse lights AIDS fuse in Pakistan: Stephen Coates; Agence France-Presse - November 26, 2000; KARACHI, Nov 26 (AFP) - AIDS is set to explode in Pakistan as long as the authorities do nothing to address demand for cheap heroin streaming across the border from Afghanistan, health workers say.
Bangladesh-health-condom: Condoms unpopular in overpopulated Bangladesh: survey: Agence France-Presse - November 25, 2000; DHAKA, Nov 25 (AFP) - Condoms are unpopular in overpopulated and predominantly Muslim Bangladesh, a survey published here Saturday said.
US-health-AIDS: Respites from HIV drugs may help immune system: report: Agence France-Presse - November 24, 2000; WASHINGTON, Nov 24 (AFP) - Regular respites from HIV drugs may help the immune system control the virus on its own, at least in monkeys, according to a new study published Friday.
Vatican-AIDS: AIDS in the clergy: Catholic priest lifts veil on 'ultimate taboo': Agence France-Presse - November 24, 2000; ROME, Nov 24 (AFP) - AIDS has claimed the lives of a number of Catholic priests in Italy, most of them heterosexuals, a Catholic abbot said in an interview, shedding rare light on what the news magazine Panorama called the "ultimate taboo" inside the Catholic Church.
WHO-AIDS-figures: 5.3 million people became infected with HIV in 2000, estimates WHO: Agence France-Presse - November 24, 2000; GENEVA, Nov 24 (AFP) - Some 5.3 million people became infected with HIV in 2000 bringing to 36.1 million the number of people estimated to have HIV or AIDS worldwide by the end of this year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNAIDS.
Britain-royal-Charles: Prince Charles pays tribute to Diana's work: Agence France-Presse - November 23, 2000; LONDON, Nov 23 (AFP) - Prince Charles paid tribute to his late wife Diana, Princess of Wales, when he visited an AIDS charity Thursday.
SAfrica-child-sex: Child sex trafficking rising in S. Africa as poverty spreads: survey: Emsie Ferreira; Agence France-Presse - November 22, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 22 (AFP) - Child sex trafficking is on the rise in South Africa, driven by deepening poverty that sometimes sees a family force a child into prostitution as its only source of income, a report released Wednesday states.
Africa-AIDS: Africa needs two to 10 billion dollars a year to fight AIDS: UN: Guebray Berhane; Agence France-Presse - November 22, 2000; ADDIS ABABA, Nov 22 (AFP) - With more than 23 million people in sub-Saharan Africa infected with HIV, the continent needs annual grants of between two and 10 billion dollars to fight the spread of AIDS, according to a UN study.
Vatican-family: Vatican sees family crisis as cause of society's ills: Agence France-Presse - November 21, 2000; VATICAN CITY, Nov 21 (AFP) - The Vatican on Tuesday identified the breakup of the traditional family as the root cause of most of the ills affecting modern society including pedophilia, prostitution and AIDS.
Zambia-AIDS: Zambia needs 300 to 500 million dollars to fight HIV/AIDS: Chiluba: Agence France-Presse - November 21, 2000; LUSAKA, Nov 21 (AFP) - Zambia needs 300 to 500 million dollars during the next three years to fight HIV and AIDS, President Frederick Chiluba said Tuesday.
Lithuania-AIDS: Prevention keep Lithuania AIDS rate lowest in central Europe: official: Agence France-Presse - November 21, 2000; VILNIUS, Nov 21 (AFP) - Due to early prevention programs Lithuania has been able to keep its rate of HIV infections the lowest in central Europe at 6.8 per 100,000 population, Lithuania's AIDS center said Tuesday.
US-health-HIV: T cell's internal proteins help HIV virus spread to other cells: Agence France-Presse - November 21, 2000; WASHINGTON, Nov 21 (AFP) - A group of proteins which clean the T cells -- a type of white blood cell -- may also help the HIV virus to spread, according to a study published Tuesday.
World-childsex: World doing little to save children from sexual exploitation: report: Agence France-Presse - November 20, 2000; BANGKOK, Nov 20 (AFP) - Child sex exploitation has been allowed to flourish around the world as national governments fail to act on their commitments to stamp out the practice, a report said Tuesday.
Euro-Vatican: Dutch MPs protest Vatican international voting rights over AIDS: Agence France-Presse - November 18, 2000; THE HAGUE, Nov 18 (AFP) - A group of Dutch politicians launched a campaign on Saturday against the Vatican City being represented as a state in the UN because it can block vital decisions on women's rights and AIDS.
India-AIDS-people: Hollywod star Susan Sarandon slams India's anti-AIDS drive: Agence France-Presse - November 17, 2000; BOMBAY, India, Nov 17 (AFP) - Hollywood star Susan Sarandon slammed India on Friday for not doing enough to tackle the spread of AIDS among the country's one billion people.
Romania-poll: Romanians against gays, Jews, gypsies: poll: Agence France-Presse - November 17, 2000; BUCHAREST, Nov 17 (AFP) - Nine out of 10 Romanians do not want to live next door to gays, according to a poll published Friday which said they also have little time for Jews, gypsies and AIDS victims.
Russia-AIDS: Russia sitting on AIDS time-bomb: Olga Nedbayeva; Agence France-Presse - November 16, 2000; MOSCOW, Nov 16 (AFP) - Russia is sitting on an AIDS time-bomb with the number of people carrying the HIV virus which causes the disease likely to spiral out of control unless urgent action is taken, a top UN official said Thursday.
IberoAm-summit: Latin leaders to crank up pressure on US to end embargo on Cuba: Jacques Lanusse-Cazale; Agence France-Presse - November 16, 2000; PANAMA CITY, Nov 16 (AFP) - Heads of state and government from Spain, Portugal and their former colonies in the Americas due at a summit meeting here will publicly press the United States to end its almost 40-year-old economic embargo clamped on Cuba, a diplomatic source said Thursday.
Vietnam-US-facts: Vietnam factfile: Agence France-Presse - November 16, 2000; HANOI, Nov 16 (AFP) - US President Bill Clinton was due in Vietnam late Thursday, on the first visit by a US head of state since the Vietnam War.
Panama-LatAm-summit: Panama prepares to host Ibero-American summit: Jacques Lanusse-Cazale; Agence France-Presse - November 16, 2000; PANAMA CITY, Nov 16 (AFP) - Twenty-three heads of state or of government from across Latin America will gather here Friday and Saturday for the tenth Ibero-American summit, hosted by Panama's President Mireya Moscoso.
AIDS-Africa-Carter: Carter urges Africans to take initiative on AIDS: Agence France-Presse - November 16, 2000; PARIS, Nov 16 (AFP) - African leaders must take the initiative in the fight against AIDS or the disease will destroy national economies and wipe out whole cultures on the continent, former US president Jimmy Carter warned Thursday.
Myanmar-AIDS: Myanmar facing AIDS catastrophe unless junta's attitude changes: experts: Sarah Stewart; Agence France-Presse - November 16, 2000; YANGON, Nov 16 (AFP) - Myanmar's AIDS crisis, fanned by cheap heroin and a booming sex trade, will spin out of control unless the military regime swallows its pride and admits it has a problem, health experts say.
US-AIDS: AIDS researchers find genetic double-edged sword: Agence France-Presse - November 15, 2000; WASHINGTON, Nov 15 (AFP) - Researchers have found a small variation in the immune system gene RANTES can be a double-edged sword in the fight against AIDS by causing people to become infected more easily but slowing the progression once infected, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal AIDS.
Russia-AIDS: Russia has world's fastest-growing spread of AIDS: Agence France-Presse - November 15, 2000; MOSCOW, Nov 15 (AFP) - Russia has the world's fastest-growing number of new carriers of the HIV virus that leads to AIDS, with 70,000 cases now officially registered, the head of a UN programme in Moscow said Wednesday.
Russia-drugs: Russian police break up drug-trafficking ring in western Siberia: Agence France-Presse - November 15, 2000; MOSCOW, Nov 15 (AFP) - Russian police arrested four people suspected of trafficking drugs from Tajikistan into the western Siberian city of Yekaterinburg, the ITAR-TASS news agency reported Wednesday.
Malawi-Kosovo-police: Malawi sends 19 cops to Kosovo after compulsory AIDS test: Agence France-Presse - November 14, 2000; BLANTYRE, Nov 14 (AFP) - Malawi will send 19 police officers to join the UN peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, after they underwent rigorous selection tests that included screening for HIV, a police spokesman said Tuesday.
SthnAfrica-film: Southern African film market opens in South Africa: Agence France-Presse - November 13, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Nov 13 (AFP) - Millions of rands (dollars) worth of films will be commissioned at the four-day Southern African International Film and Television Market which started near Cape Town on Monday, officials said.
Britain-royal-Bangladesh: Princess Anne to visit Bangladesh, Nepal: Agence France-Presse - November 13, 2000; LONDON, Nov 13 (AFP) - Britain's Princess Anne will meet some survivors of so-called "acid" attacks and girls rescued from the sex trade during a visit next week to Bangladesh and Nepal, her office said.
India-WBank: World Bank chief Wolfensohn hints at aid increase for India: Agence France-Presse - November 13, 2000; NEW DELHI, Nov 13 (AFP) - World Bank chief James Wolfensohn Monday said he was open to applications for increasing loans and assistance to India, already the largest aid recipient of the Washington-based body.
UN-condoms: UN thanks Britain and Netherlands in condom crisis: Agence France-Presse - November 10, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Nov 10 (AFP) - The UN Population Fund, leading provider of contraceptives to developing countries, thanked the Netherlands and Britain on Friday for giving 76 million dollars to avert a condom crisis.
US-health-AIDS: Kaposi's sarcoma may be transmitted by kissing between men: Agence France-Presse - November 8, 2000; WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (AFP) - Kaposi's sarcoma, a condition often seen in male AIDS sufferers, may be transmitted by kissing between men, according to a study to be published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
SAfrica-Mbeki-business: S. African business to post newspaper adverts backing Mbeki on Zimbabwe: Agence France-Presse - November 8, 2000; PRETORIA, Nov 8 (AFP) - South African companies, including mining giant Anglo-American Corporation, will place advertisements in local and British newspapers to voice their support for President Thabo Mbeki's policy on Zimbabwe, a government spokesman said Wednesday.
Namibia-DRCongo-budget: DRCongo war forces increase in Namibia's budget: Agence France-Presse - November 8, 2000; WINDHOEK, Nov 8 (AFP) - The Namibian parliament was Wednesday asked to approve a supplementary budget of 566 million Namibian dollars (74 million dollars) of which more than half will go towards defence, notably towards keeping Namibian troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
ASEAN-AIDS: ASEAN seeks to thrash out joint AIDS strategy amid fears of epidemic: Steve Kirby; Agence France-Presse - November 8, 2000; HANOI, Nov 8 (AFP) - Experts from around southeast Asia opened a four-day meeting here Wednesday to thrash out a joint strategy for controlling the spread of AIDS amid warnings the region remains vulnerable to a serious explosion of HIV infection.
India-AIDS: "Sex ministry" essential to combat AIDS: Indian sexologist: Agence France-Presse - November 8, 2000; NEW DELHI, Nov 8 (AFP) - An eminent Indian sexologist, Prakash Kothari, has said a "sex ministry" may be the only way to tackle the alarming increase in sex-related health problems in India, particularly AIDS.
Brazil-LatAm-AIDS: Poverty, religious teachings factor into rise of AIDS in Latin America: Agence France-Presse - November 7, 2000; RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 7 (AFP) - Poverty, religious teachings and sexual taboos have helped render AIDS prevention efforts insufficient in Latin America and the Caribbean, where some 1.6 million people suffer from the AIDS virus.
China-AIDS: Chinese lawyers urge rethink on AIDS law to protect patients: Agence France-Presse - November 7, 2000; SHANGHAI, Nov 7 (AFP) - Lawyers are urging China to rethink its legal protection of AIDS patients after a landmark court case brought by a woman who was humiliated after being wrongly diagnosed, state media said Tuesday.
Botswana-AIDS: Botswana president says at least half natural deaths due to AIDS: Agence France-Presse - November 6, 2000; GABORONE, Nov 6 (AFP) - President Festus Mogae on Monday said that at least half of the people who die natural deaths in Botswana do so from AIDS-related diseases.
China-sex-health: China struggles to cope with explosion of sex diseases: Agence France-Presse - November 6, 2000; BEIJING, Nov 6 (AFP) - Millions of Chinese are infected with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) every year but the health system has neither the training nor the facilities to cope, state media reported on Monday.
India-Bank: World Bank chief to make 10-day India visit: Agence France-Presse - November 5, 2000; NEW DELHI, Nov 5 (AFP) - World Bank president James Wolfensohn will start a 10-day visit to India from Monday to review the institution's projects and efforts to eradicate poverty, a statement said Sunday.
SAfrica-politics: Thousands attend funeral of S. African presidential spokesman: Agence France-Presse - November 4, 2000; EAST LONDON, South Africa, Nov 4 (AFP) - Several thousand people, many sporting colorful T-shirts of the African National Congress (ANC), attended the funeral Saturday of South African presidential spokesman Parks Mankahlana, who died October 26.
Russia-health: WHO tells Russia to sort out its state health system: Agence France-Presse - November 3, 2000; MOSCOW, Nov 3 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) called on top-level Russian officials on Friday to reform the country's crisis-ridden state health system, saying that urgent action was essential.
ASEAN-AIDS: ASEAN to thrash out joint AIDS strategy at Vietnam meeting: Agence France-Presse - November 3, 2000; HANOI, Nov 3 (AFP) - Experts from around Southeast Asia are to hold a four-day meeting here next week to agree measures to boost regional cooperation in controlling the mounting AIDS epidemic, the official VNA news agency said Friday.
Asia-AIDS: IV drug use fuelling Southeast Asia's HIV-AIDS epidemic: World Bank: Joshua Kurlantzick; Agence France-Presse - November 3, 2000; BANGKOK, Nov 3 (AFP) - Intravenous drug use is on the rise in Southeast Asia, helping fuel an explosion in the region's HIV-AIDS epidemic, according to a World Bank study released Friday.
SAfrica-press-government: ANC slams S. African media for saying Mbeki spokesman had AIDS: Agence France-Presse - November 2, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 2 (AFP) - The African National Congress on Wednesday launched a bitter attack on the press for writing that President Thabo Mbeki's late spokesman had died of AIDS.
Indonesia-Germany: Germany extends 18 million dlrs to Indonesia in loans and grants: Agence France-Presse - November 2, 2000; JAKARTA, Nov 2 (AFP) - Germany on Thursday pledged 45 million deutschmarks (18.2 million dollars) in grants and low interest loans to cash-strapped Indonesia for AIDS prevention, family planning and railway repair programs.
Vietnam-US: Clinton visit to turn page on Vietnam War: ambassador: Steve Kirby; Agence France-Presse - November 1, 2000; HANOI, Nov 1 (AFP) - US President Bill Clinton's landmark visit to Vietnam later this month will finally lay to rest the ghosts of the Vietnam War and turn a new page in relations between the former foes, the US ambassador said Wednesday.
Asia-sex: World's oldest profession to push for rights at Bangkok conference: Agence France-Presse - November 1, 2000; BANGKOK, Nov 1 (AFP) - Sex workers from across Asia will gather in Bangkok this month to fight for better working conditions and discuss efforts to legalise their trade, activists said Wednesday.

October

SAfrica-morality: South Africa needs moral renewal: deputy president: Bronwen Roberts; Agence France-Presse - October 31, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Oct 31 (AFP) - Deputy President Jacob Zuma called Tuesday for a campaign to revive morality in South Africa, blaming high levels of crime and corruption on apartheid.
Russia-AIDS-prisons: Moscow says prisoners with AIDS should not be kept apart: Agence France-Presse - October 31, 2000; MOSCOW, Oct 31 (AFP) - Russia's justice ministry said Tuesday that it was seeking to scrap regulations setting up separate jails for some 2,600 prisoners with AIDS.
Cambodia-condoms: Police to be armed with condoms for Cambodian water festival: Agence France-Presse - October 31, 2000; PHNOM PENH, Oct 31 (AFP) - Police in the Cambodian capital will arm themselves with more than 50,000 condoms to hand out to revellers during the upcoming annual water festival in an effort to help curb the AIDS epidemic.
Zambia-COMESA: Civil wars likely to hamper trade integration in Africa: analysts: Dickson Jere; Agence France-Presse - October 30, 2000; LUSAKA, Oct 30 (AFP) - More than 10 African states are to launch the continent's first Free Trade Area (FTA) on Tuesday but analysts say the long-awaited venture is doomed to failure by the wars plaguing the region.
SAfrica-economy: South Africa promises lower taxes but cuts growth forecast: Agence France-Presse - October 30, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Oct 30 (AFP) - Finance Minister Trevor Manuel promised lower taxes Monday but cut South Africa's growth forecast and increased estimates of inflation as he presented a mid-term budget adjustment.
Malaysia-AIDS: 99 percent of Malaysian AIDS patients can't afford treatment: report: Agence France-Presse - October 29, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (AFP) - The Malaysian AIDS Council has urged the government to support treatment for AIDS patients as 99 percent of the country's 34,000 victims could not afford to pay, a report said Sunday.
Ethiopia-AIDS: Ethiopia must fight AIDS: president: Agence France-Presse - October 28, 2000; ADDIS ABABA, Oct 28 (AFP) - Ethiopian President Negasso Gidada has reiterated his call for a general mobilisation against AIDS in his country, official media said Saturday.
India-AIDS: Body of AIDS suicide lies in Indian hospital for 45 days: Agence France-Presse - October 27, 2000; CALCUTTA, Oct 27 (AFP) - The body of an AIDS sufferer who committed suicide has been lying in the morgue of a hospital in eastern India for 45 days because undertakers refuse to take it for cremation, doctors said Friday.
Vietnam-health: Almost 25,000 HIV-positive people in Vietnam: Agence France-Presse - October 27, 2000; HANOI, Oct 27 (AFP) - The official number of people who are HIV-positive in Vietnam was 24,473 at the end of September, according to a survey published on Friday by the national committee against AIDS.
Health-AIDS: Pioneers of HIV, Gallo and Montagnier, hope for vaccine in seven years: Agence France-Presse - October 26, 2000; OVIEDO, Spain, Oct 26 (AFP) - A vaccination against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, could be found in about seven years, the two scientists who discovered HIV said in Oviedo on Thursday.
SAfrica-government: S. Africa's presidential spokesman dies after long illness: Agence France-Presse - October 26, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 26 (AFP) - South Africa's chief presidential spokesman Parks Mankahlana died Thursday after a long illness, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) said.
Tanzania-vote-Mkapa: Tanzania's Mkapa: from "errand boy" to president: Agence France-Presse - October 25, 2000; DAR ES SALAAM, Oct 25 (AFP) - President Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, a seasoned journalist, diplomat and politician, is a socialist at heart whose espousal of the free market has won him accolades from the world's big money lenders.
SAfrica-labour-AIDS: S. African unions to press foreign firms to cut AIDS drug prices: Agence France-Presse - October 25, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 25 (AFP) - South Africa's 1.8-million-member trade union federation COSATU Wednesday said it would lobby international pharmaceutical companies to cut the price of anti-AIDS drugs and also push government to use legal mechanisms to import the medicines more cheaply.
SAfrica-Mbeki-AIDS: Mbeki still in AIDS debate: Agence France-Presse - October 25, 2000; PRETORIA, Oct 25 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki, who questions the link between HIV and AIDS, declared Wednesday that he was still in the debate.
UN-Population: Stressing women's rights, Annan names Saudi woman to lead UN Population Fund: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - October 25, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Oct 25 (AFP) - Emphasising women's reproductive rights and the need to combat HIV/AIDs, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Wednesday promoted a Saudi woman, Thoraya Obaid, to head the UN Population Fund.
UN-AIDS: AIDS experts urge use of anti-retrovirals in child-AIDS fight: Agence France-Presse - October 25, 2000; GENEVA, Oct 25 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) called for the general use of anti-retroviral drugs in the fight to stop AIDS being passed from mothers to their children, after saying Wednesday that results from drug trials had shown no unwanted effects.
Syria-France-health: Syria bans meat imports from France over West Nile fever: Agence France-Presse - October 25, 2000; DAMASCUS, Oct 25 (AFP) - Syria has banned the importation of meat, meat products, fish and fowl from France following an outbreak of West Nile fever there, an agriculture ministry official said Wednesday.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. Africa launches AIDS programme based on link with HIV: Emsie Ferreira; Agence France-Presse - October 24, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 24 (AFP) - The South African government on Tuesday launched back-to-basics guidelines on preventing and treating AIDS that acknowledges that the disease is caused by HIV.
SAfrica-welfare: S. Africa hosts international social welfare conference: Agence France-Presse - October 24, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Oct 24 (AFP) - South Africa's Welfare Minister Zola Skweyiya urged 700 delegates at an international social welfare conference here Tuesday to respond urgently to the plight of the world's poor.
UN-celebrities: Annan says UN goodwill ambassadors counteract cynicism: Agence France-Presse - October 23, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Oct 23 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Monday encouraged some 50 celebrities gathered here to continue donating their time and energy to UN campaigns.
SAfrica-AIDS: South African politicians row on AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - October 23, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 23 (AFP) - South Africa's ruling party accused the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) Monday of providing "dangerous and toxic drugs" to black AIDS victims.
SAfrica-vote-AIDS: S. Africa opposition promises free AIDS drugs in wards it wins: Agence France-Presse - October 22, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 22 (AFP) - South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance on Sunday kicked off its campaign for December local elections with a promise to provide free anti-AIDS drugs in wards its members win.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. African activist hands over illegal AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - October 20, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Oct 20 (AFP) - A South African AIDS activist agreed Friday to surrender to the government 3,000 pills that he imported illegally from Thailand to treat AIDS-related infections.
AIDS-UN-award: Four AIDS activists win UN humanitarian prize: Agence France-Presse - October 20, 2000; GENEVA, Oct 20 (AFP) - Four AIDS activists, including a Polish priest and a Malawi woman among the first in her country to disclose she is HIV-positive, were awarded a UN humanitarian prize Friday.
Kenya-Britain-AIDS: Kenyan, British scientists try to end quarrel over AIDS vaccine: Agence France-Presse - October 20, 2000; NAIROBI, Oct 20 (AFP) - Kenyan and British scientists were meeting here Friday in a bid to resolve wrangles which erupted after the Britons omitted the names of their African colleagues on a patent related to an HIV vaccine.
SAfrica-Mbeki: Mbeki's support 'slipping' in S. Africa: survey: Agence France-Presse - October 20, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 20 (AFP) - Support for President Thabo Mbeki is slipping, an independent monitoring group said late Thursday, releasing a survey which found that only half of South Africans approved of his work.
Australia-youth: Refugees from international atrocities gather for youth conference: Peter Allport; Agence France-Presse - October 20, 2000; SYDNEY, Oct 20 (AFP) - They include former child labourers from the sub-continent, victims of warlords and the poppy crop, and targets of brutal bullies in military uniform.
US-AIDS-monkeys: New vaccine controls development of AIDS in monkeys: Agence France-Presse - October 19, 2000; WASHINGTON, Oct 19 (AFP) - A new vaccine, made from DNA, combined with immune-boosting proteins, controlled the AIDS virus in early tests, keeping the virus to undetectable levels in infected monkeys, according to a report in the journal Science published Friday.
Uganda-Ebola: Swift action brings lower death rate in Uganda Ebola outbreak: Anna Borzello; Agence France-Presse - October 19, 2000; KAMPALA, Oct 19 (AFP) - Swift action to fight the Ebola outbreak in Uganda has resulted in a much lower mortality rate than earlier cases of the deadly virus, and raised hopes of a speedy drop-off in infections, health experts said Thursday.
SAfrica-AIDS-drugs: S. African government condemns illegal import of cheap AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - October 19, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 19 (AFP) - South Africa's health minister has criticized AIDS activists here for illegally importing low-cost drugs to treat AIDS-related infections.
Nigeria-Gabon-rights: Nigerian detained in Gabon dies: relatives: Agence France-Presse - October 17, 2000; LAGOS, Oct 17 (AFP) - A Nigerian man detained since February in Gabon on suspicion of attemped fraud against a minister has died in his police cell, his brother told AFP on Tuesday.
SAfrica-prisons-AIDS: AIDS-linked deaths in S. African prisons soar: Agence France-Presse - October 17, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 17 (AFP) - AIDS-related deaths in South Africa's prisons increased by about 300 percent from 1995 to 1999, and are expected to continue to soar, an official with a prisons monitoring group said Tuesday.
SKorea-health-AIDS: South Korea deports foreigners with AIDS: Agence France-Presse - October 17, 2000; SEOUL, Oct 17 (AFP) - South Korea has deported 117 foreigners infected with AIDS since 1985, according to an opposition deputy who called Tuesday for the practice to stop.
WBank-IMF-Cameroon: Cameroon wins World Bank, IMF backing for two billion dollars in debt relief: Agence France-Presse - October 16, 2000; WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (AFP) - The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund on Monday said they would back a debt relief package for the west African state of Cameroon worth a total of two billion dollars.
Nigeria-sex: For the poor and the powerless, sex is "just another" trade: Peter Cunliffe-Jones; Agence France-Presse - October 16, 2000; LAGOS, Oct 16 (AFP) - Standing waiting for customers by the bar in the 'Why Not?' cafe in Lagos's upmarket Victoria Island district, Stella is in working clothes: red high heels, black leather mini-skirt and tawdry low-cut top.
SAfrica-AIDS-Mbeki: S. Africa's Mbeki withdraws from HIV/AIDS debate: report: Agence France-Presse - October 15, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 15 (AFP) - President Thabo Mbeki has withdrawn himself from the public debate on the causes of AIDS after admitting that he has created confusion in South Africa, a report said Sunday.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. African AIDS workers battling myths and ignorance: Bryan Pearson; Agence France-Presse - October 13, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 13 (AFP) - While confusion over AIDS spreads in South Africa where the government disputes the causal link between HIV and the disease, health workers say they already have their hands full trying to counteract ignorance and myths about the pandemic.
Russia-AIDS: Russian anti-AIDS campaign urges masturbation and telephone sex: Agence France-Presse - October 11, 2000; MOSCOW, Oct 11 (AFP) - Russian health experts recommended "virginity, masturbation and telephone sex" in newspaper adverts Wednesday as they announced a massive increase in cases of the HIV virus that leads to AIDS.
Zambia-AIDS: Zambia rejects 3.8 billion dollar anti-AIDS loan: Agence France-Presse - October 11, 2000; LUSAKA, Oct 11 (AFP) - The Zambian government has rejected a 3.8 billion dollar loan offer from World Bank to Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries to fight HIV, state media reported Wednesday.
Indonesia-WHO: WHO director general to visit Indonesia: Agence France-Presse - October 11, 2000; JAKARTA, Oct 11 (AFP) - The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) will pay a two-day visit to Indonesia starting Thursday, the WHO announced in press release Wednesday.
SAfrica-AIDS-drugs: Minister says South Africa cannot afford to treat HIV/AIDS: Agence France-Presse - October 10, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Oct 10 (AFP) - South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said during a fiery debate in parliament Tuesday that government will not provide HIV carriers with anti-retrovirals as it "simply cannot afford" the drugs.
WHO-health-TB: Public-private sector alliance launched to fight TB: Agence France-Presse - October 10, 2000; BANGKOK, Oct 10 (AFP) - A global alliance of public and private sector organizations announced Tuesday a major joint initiative to fight tuberculosis (TB), one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases.
WHO-research: Many countries under-investing in health research: conference: Agence France-Presse - October 10, 2000; BANGKOK, Oct 10 (AFP) - Many developing countries still fail to recognise the value of health research as a tool for development, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday.
SAfrica-AIDS: Mbeki sanctioning effective 'genocide of babies', doctor says: Bryan Pearson; Agence France-Presse - October 10, 2000; PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Oct 10 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki's refusal to provide anti-retroviral drugs to pregnant women is tantamount to sanctioning genocide of babies, an exasperated public health doctor claimed this week.
SAfrica-AIDS: South Africans using more condoms, deputy president says: Agence France-Presse - October 9, 2000; WELKOM, South Africa, Oct 9 (AFP) - South Africans are using some 75 percent more condoms this year than last, an indication HIV/AIDS awareness programmes are working, Deputy President Jacob Zuma said Monday.
Taiwan-Liberia: Taiwan plans to give Liberia millions of condoms to curb AIDS: Agence France-Presse - October 8, 2000; TAIPEI, Oct 9 (AFP) - Taiwan is planning to give Liberia up to six million condoms as part of a World Health Organisation (WHO) bid to curb the spreading of AIDS in the African state, an official said Monday.
SAfrica-AIDS: Mbeki has access to AIDS drugs he denies to others: report: Agence France-Presse - October 8, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 8 (AFP) - President Thabo Mbeki and members of the South African parliament have access to AIDS drugs which the government denies to rape victims and poor people infected with HIV, according to a report here Sunday.
SAfrica-AIDS: Racial biases 'hampering research on HIV/AIDS in S. Africa': Agence France-Presse - October 6, 2000; PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Oct 6 (AFP) - Racial biases and divisions within South Africa's research community are hampering the country's battle against AIDS, speakers at a conference examining the demographic impact of the disease said Friday.
SAfrica-AIDS-Mbeki: CIA, drug groups promoting theory that HIV causes AIDS: Mbeki: Agence France-Presse - October 6, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 6 (AFP) - South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki has accused the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of being part of a conspiracy to promote the view that HIV causes AIDS, it was reported Friday.
China-AIDS: China seeks tough legal measures to halt AIDS: Agence France-Presse - October 6, 2000; BEIJING, Oct 6 (AFP) - China unveiled plans Friday to adopt tough legal measures to curb a surging AIDS epidemic amid continuing debate on whether to hand out free condoms to people at risk.
WHO-MSF: UN health body hits back at criticism of campaign against killer diseases: Agence France-Presse - October 5, 2000; GENEVA, Oct 5 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) hit back Thursday at criticism from the medical charity Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) about its campaign to tackle tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS.
Uganda-AIDS: More than 800,000 Ugandans have died of AIDS: Agence France-Presse - October 5, 2000; KAMPALA, Oct 5 (AFP) - Some 838,000 Ugandans have died of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) since it was first diagnosed in a southwestern Ugandan district in 1982, the health ministry said here Thursday.
Russia-military-AIDS: Sharp rise in number of HIV-positive Russian troops: report: Agence France-Presse - October 5, 2000; MOSCOW, Oct 5 (AFP) - The number of Russian troops infected with the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, rose sharply in the first half of 2000, with 260 new cases being reported, the daily Kommersant newspaper said Thursday.
SAfrica-AIDS-campaign: S. Africa launches campaign to clear up confusion on AIDS: Emsie Ferreira; Agence France-Presse - October 5, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Oct 5 (AFP) - The South African government will launch a massive advertising campaign Friday to make sure people do not stop using condoms because of confusion -- acknowledged by President Thabo Mbeki -- over whether HIV causes AIDS, a government spokesman said Thursday.
SAfrica-AIDS-vaccine: S. Africa, US, to start human trials of new AIDS vaccine in February: Agence France-Presse - October 4, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Oct 4 (AFP) - The first human trials of a new AIDS vaccine which targets the strain most prevalent in southern Africa will start in South Africa and the United States in February, South Africa's Medical Research Council announced Wednesday.
SAfrica-AIDS-ANC: S. Africa's ruling ANC backs Mbeki's criticised AIDS stance: Agence France-Presse - October 4, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 4 (AFP) - South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) has backed President Thabo Mbeki's controversial stance on AIDS, in which he asserts that the disease may have causes apart from a single virus.
Thailand-sex-education: Thai university offers first master degree in sex studies: report: Agence France-Presse - October 4, 2000; BANGKOK, Oct 4 (AFP) - Thailand's most prestigious university is to offer the country's first masters degree in sexual science in the hope of alleviating social problems, a report said Wednesday.
SAfrica-AIDS-Mbeki: AIDS activists want Mbeki to retract drug conspiracy claim: Agence France-Presse - October 3, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Oct 3 (AFP) - South African AIDS pressure group TAC is determined to make President Thabo Mbeki retract claims he apparently made that the group is in the pay of US drug companies, an official said Tuesday.
SAfrica-AIDS-Mbeki: S. African doctors say Mbeki 'wrong' on AIDS: Agence France-Presse - October 2, 2000; PRETORIA, Oct 2 (AFP) - South African doctors told President Thabo Mbeki Monday that he was "wrong" to question whether HIV causes AIDS.
Thailand-suicide: Suicide rate in Thailand rising: government: Agence France-Presse - October 2, 2000; BANGKOK, Oct 2 (AFP) - Domestic pressures, financial despair and AIDS are driving more Thais to commit suicide than ever before, a senior health official said Monday.

September

Africa-labour-AIDS: African trade unions commit to fight against AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 29, 2000; GABORONE, Sept 29 (AFP) - The fight against AIDS is the continent's top labour priority, African trade unions meeting in Gaborone said Friday, committing themselves to a programme to tackle the pandemic.
Tanzania-US-grant: US to grant Tanzania 18.5 million dollars in development aid: Agence France-Presse - September 29, 2000; DAR ES SALAAM, Sept 29 (AFP) - The United States is to provide Tanzania with four grants totalling 18.5 million dollars to finance projects in the country, following an agreement signed here on Friday, the US embassy said.
China-sex: Nine in 10 Chinese too shy to teach their children about sex: Agence France-Presse - September 29, 2000; BEIJING, Sept 29 (AFP) - Nine out of 10 Chinese feel too embarrassed to teach their children about sex and instead adopt a "let-it-be" attitude towards the issue, state media reported on Friday.
UNDP-recruit: Dot.com world a recruiting field for UNDP, administrator says: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - September 28, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Sept 28 (AFP) - The UN Development Programme should recruit from the world of dot.com as it switches focus from project aid to global knowledge networking, UNDP Administrator Mark Malloch Brown said.
EU-health: EU encouraging local prevention, treatment of communicable diseases: Agence France-Presse - September 28, 2000; BRUSSELS, Sept 28 (AFP) - The European Union Thursday said it wanted to encourage the prevention and treatment of such communicable diseases as AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in hard-hit third world countries.
Britain-politics-Mandela: Mandela gets rapturous reception from Britain's Labour: Agence France-Presse - September 28, 2000; BRIGHTON, England, Sept 28 (AFP) - Former South African president Nelson Mandela was given a rapturous reception Thursday when he arrived on stage at the British ruling Labour party's annual conference.
SAfrica-AIDS-Mandela: Mandela censures Mbeki, says HIV causes AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 28, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Sept 28 (AFP) - Former South African president Nelson Mandela has broken ranks with his increasingly isolated successor, Thabo Mbeki, declaring in an interview published Thursday that he believes HIV to be the cause of AIDS.
SAfrica-AIDS-job: Court orders airline to employ HIV-positive man as cabin attendant: Agence France-Presse - September 28, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 28 (AFP) - South Africa's Constitutional Court ordered South African Airways on Thursday to offer an HIV-positive man a job as a cabin attendant with immediate effect.
Money-reforms: IMF, World Bank take concrete reform steps: Agence France-Presse - September 28, 2000; PRAGUE, Sept 28 (AFP) - The IMF and the World Bank took concrete steps toward internal reforms, as sought by their member states, at their annual meeting which ended here Thursday.
Russia-AIDS: HIV-positive drug addict slits throat in court: Agence France-Presse - September 28, 2000; MOSCOW, Sept 28 (AFP) - An HIV-positive drug addict slit his throat with a razor during a court hearing in the Russian town of Chelyabinsk and lay bleeding for 15 minutes before anyone dared help him, the Kommersant newspaper reported Thursday.
Caricom-Japan: Japanese, Caribbean officials discuss increased cooperation: Agence France-Presse - September 27, 2000; MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Sept 27 (AFP) - Japanese and Caribbean officials laid the groundwork for increased cooperation between them at a meeting here Wednesday, including possible increased aid.
US-AIDS: Call for reinforcement of prevention against HIV/AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 27, 2000; WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (AFP) - New strategies to prevent the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) should be adopted in the United States as "the number of new infections remains unacceptably high," according to a report published Wednesday by the US National Academies of Sciences.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigerian commits suicide after testing positive to AIDS virus: Agence France-Presse - September 27, 2000; LAGOS, Sept 27 (AFP) - A middle-aged man drowned himself in a fish pond in Nigeria's southwest Osun state after testing positive for the AIDS virus, the Nigerian Tribune reported on Wednesday.
Nigeria-Gabon-rights: Rights group worried over fate of Nigerians detained in Gabon: Agence France-Presse - September 26, 2000; LAGOS, Sept 26 (AFP) - A Nigerian human rights group on Tuesday said it was alarmed by the continued silence of Gabonese and Nigerian authorities on the fate of five Nigerians detained in Gabon.
Estonia-AIDS: Number of HIV carriers doubles in Estonia: Agence France-Presse - September 26, 2000; TALLINN, Sept 26 (AFP) - The spread of the HIV virus which causes AIDS is picking up pace in Estonia, with the number of infected people doubling since the beginning of the year to 118, health officials said Tuesday.
EU-health: EU to step up fight against contagious diseases: Agence France-Presse - September 26, 2000; BRUSSELS, Sept 26 (AFP) - The European Commission, seeking to upgrade the fight against AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in poor countries, will hold a roundtable here Thursday to coordinate action with its partners around the world.
Money-Summers: US calls for grant assistance to poor countries: Agence France-Presse - September 26, 2000; PRAGUE, Sept 26 (AFP) - The United States on Tuesday called for a new World Bank facility that would make non-reimbursable grants available to poor countries that could be used to fight HIV/AIDS.
Egypt-Bulgaria: Bulgarian PM discusses Libyan AIDS trial with Egypt's president: Agence France-Presse - September 26, 2000; CAIRO, Sept 26 (AFP) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov and President Hosni Mubarak held talks here Tuesday on the trial in Libya of six Bulgarians accused of deliberately infecting nearly 400 children with AIDS.
SthnAfrica-AIDS-Church: Anglican bishops to take AIDS tests: Agence France-Presse - September 25, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 25 (AFP) - All Anglican bishops in Southern Africa have agreed to undergo HIV/AIDS tests and will encourage other clergy and leaders in their congregations to follow suit.
US-AIDS: New treatment stops replication of the virus: Agence France-Presse - September 25, 2000; WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (AFP) - Laboratory tests have succeeded in blocking reproduction of the virus that causes AIDS, a key step in finding a cure for the deadly disease, reseachers said in a study published in Tuesday's edition of the journal Biochemistry of the American Chemical Society.
Money-WBank: World Bank policymakers urge stepped up AIDS fight: Agence France-Presse - September 25, 2000; PRAGUE, Sept 25 (AFP) - Finance ministers responsible for World Bank policy on Monday called for further Bank efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and backed a requirement that poor countries seeking debt relief draft anti-poverty plans.
Canada-CentrAm-Caricom: Canadian PM to attend Central American, Caribbean summits: Agence France-Presse - September 25, 2000; OTTAWA, Sept 25 (AFP) - Prime Minister Jean Chretien will fly to Guatemala and Jamaica later this week for summit meetings with Central American and Caribbean regional leaders, officials in his office said Monday.
SAfrica-AIDS-cure: Grave robbers dig up bones of S. African white to cure AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 24, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 24 (AFP) - Grave robbers in South Africa have dug up the bones of a former deputy minister of the apartheid regime to create a powerful "cure" for AIDS, the Sunday Times reported.
SAfrica-AIDS: ANC leader unequivocally says HIV causes AIDS amid controversy: Agence France-Presse - September 24, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 24 (AFP) - A top member of South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) has declared the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causes AIDS, the daily The Sowetan reported Sunday amid a political row.
Zimbabwe-land-orphans: Fears mount for Zimbabwe's AIDS orphans as land reform progresses: Griffin Shea; Agence France-Presse - September 23, 2000; MAZOWE, Zimbabwe, Sept 23 (AFP) - The image is picture-perfect when the children gather outside for an assembly at their rural hilltop school north of Harare, with singing, dancing and story-telling on a crisp spring morning.
Health-AIDS-malaria: Malaria risk linked to AIDS infection: Agence France-Presse - September 21, 2000; PARIS, Sept 21 (AFP) - People with HIV may be twice as likely to catch malaria compared to people who do not have the AIDS virus, according to the first research to confirm a link between the two diseases.
SAfrica-Mandela-AIDS: Mandela despairs at Africa's AIDS problem, calls on all to act: Emsie Ferreira; Agence France-Presse - September 21, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Sept 21 (AFP) - Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first post-apartheid president, warned Thursday that AIDS was threatening all of Africa, but kept aloof from criticism of his successor, Thabo Mbeki, the current head of state, who questions the link between HIV and AIDS.
SAfrica-labour: COSATU threatens strike in S. Africa if labour laws changed: Bronwen Roberts; Agence France-Presse - September 21, 2000; MIDRAND, South Africa, Sept 21 (AFP) - The powerful Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) ended a four-day congress Thursday with a threat to launch a general strike if the government goes ahead with key changes to labour laws.
Jordan-health: Jordan launches prevention campaign against West Nile, Rift Valley fevers: Agence France-Presse - September 21, 2000; AMMAN, Sept 21 (AFP) - Jordanian Interior Minister Awad Khleifat on Thursday announced the launch of a prevention campaign against any outbreak of West Nile and Rift Valley fevers, which struck neighbouring Israel and Saudi Arabia respectively.
SAfrica-health-AIDS: Mbeki increasingly isolated on AIDS: Hugh Nevill; Agence France-Presse - September 21, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 21 (AFP) - Growing numbers of South Africans -- even political allies -- are contesting President Thabo Mbeki's controversial stance on AIDS.
SAfrica-labour-AIDS: S. African labour formally challenges government's AIDS stance: Agence France-Presse - September 21, 2000; MIDRAND, South Africa, Sept 21 (AFP) - South Africa's largest labour body federation formally challenged the government's stance on HIV/AIDS Thursday, urging it to end speculation on the cause of AIDS and provide medication to HIV-postive women and rape victims.
SAfrica-AIDS-Mbeki: HIV "cannot cause a syndrome": Mbeki: Agence France-Presse - September 20, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Sept 20 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki stuck to his guns on AIDS on Wednesday, telling parliament that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) could not cause a syndrome and so could not on its own cause AIDS.
Israel-disease: Israel declares West Nile fever an epidemic: Agence France-Presse - September 20, 2000; JERUSALEM, Sept 20 (AFP) - Israel declared Wednesday the West Nile fever mosquito-borne disease which has so far claimed the lived of 13 Israelis a rare epidemic, Israeli public radio said.
UN-population: Gender discrimination has steep financial cost: UN report: Agence France-Presse - September 20, 2000; PARIS, Sept 20 (AFP) - Discrimination against women and girls not only harms individuals, it cripples economic growth, the United Nations said in its annual report on the state of world population published Wednesday.
SAfrica-AIDS-rights: Rights body considering suing S.African government over AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 20, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Sept 20 (AFP) - The South African Human Rights Commission is considering suing the government to force it to provide HIV and AIDS victims with anti-retroviral drugs, commission chairman Barney Pityana said Wednesday.
SAfrica-health-AIDS: Anglican Church in S. Africa rates inaction on AIDS with apartheid: Agence France-Presse - September 20, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 20 (AFP) - The Anglican Church in South Africa has weighed into a huge AIDS controversy here, saying history will rank lack of action by the government as a crime against humanity on the same scale as apartheid.
SAfrica-AIDS-communist: S. Africa's Communists accept HIV causes AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 19, 2000; MIDRAND, South Africa, Sept 19 (AFP) - The South African Communist Party (SACP) joined its ally COSATU Tuesday in stating that it accepted that HIV causes AIDS, a stance the third alliance partner, the ruling ANC, has not endorsed.
SAfrica-AIDS: S.African activists demand minister say HIV causes AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 19, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Sept 19 (AFP) - A group of HIV and AIDS sufferers Tuesday doorstepped South African Health Minister Manto-Tshabalala-Msimang at parliament, demanding that she publicly say that HIV causes the deadly disease.
Money-AIDS: IMF cites enormous impact of AIDS in Africa: Agence France-Presse - September 19, 2000; PRAGUE, Sept 19 (AFP) - The IMF on Tuesday warned that while HIV/AIDS was likely to have a devastating impact on southern Africa, there was likewise evidence that government action can reduce the incidence of new infections.
US-vote-Gore: Gore to unveil medical privacy plan: Olivier Knox; Agence France-Presse - September 19, 2000; BEVERLY HILLS, California, Sept 19 (AFP) - Democratic White House hopeful Al Gore unveiled plans Tuesday aimed at ensuring that medical records remain confidential and are not made public or improperly used to deny jobs or promotions.
SAfrica-labour: S. African labour leader slams allies in government: Bronwen Roberts; Agence France-Presse - September 18, 2000; MIDRAND, South Africa, Sept 18 (AFP) - South Africa's largest labour movement on Monday harshly criticised the economic and labour policies of its allies in government and said Pretoria's AIDS policies were "tantamount to condemning HIV/AIDS victims to early deaths."
SAfrica-health-AIDS: S. African minister calls for "Marshall plan" to fight AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 17, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 17 (AFP) - South African Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya is calling for a "Marshall plan" to save six million South Africans from dying of AIDS over the next 10 years, the Sunday Independent newspaper reported.
Bulgaria-Libya: Libyan trial of Bulgarians postponed: Agence France-Presse - September 17, 2000; SOFIA, Sept 17 (AFP) - The trial of six Bulgarians who face the death penalty if found guilty of deliberately infecting nearly 400 Libyan children with AIDS has been postponed again, Bulgarian television reported Sunday.
SAfrica-AIDS-military: 17 percent of South African soldiers HIV-positive: minister: Agence France-Presse - September 15, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Sept 18 (AFP) - Some 17 percent of South African soldiers are HIV-positive, Defence Minister Mosiua Lekota said Monday.
Congo-health-AIDS: Women in Congo to take AIDS campaign to the people: Agence France-Presse - September 15, 2000; BRAZZAVILLE, Sept 15 (AFP) - Women in Congo are to be trained to take the AIDS campaign to the people, in a programme sponsored by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and a Brazzaville organisation.
Asia-childsex: UN reports slam Asia's neglect of sexually abused, exploited children: Agence France-Presse - September 15, 2000; BANGKOK, Sept 15 (AFP) - Asian nations are severely neglecting the mental health of sexually abused and exploited children, two UN reports released here Friday revealed.
US-debt-Clinton: Clinton favors broadening of debt relief initiative: Agence France-Presse - September 14, 2000; WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (AFP) - US President Bill Clinton on Thursday called for broadening and simplifying the debt relief initiative established by the IMF a year ago for the most indebted nations.
SAfrica-AIDS-government: S. African government denies Mbeki doubts HIV, AIDS link: Agence France-Presse - September 14, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 14 (AFP) - President Thabo Mbeki has "never" denied a link between HIV and AIDS, the South African government said Thursday.
SAfrica-AIDS-ANC: South Africa's ANC committee calls on Mbeki to admit HIV causes AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 14, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Sept 14 (AFP) - Members of South African President Thabo Mbeki's ruling party are urging him to drop his controversial stance that HIV is not the only cause of AIDS, a newspaper reported Thursday.
Health-virus-apes: Great apes are potential virus threat for Man: Agence France-Presse - September 13, 2000; PARIS, Sept 13 (AFP) - The great apes of Central Africa may be a reservoir for herpes viruses that could leap the species barrier and infect humans, French scientists fear.
SAfrica-AIDS-demo: Women demonstrate against Mbeki's AIDS policy: Agence France-Presse - September 13, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Sept 13 (AFP) - Two hundred chanting activists Wednesday demonstrated against President Thabo Mbeki's AIDS policy at government offices in Cape Town, demanding anti-AIDS drugs for HIV-positive pregnant women.
SAfrica-Mbeki-AIDS: Mbeki stands firm on controversial AIDS view: Agence France-Presse - September 13, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Sept 13 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki on Wednesday stood firm on his controversial view on AIDS.
Ethiopia-Kenya-health: World Bank lends Ethiopia, Kenya 110m dollars to fight AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 13, 2000; ADDIS ABABA, Sept 13 (AFP) - The World Bank has approved loans totalling almost 110 million dollars to Ethiopia and Kenya towards the battle against AIDS and the spread of the disease, the bank's office stated here Wednesday.
Canada-children-war: Graca Machel calls for renewed urgency to protect war children: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - September 13, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Sept 13 (AFP) - A report by leading campaigner Graca Machel called Wednesday for "a new sense of urgency" to protect children in war zones.
US-Japan-AIDS: US, Japan to join forces in fighting AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 2000; WASHINGTON, Sept 12 (AFP) - The United States and Japan pledged Tuesday to combine their resources in fighting the AIDS epidemic and other infectious diseases.
UN-AIDS-women: Women foreign ministers appeal for greater action to combat AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Sept 12 (AFP) - Thirteen of the world's women foreign ministers on Tuesday appealed to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to continue and enhance international efforts to combat HIV/AIDS.
SAfrica-politics-media: S. Africa's ANC accepts apology in AIDS row: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 12 (AFP) - A furious row over a South African radio talk show host who told Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang she was talking "rubbish" about AIDS subsided Tuesday as the ruling African National Congress (ANC) accepted an apology from the station's owner as final.
SAfrica-education-health: S. Africa to intensify sex education to counter AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Sept 12 (AFP) - South Africa is to intensify sex education in schools to counter the HIV-AIDS pandemic, Education Minister Kader Asmal told journalists at a parliamentary briefing Tuesday.
SAfrica-politics: S. Africa's ruling alliance agree to tackle economic differences: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 12 (AFP) - South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) and its coalition partners have reaffirmed their alliance and agreed on structures to tackle differences, mainly about the economy, they said Tuesday.
SAfrica-politics-media: S. African radio apologises to minister for 'rude' AIDS interview: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 12 (AFP) - Owners of South Africa's 702 Talk Radio have apologised to Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang after a show host said she was talking "rubbish" about AIDS, but the host is unrepentant, reports said Tuesday.
India-AIDS: AIDS scare among troops in India's troubled northeast: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 2000; GUWAHATI, India, Sept 12 (AFP) - Army, police, and paramilitary officials Tuesday warned of a growing AIDS threat among troops stationed in Indias troubled northeast.
Thailand-sex: Condom maker targets online Thai teens: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 2000; BANGKOK, Sept 12 (AFP) - A condom-maker is targeting Thai teenagers with sex advice in cyberspace, a report said Tuesday.
Cameroon-health: World Bank and UN teams in Cameroon over AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 11, 2000; YAOUNDE, Sept 11 (AFP) - A joint delegation from the World Bank and UNAIDS arrived Monday in Cameroon to help the government draw up its strategy for fighting the spread of AIDS in the west African country, officials said.
Turkey-AIDS: Turk who passed AIDS virus to wife sentenced to 27 months in jail: Agence France-Presse - September 11, 2000; ANKARA, Sept 11 (AFP) - A Turkish man who allegedly hid his HIV-positive condition from his wife and infected her with the deadly virus was sentenced Monday to 27 months in jail, Anatolia news agency reported.
Kuwait-AIDS: Five Kuwaiti policemen behind bars for refusing to detain AIDS patient: Agence France-Presse - September 11, 2000; KUWAIT CITY, Sept 11 (AFP) - Kuwaiti authorities have ordered five policemen behind bars for refusing to detain a runaway AIDS patient, a newspaper reported on Monday.
AIDS-Britain: Scientists mull theory on polio vaccine as cause of AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 11, 2000; LONDON, Sept 11 (AFP) - Scientists were meeting Monday in London to discuss the controversial theory that the AIDS virus may have come from a contaminated polio vaccine given to children in central Africa in the 1950s.
Asia-childsex: Asia has dismal mental health services for sexually abused kids: UN: Agence France-Presse - September 11, 2000; BANGKOK, Sept 11 (AFP) - Asian nations provide grossly inadequate health and pyschological services for sexually abused and exploited children, two UN studies released here said Monday.
Nigeria-Gabon-rights: Investigation into AIDS-virus injection threat: Agence France-Presse - September 11, 2000; LAGOS, Sept 11 (AFP) - Authorities in Gabon and Nigeria are investigating claims that police in Gabon have threatened to inject five detained Nigerians with the virus that leads to AIDS, officials said Monday.
SAfrica-AIDS-Mbeki: Mbeki reiterates doubt over HIV and AIDS link in Time interview: Agence France-Presse - September 10, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 10 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki stoked the contoversy over AIDS again Sunday, when his government released an interview he gave the US magazine Time in which he reiterates that he believes HIV is not the only cause of the disease.
SriLanka-gays: Sri Lanka gays mark five years of protest in drag: Amal Jayasinghe; Agence France-Presse - September 9, 2000; COLOMBO, Sept 9 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's hidden gay community paraded in a fashion show and danced till dawn Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the founding of the country's leading gay rights group.
UN-summit-adopt: UN summit adopts Millennium Declaration: Agence France-Presse - September 8, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Sept 8 (AFP) - The largest gathering of world leaders in history on Friday adopted the UN Millennium Declaration, which contains pledges to fight global warming and AIDS as well as traditional evils of poverty and war.
SAfrica-politics-AIDS: S. African union federation slaps government on AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 8, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 8 (AFP) - The powerful Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is urging the government to end its "scientific speculation" about the cause of AIDS and concentrate on providing affordable treatment.
UN-summit: Largest meeting of world leaders to end with pledge on modernising the UN: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - September 8, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Sept 7 (AFP) - The largest gathering of world leaders in history is due to end Friday with a commitment to modernise the 55-year-old United Nations to fight new scourges of global warming and AIDS, as well as the traditional ills of poverty and war.
Malaysia-AIDS: Malaysian in million-dollar suit after wife given HIV-tainted blood: Agence France-Presse - September 8, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (AFP) - A Malaysian who says his wife died of AIDS after being given an HIV-tainted blood transfusion is suing health authorities for 30 million ringgit (7.89 million dollars), reports said Friday.
Zimbabwe-AIDS-ministers: Mugabe says three Zimbabwean cabinet ministers died of AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 7, 2000; HARARE, Sept 7 (AFP) -Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has said at least three of his cabinet ministers and several traditional leaders have died from AIDS in recent years, The Herald newspaper said Thursday.
SAfrica-politics-media: Furious row after talk-show host insults S. African minister over AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 7, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 7 (AFP) - South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) is calling for the head of a radio talk-show host who told Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang to leave his show because what she was saying about AIDS was "rubbish".
Thailand-Myanmar-sex: Thailand's sex industry importing Myanmar virgins: report: Agence France-Presse - September 6, 2000; BANGKOK, Sept 6 (AFP) - Thailand's sex industry has begun importing Burmese and ethnic minority virgins from Myanmar to serve foreign customers in Thai cities, a report said Wednesday.
UN-summit-Annan: Annan says halving global poverty is achievable aim: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - September 5, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Sept 5 (AFP) - The ambitious aims of the UN Millennium Summit, including halving the level of global poverty by 2015, can be met with modern technology, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Tuesday.
SouthernAfrica-AIDS: WFP opens talks on boosting nutrition to fight AIDS in southern Africa: Agence France-Presse - September 5, 2000; MAPUTO, Sept 5 (AFP) - The UN World Food Program was meeting Tuesday with leaders of five southern African nations to find ways of boosting nutrition of people suffering from AIDS.
SAfrica-AIDS: 20 percent of S. Africa's nurses HIV-positive, conference hears: Agence France-Presse - September 5, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 5 (AFP) - South African health workers have been so badly affected by the HIV epidemic that some 35,000, or 20 percent, of the country's nurses are carrying the virus, press reports said Tuesday.
India-health-AIDS: India's billion plus population vulnerable to AIDS threat: WHO: Agence France-Presse - September 5, 2000; NEW DELHI, Sept 5 (AFP) - India's billion-strong population is increasingly at risk from the spread of AIDS amid steady growth in the base number of HIV cases, the director general of World Health Organisation (WHO) said Tuesday.
UN-summit: More than 150 world leaders gather in New York to reshape United Nations: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - September 5, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Sept 5 (AFP) - More than 150 heads of state and government are due in New York on Tuesday to approve a declaration committing them to a stronger United Nations in the 21st century.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. Africa in hot water over AIDS again: Agence France-Presse - September 4, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Sept 4 (AFP) - The South African government is in hot water once again over AIDS -- this time for circulating a chapter of a book which claims international conspirators introduced the killer disease to Africa in a bid to reduce its population.
Sweden-SAfrica: South Africa, Sweden sign cooperation agreement: Agence France-Presse - September 4, 2000; STOCKHOLM, Sept 4 (AFP) - South Africa and Sweden signed an agreement Monday launching a bilateral commission to promote social, economic and political cooperation, the leaders of the two countries announced.
SAfrica-children: S. Africa's rampant child abuse aired at international meeting: Agence France-Presse - September 4, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, Sept 4 (AFP) - Children under the age of two are contracting HIV after sexual abuse in South Africa, where 40,000 cases of child abuse have been reported in the past year, delegates told an international conference Monday.
SriLanka-gays: Sri Lanka gays mark five years with 'visible' ball: Amal Jayasinghe; Agence France-Presse - September 4, 2000; COLOMBO, Sept 4 (AFP) - Homosexuality is illegal in conservative Sri Lanka where offenders can be jailed for 12 years, but the country's most active gay group is set to mark its fifth anniversary with a ball.

August

Britain-Aids-vaccine: British MP becomes guinea pig for AIDS vaccine: Agence France-Presse - August 31, 2000; LONDON, Aug 31 (AFP) - A British member of parliament on Thursday became the first human guinea pig for a vaccine against the deadly AIDS virus which scientists hope could eventually save millions of lives.
UN-summit-theme: World leaders to discuss UN's role in 21st century: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - August 31, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Aug 31 (AFP) - More than 150 world leaders are expected next week to consider adapting the 55-year-old United Nations to fight new scourges of global warming and AIDS, as well as the traditional ills of poverty and war.
Malaysia-AIDS: Minister defends proposed HIV tests for Muslim bridegrooms: Agence France-Presse - August 30, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 (AFP) - A Malaysian minister has defended a proposal for compulsory HIV tests for Muslim men planing to marry, saying women have a right to know whether their future husbands are infected.
US-health-AIDS: AIDS virus used B-cells to spread: study: Agence France-Presse - August 29, 2000; WASHINGTON, 29 Aug (AFP) - The AIDS virus known for its ability to destroy T-cells of the human immune system also can attach itself to B-cells in blood and thus spread throughout the body, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Uganda-AIDS-conference: Controversial AIDS conference opens in Uganda: Agence France-Presse - August 29, 2000; NKOZI, Uganda, Aug 29 (AFP) - A controversial African AIDS conference opened in Uganda Tuesday, attended by a group of scientists who question the orthodox view that AIDS is caused by the HIV virus.
US-Ghana: Ghana turns to female condom to combat spread of HIV virus: Agence France-Presse - August 28, 2000; CHICAGO, Aug 28 (AFP) - The Ghanaian government has ordered half a million female condoms to help combat the spread of the HIV virus, the Female Health Company said Monday.
Uganda-AIDS-conference: Uganda, organisers agree on theme of controversial AIDS conference: Agence France-Presse - August 28, 2000; NKOZI, Uganda, Aug 28 (AFP) - The Ugandan government has reached an agreement with organisers of a controversial AIDS conference to modify its theme and objectives before it could be held, organisers said here Monday.
US-AIDS-drugs: Drug intake interruption can boost body's responses to AIDS: study: Agence France-Presse - August 28, 2000; WASHINGTON, Aug 28 (AFP) - Drug intake interruptions can boost the body's response to the HIV virus in chronically infected patients, a new US study showed.
UN-religious: Two weeks of UN summitry to test New York's patience: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - August 28, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Aug 28 (AFP) - One thousand spiritual leaders gathered here on Monday to kick off two weeks of international summitry expected to test the patience of what may be the world's least patient city.
Malaysia-AIDS: AIDS council criticises proposal for compulsory pre-marriage tests: Agence France-Presse - August 28, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 (AFP) - The Malaysian AIDS Council Monday criticised a proposal to introduce pre-nuptial HIV tests for Muslim men in one state to check the spread of infection.
China-health: China trying to curb thriving market in second-hand syringes: Agence France-Presse - August 28, 2000; BEIJING, Aug 28 (AFP) - China has launched a campaign to curb a thriving illegal market in re-used disposable syringes, state media reported on Monday.
Nigeria-US-reax: Nigerians in the street voice hope, scepticism over Clinton visit: Ola Awoniyi; Agence France-Presse - August 28, 2000; ABUJA, Aug 28 (AFP) - Ordinary Nigerians on Sunday expressed a mixture of admiration, hope and scepticism over US President Bill Clinton's "eye-opening" visit to their country this weekend.
Nigeria-US-AIDS: Clinton announces 20 million dollars to fight disease in Nigeria: Agence France-Presse - August 27, 2000; ABUJA, Aug 27 (AFP) - US President Bill Clinton on Sunday pledged a tripling of US assistance to Nigeria's fight against AIDS, which affects some 2.6 million Nigerians.
Nepal-AIDS: AIDS kills 12 in Nepalese tourist area: Agence France-Presse - August 27, 2000; KATHMANDU, Aug 27 (AFP) - At least 12 people in the Nepalese tourist hub of Pokhara and nearby districts have died of AIDS in the past year, Manipal Teaching Hospital (MTH) said Sunday.
Malaysia-health: Malaysian state mulls pre-nuptial HIV tests for Muslim grooms: Agence France-Presse - August 27, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (AFP) - A Malaysian state is considering obliging Muslim men to undergo HIV blood tests before marriage to check the spread of HIV infection, reports said Sunday.
Nepal-Asia-health: Asian countries to cooperate with private sector on health: Agence France-Presse - August 26, 2000; KATHMANDU, Aug 26 (AFP) - Health Ministers from 10 Asian countries have agreed to cooperate with the private sector to eliminate HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, state radio said Saturday.
UN-Ethiopia: UN seeks 30 million dollars for Ethiopian refugees: Agence France-Presse - August 25, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Aug 25 (AFP) - The United Nations has appealed for a total of 30.4 million dollars to feed, house and protect people displaced in Ethiopia by the war with Eritrea, said a UN spokesman Friday.
Russia-AIDS: Siberian patient gets AIDS-infected kidney transplant: Agence France-Presse - August 25, 2000; MOSCOW, Aug 25 (AFP) - Surgeons in the Siberian city of Yekaterinburg hastily transplanted a kidney from an HIV-positive donor to a healthy patient, without waiting for the kidney's analysis results, health ministry official told Russian television Friday.
Mozambique-SAfrica: Mozambique and South Africa review cooperation: Agence France-Presse - August 24, 2000; MAPUTO, Aug 24 (AFP) - Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano and his South African counterpart Thabo Mbeki met for nearly three hours late Thursday to review general cooperation between the two neighbouring states, an official said.
Yemen-health-AIDS: Yemen counted 45 new AIDS cases in first half of year: Agence France-Presse - August 23, 2000; SANAA, Aug 23 (AFP) - Yemeni authorities said Wednesday that 45 new cases of AIDS were detected here in the first six months of the year.
Mozambique-SAID-AIDS: Museveni urges African nations to fight AIDS with radio: Agence France-Presse - August 23, 2000; MAPUTO, Aug 23 (AFP) - African nations should use educational programmes and radio broadcasts to combat the AIDS pandemic which is devastating the region, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni told an economic conference here.
Nepal-AIDS: AIDS deaths double in Nepal-India border district: Agence France-Presse - August 23, 2000; KATHMANDU, Aug 23 (AFP) - Nearly 10 percent of Nepal's AIDS-related deaths have occured in the border district of Morang, according to health officials.
Nepal-meeting: South East Asian health ministers ready to tackle regions' ills: Agence France-Presse - August 23, 2000; KATHMANDU, Aug 23 (AFP) - Health ministers of 10 South East Asian countries gathered in Nepal Wednesday to set the agenda for upgrading the region's health service, state-run Radio Nepal said.
Asia-childsex: Child sex tourism in Asia rising sharply: Joshua Kurlantzick; Agence France-Presse - August 22, 2000; BANGKOK, Aug 22 (AFP) - The number of Asian children falling prey to sex tourists has soared as a combination of poverty and a failure to act by developed nations has allowed the trade to flourish, a conference heard Tuesday.
Thailand-Universe-people: Miss Universe in Thailand for charity tour: Agence France-Presse - August 22, 2000; BANGKOK, Aug 22 (AFP) - Miss Universe 2000, India's Lara Dutta, arrived in Thailand Tuesday for a week-long charity program to raise awareness on HIV-AIDS and other health issues.
SAfrica-orphans: South Africa looking at housing subsidies for AIDS orphans: Agence France-Presse - August 22, 2000; PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Aug 22 (AFP) - The South African government is considering housing subsidies for people under 21 because the HIV-AIDS pandemic has resulted in children as young as 10 becoming heads of families, Housing Minister Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele said Tuesday.
Egypt-crime: Egyptian blood bank guard detained for swapping samples: Agence France-Presse - August 21, 2000; CAIRO, Aug 21 (AFP) - A security guard at Egypt's Central Department of Blood Banks was ordered detained for 15 days on charges he was bribed to place healthy blood samples in place of those from HIV and Hepititis C sufferers, newspapers said Monday.
US-health-AIDS: New method to fight AIDS virus is unveiled: Agence France-Presse - August 20, 2000; WASHINGTON, Aug 20 (AFP) - US scientists unveiled Sunday a new method of fighting viral replication in AIDS, which they believe could help combat the deadly disease.
Mozambique-SAID-AIDS: First ladies call for end to taboo over AIDS: Agence France-Presse - August 20, 2000; MAPUTO, Aug 20 (AFP) - The AIDS disease can only be tackled effectively if the stigma surrounding the illness is removed, the first ladies of Zimbabwe and Malaysia said Sunday at an international economic development forum.
Mozambique-SAID-open: Africa, Malaysia political, business leaders talk economic development: Agence France-Presse - August 20, 2000; MAPUTO, Aug 20 (AFP) - Political leaders from Africa and Malaysia opened three days of talks on Sunday with commerce, industry and labour chiefs aimed at thrashing out economic development plans for the crises-hit continent.
Uganda-AIDS-conference: Dissenting scientists to hold AIDS conference in Uganda: Agence France-Presse - August 19, 2000; KAMPALA, Aug 19 (AFP) - Dissident scientists who doubt that the HIV virus causes AIDS will hold an international AIDS conference in Uganda beginning August 28 to discuss alternative views on the origins of the pandemic, conference organisers said Sunday.
Mozambique-Malaysia: Malaysia's PM arrives in Mozambique for meeting: Agence France-Presse - August 19, 2000; MAPUTO, Aug 19 (AFP) - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad arrived in Mozambique Saturday for an annual forum of African nations.
US-AIDS: Clinton sets up AIDS fund for hardest-hit countries: Agence France-Presse - August 19, 2000; LAKE PLACID, New York, Aug 19 (AFP) - US President Bill Clinton signed a bill Saturday setting up an international fund to fight AIDS in the most vulnerable countries, warning the disease poses a security threat as well as a health emergency.
Kuwait-health: Kuwait deports 552 expatriates with serious diseases: Agence France-Presse - August 19, 2000; KUWAIT CITY, Aug 19 (AFP) - Kuwait deported 552 expatriates in the first seven months of this year who after finding that they were suffering from serious illnesses, a senior health official said on Saturday.
UN-women: Malaysia-Mahathir-SAID: Mahathir heads for Mozambique meeting: Agence France-Presse - August 19, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (AFP) - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad left Saturday for Mozambique to attend the annual forum of 14 southern African nations, Bernama news agency reported.
UN-women: Burundi accord spotlights gap in international protection of women: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - August 18, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Aug 18 (AFP) - The success of women in putting their stamp on an agreement to end the civil war in Burundi has drawn attention to the lack of international institutions to protect women, a UN official said.
Mozambique-SAID: Southern African economic forum looks to social issues: Evaristo Cumbane; Agence France-Presse - August 18, 2000; MAPUTO, Aug 18 (AFP) - Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano said Friday the Southern African International Dialogue (SAID) conference, set to open here next week, would be more than a business forum and would focus on social issues, particularly AIDS.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigerian parliament to hold public hearing on AIDS "vaccine" controversy: Agence France-Presse - August 18, 2000; LAGOS, Aug 18 (AFP) - The Nigerian lower house of parliament will this month conduct a public hearing to end a controversy over a claim by a Nigerian doctor to have discovered a "vaccine" against HIV, a parliamentary official said Friday.
SAfrica-AIDS: S Africa court hears case of man barred from job due to HIV: Agence France-Presse - August 18, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Aug 18 (AFP) - South Africa's Constitutional Court Friday opened a hearing here into a landmark case about an employer's right to deny a job to someone who has tested positive for HIV.
Health-AIDS-Vietnam: Vietnamese researcher claims promising results for herbal AIDS drug: Agence France-Presse - August 18, 2000; HANOI, Aug 18 (AFP) - First results from clinical trials suggest a cocktail of Vietnamese traditional remedies is effective in boosting the body's defences against AIDS, a Vietnamese researcher said Friday.
Russia-AIDS; HIV patients threaten to infect Siberian hospital staff with AIDS: Agence France-Presse - August 18, 2000; MOSCOW, Aug 18 (AFP) - Two HIV-positive patients at a hospital in south Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk on Thursday threatened to infect hospital staff and police with the deadly AIDS virus, police police told Interfax.
US-AIDS: Clinton names first US envoy on AIDS: Agence France-Presse - August 15, 2000; MONROE, Michigan, Aug 15 (AFP) - President Bill Clinton named an international AIDS policy coordinator Tuesday, the first US envoy to deal exclusively with a global health issue.
Mozambique-health: Radio helps save lives on flooded Mozambican island: Evaristo Cumbane; Agence France-Presse - August 14, 2000; JOSINA MACHEL, Mozambique, Aug 14 (AFP) - Solar-powered radios distributed free during Mozambique's devastating floods early this year are a crucial lifeline to people on this island in the mighty Limpopo River.
US-diplomacy: Albright urges presidential candidates to boost foreign policy spending: Agence France-Presse - August 13, 2000; PASADENA, California, Aug 13 (AFP) - Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Sunday urged US presidential candidates and congressional hopefuls to boost spending on non-traditional foreign policy issues, such as fighting AIDS and protecting the environment.
Africa-AIDS-Cameroon: AIDS, HIV victims in 14 African countries to set up common network: Agence France-Presse - August 13, 2000; DOUALA, Cameroon, Aug 13 (AFP) - People infected with the AIDS virus in 14 central and west African countries agreed Sunday to set up a network of "exchange and action" to help deal with their condition.
Mozambique-SAID-AIDS: AIDS tops normally economic agenda at southern Africa meeting: Agence France-Presse - August 12, 2000; MAPUTO, Aug 12 (AFP) - AIDS will for the first time top the agenda at a southern African conference that in the past has focused mainly on economic issues, organizers said Saturday.
Mozambique-AIDS: UNICEF to spend four million dollars to fight AIDS in Mozambique: Agence France-Presse - August 12, 2000; MAPUTO, Aug 12 (AFP) - The United Nations Childrens' Fund is set to spend about four million US dollars on anti-AIDS programs in Mozambique this year, a UNICEF official said.
Botswana-US-AIDS: US congressman to push for funds for AIDS education, testing in Africa: Agence France-Presse - August 11, 2000; GABORONE, Aug 11 (AFP) - US congressman Jim McDermott Friday said he would table a bill in October aimed at getting more money for AIDS education and testing in Africa, adding that the disease had not been tackled properly on the continent.
Botswana-AIDS: Botswana to introduce HIV disclosure law: Agence France-Presse - August 10, 2000; GABORONE, Aug 10 (AFP) - Botswana, the country with the worst AIDS statistics in the world, is to compel HIV carriers to disclose their status to their sex partners under a new law to be introduced by the government, Health Minister Joy Phumaphi said Thursday.
Mil-future-population: Old will outnumber young as world heads for nine billion: Bernard Besserglik; Agence France-Presse - August 10, 2000; PARIS, Aug 10 (AFP) - Having broken through the six billion threshold in the closing weeks of the 20th century, the world's population is likely to stand at around nine billion by 2050, but the figure for the end of the 21st century is anyone's guess.
Malawi-AIDS: AIDS is top killer among Malawi legislators: Agence France-Presse - August 9, 2000; BLANTYRE, Aug 9 (AFP) - AIDS was the most common cause of death for the 29 Malawian lawmakers who have died during the last five years, the speaker of parliament Sam Mpasu said Wednesday.
India-prostitution: India to come down hard on prostitution: Agence France-Presse - August 8, 2000; NEW DELHI, Aug 8 (AFP) - New Delhi will introduce "stringent laws" to curb the number of women being pushed into prostitution, a minister said Tuesday.
Health-AIDS-Thailand: Thai study finds tropical disease suppresses HIV: Joshua Kurlantzick; Agence France-Presse - August 8, 2000; BANGKOK, Aug 8 (AFP) - Researchers in Thailand have found the tropical disease scrub typhus can suppress HIV to undetectable levels, a discovery they believe could lead to the development of an inexpensive HIV-AIDS treatment.
India-AIDS: India accuses UN of inflating HIV figures: Agence France-Presse - August 7, 2000; NEW DELHI, Aug 7 (AFP) - India on Monday acknowledged some 3.5 million HIV cases among its billion-plus population but said UN and global estimates were unscientific and wide of the mark.
India-Myanmar: India acts to block wave of illegal Myanmar immigrants: Agence France-Presse - August 7, 2000; GUWAHATI, India, Aug 7 (AFP) - Indian troops have arrested more than 150 Myanmar nationals in the past week as part of a new campaign of "zero tolerance" towards illegal immigrants, senior officials said Monday.
SADC-summit-AIDS: Southern African leaders to ask for anti-AIDS "package": Hugh Nevill; Agence France-Presse - August 7, 2000; WINDHOEK, Aug 7 (AFP) - Southern African heads of state meeting in Windhoek are expected to demand that international drug makers fund a package of services along with cheaper drugs to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic killing millions of the region's most productive workers.
Zimbabwe-children: Growing number of Zimbabwe children suffer rape, incest: Isabelle Ligner; Agence France-Presse - August 5, 2000; HARARE, Aug 5 (AFP) - Nine-year-old Shemba peeps out terrified from behind a dormitory door in a Harare children's home. She is one of Zimbabwe's growing number of child rape and incest victims.
Kenya-justice: Kenyan HIV-positive woman returns to family house after suit: Agence France-Presse - August 4, 2000; NAIROBI, Aug 4 (AFP) - A Kenya woman evicted from her house by her husband because she is infected with the HIV virus has returned after an appeals court ordered the man to allow her back, the Daily Nation newspaper reported Friday.

July

Nigeria-AIDS: Nigerian ministry "not aware" of court ruling on HIV 'vaccine': Agence France-Presse - July 31, 2000; LAGOS, July 31 (AFP) - Nigerian health authorities said Monday they were "not aware" of any court ruling preventing them from stopping sales of an untested 'vaccine' against HIV/AIDS.
Iran-health: Iranian cabinet members donate blood in parliament: Agence France-Presse - July 30, 2000; TEHRAN, July 30 (AFP) - Members of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami's cabinet donated blood during a ceremony in parliament Sunday aimed at setting an example for the population, state radio reported.
ASEAN-US-AIDS: HIV/AIDS number one security threat in SE Asia: Albright: Agence France-Presse - July 28, 2000; BANGKOK, July 28 (AFP) - The increasing spread of HIV/AIDS across Southeast Asia represents the number one threat to regional security, health and development, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Friday.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigerian doctor refuses to stop selling untested HIV 'vaccine': Peter Cunliffe-Jones; Agence France-Presse - July 26, 2000; ABUJA, July 26 (AFP) - A controversial Nigerian doctor Wednesday refused to stop selling an untested treatment he claims is a vaccine against HIV, violating a ban on the treatment announced by the health minister last week.
Egypt-Ethiopia-AIDS: Egypt deports Ethiopian woman infected with HIV virus: Agence France-Presse - July 26, 2000; CAIRO, July 26 (AFP) - Egypt Wednesday deported an Ethiopian woman infected with the HIV virus who had entered the country to work as a maid for an Egyptian family, airport officials said.
Australia-AIDS: Australia launches 200 million dollars Asia-Pacific AIDS initiative: Agence France-Presse - July 26, 2000; BANGKOK, July 26 (AFP) - Australia has launched a 200 million dollar HIV-AIDS initiative designed to halt the virus's alarming growth in the Asia-Pacific region, foreign minister Alexander Downer said Wednesday.
Russia-AIDS: HIV-positive cases in Russia triple in past year to 53,000: Agence France-Presse - July 25, 2000; MOSCOW, July 25 (AFP) - The number of Russians infected by the AIDS virus increased by 305 percent during the first six months of the year compared to 1999, with 22,068 new cases, a health official said Tuesday.
Kenya-AIDS: Kenyan AIDS victim in search of HIV-positive wife: Agence France-Presse - July 25, 2000; NAIROBI, July 25 (AFP) - A man infected with the AIDS virus has caused a stir in a western Kenyan town with his spirited campaign to find an HIV-positive spouse, the official Kenya News Agency (KNA) reported Tuesday.
Ethiopia-Japan-AIDS: Japanese aid agency to fund "roving AIDS clinic" in Ethiopia: Agence France-Presse - July 24, 2000; ADDIS ABABA, July 24 (AFP) - A Japanese aid agency has pledged to fund a roving medical bus to travel round Ethiopia as part of a campaign to tackle AIDS in the country, newspapers reported here Monday.
Taiwan-AIDS: Taiwanese AIDS patients asked to sign up as debt-collectors: Agence France-Presse - July 24, 2000; TAIPEI, July 24 (AFP) - A debt-collecting company Monday offered up to six jobs to a non-profit AIDS group saying fears of the disease would pressure people into paying-up.
ASEAN-Malaysia: Malaysia seeks joint ASEAN efforts to battle AIDS: Agence France-Presse - July 24, 2000; BANGKOK, July 24 (AFP) - Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar on Monday called on Southeast Asian nations to jointly combat the AIDS plague which he said posed a serious threat to regional development.
Brazil-natives-AIDS: AIDS threatens Amazon natives: UN study: Agence France-Presse - July 23, 2000; RIO DE JANEIRO, July 23 (AFP) - The AIDS plague has reached native tribes of the Amazon and could soon reach the same epidemic proportions seen in some African regions, according to a recently completed UN-sponsored study.
Singapore-AIDS: Singapore to allow foreign spouses infected with AIDS to return: Agence France-Presse - July 23, 2000; SINGAPORE, July 23 (AFP) - Twelve foreign spouses of Singaporeans who left because they were infected with the AIDS virus would be allowed to return and be reunited with their families, a report in the Sunday Times said.
G8-communique: Group of Eight vow to fight poverty, conflict: David Brooks; Agence France-Presse - July 23, 2000; NAGO, Japan, July 23 (AFP) - Group of Eight leaders vowed to fight the root causes of poverty and conflict in a final communique released Sunday after a three-day summit in Okinawa, Japan.
G8-health: Europe to fund fight against infectious disease: Agence France-Presse - July 23, 2000; NAGO, Japan, July 23 (AFP) - European Commission president Romano Prodi said Sunday European countries will soon reveal a substantial aid package to prevent infectious diseases in poor countries.
Ethiopia-AIDS: AIDS kills nearly 50,000 people in Ethiopian capital over 16 years: Agence France-Presse - July 22, 2000; ADDIS ABABA, July 22 (AFP) - The AIDS virus has killed nearly 50,000 people in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, over the past 16 years, according to a study by the Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute.
Iran-AIDS-prisons: Iran warns of AIDS "infiltration" into prisons: Agence France-Presse - July 22, 2000; TEHRAN, July 22 (AFP) - The director of Iran's penitentary system warned Saturday of a spread of AIDS in the country's prisons and called on the government to take urgent measures to combat it.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigerian government suspends use of local AIDS 'vaccines': Agence France-Presse - July 21, 2000; LAGOS, July 21 (AFP) - Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo has ordered the immediate suspension of all locally produced vaccines and drugs claiming to prevent or cure HIV/AIDS, a newspaper reported Friday.
G8-issues: Key issues at the Group of Eight summit: Agence France-Presse - July 21, 2000; NAGO, Japan, July 21 (AFP) - Here are the top items on the table for the Group of Eight nations' leaders at a three-day meeting starting Friday in the southern Japanese island of Okinawa.
Mozambique-SADC: Mozambique calls for collective response to SADC problems: Agence France-Presse - July 20, 2000; MAPUTO, July 20 (AFP) - Mozambican Defence Minister Tobias Dhai called Thursday on his counterparts from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting in Maputo to work together to solve common security problems.
US-Africa-AIDS: US agency to help finance African purchases of US AIDS medicines: Agence France-Presse - July 19, 2000; WASHINGTON, July 19 (AFP) - The US Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) will provide guarantees worth one billion dollars a year to help sub-Saharan African countries purchase HIV/AIDS medications produced by US companies, the bank announced here Wednesday.
Russia-AIDS: Ural health chief wants legal prostitution for AIDS fight: Agence France-Presse - July 19, 2000; MOSCOW, July 19 (AFP) - A top health official in Russia's Urals region has asked local officials to legalise prostitution as a means, he says, of slowing down the high local rate of HIV infection.
G8-Nigeria: Nigeria's Obasanjo to bring Third World to G8 meeting: Ola Awoniyi; Agence France-Presse - July 19, 2000; ABUJA, July 19 (AFP) - Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo arrives in Japan early Thursday, sent by the Group of 77 developing world countries to press the world's richest nations for relief for the world's poor.
G8-Britain: Debt, conflict diamonds and GM foods top Britain's G8 agenda: Barbara Lewis; Agence France-Presse - July 19, 2000; LONDON, July 19 (AFP) - Accelerating debt relief, eliminating conflict diamonds and taking the emotion out of the genetically modified food debate are some of Britain's goals ahead of this weekend's Group of Eight summit in Japan, an official spokesman said.
G8,advancer: World leaders to haggle over AIDS, Internet, global conflict: Shino Yuasa; Agence France-Presse - July 19, 2000; NAGO, Japan, July 19 (AFP) - Some of the world's most powerful leaders gather in Japan this weekend to haggle over everything from AIDS to global conflicts and the Internet.
Mozambique-summit: Portuguese-speaking countries agree to expand cooperation: Agence France-Presse - July 18, 2000; MAPUTO, July 18 (AFP) - Four years after its creation, the seven-member Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) agreed Tuesday to expand cooperation in a bid to eradicate poverty and promote development.
Women-sex: Religion, education drive women's sex life, says French study: Julie Fraysse; Agence France-Presse - July 18, 2000; PARIS, July 18 (AFP) - The more educated a woman is, the more she will resort to contraception in her sex life, says a report commissioned by the French health ministry.
Thailand-sex: Thailand to start sex education from kindergarten level: Agence France-Presse - July 18, 2000; BANGKOK, July 18 (AFP) - Thai children will be taught sex education right from kindergarten level under a new program aimed at curbing teenage pregnancies and AIDS infections, reports said Tuesday.
UN-AIDS: UN recommends AIDS testing for UN peacekeepers: Agence France-Presse - July 17, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, July 17 (AFP) - The UN Security Council on Monday recommended voluntary AIDS testing for all UN peacekeepers.
UN-AIDS: UNAIDS says HIV testing must be voluntary for UN troops: Agence France-Presse - July 17, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, July 17 (AFP) - The head of the UNAIDS organization commended the Security Council Monday for its efforts to stem the spread of AIDS among UN troops, but insisted that screening should be voluntary.
US-Thai-boy: Judge extends US stay of HIV-positive Thai boy: Lawrence Kootnikoff; Agence France-Presse - July 17, 2000; LOS ANGELES, July 17 (AFP) - A three-year-old Thai boy who came here in the company of immigrant smugglers must remain in this country indefinitely, a federal judge has ruled.
Mozambique-summit: Mozambique becomes number one Portuguese-speaking country: Agence France-Presse - July 17, 2000; MAPUTO, July 17 (AFP) - Mozambique took over chairmanship of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) Monday at the organisation's third summit in Maputo, amid calls for increased cooperation from member states.
India-Universe-people: Miss Universe plans to campaign for womens rights in India: Agence France-Presse - July 17, 2000; BOMBAY, July 17 (AFP) - Miss Universe 2000, India's Lara Dutta, said Monday she planned to campaign for the empowerment of women in India during her one-year tenure.
Health-AIDS-cost: AIDS: who pays?: Hugh Nevill; Agence France-Presse - July 16, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 16 (AFP) - AIDS researchers meeting in Durban highlighted but did not answer the key question of whether the West has the resolve to pay the billions of dollars needed to bring the pandemic under control in developing countries.
Burundi-children: 300,000 Burundi children victims of war, AIDS, prostitution: report: Agence France-Presse - July 16, 2000; BUJUMBURA, July 16 (AFP) - The predicament of hundreds of thousands of Burundi children is "alarming" as a result of war, AIDS and prostitution, the head of the country's league for children said Sunday.
G8-worry: Seattle protests focus minds of Group of Eight leaders: Philippe Ries; Agence France-Presse - July 14, 2000; TOKYO, July 16 (AFP) - Stung by the violent protests that wrecked global trade talks last year, Group of Eight leaders will address AIDS, the environment and food safety in Tokyo this week.
Health-AIDS: Gloom, determination mark next phase in fight against AIDS: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 14, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 14 (AFP) - AIDS researchers returned to their laboratories Friday after a marathon assessment which concluded the disease is devastating Africa and could ravage Asia next, and there is still no cure or vaccine in sight.
Health-AIDS-Africa: Mandela calls for action in a continent dying of AIDS: Hugh Nevill; Agence France-Presse - July 14, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 14 (AFP) - Former South African president Nelson Mandela called for action on HIV and AIDS on "an unprecedented intensity and scale" Friday as he measured the cost of the epidemic in a devastated continent.
Health-AIDS-close: AIDS is one of greatest threats humanity has faced: Mandela: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 14, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 14 (AFP) - Former South African president Nelson Mandela called for urgent action on HIV and AIDS Friday as he closed the 13th International AIDS Conference here, describing the worldwide epidemic as "one of the greatest threats humankind has faced."
Health-AIDS-children: AIDS orphans bearing the brunt of nature's anger: Mandela: Agence France-Presse - July 14, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 14 (AFP) - Children are bearing the brunt of nature's anger as AIDS sweeps through Africa, former South African president Nelson Mandela declared Friday.
Health-AIDS-crime: Police arrest 171 during AIDS conference: Agence France-Presse - July 14, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 14 (AFP) - South African police arrested 171 people for crimes connected with the six-day 13th International AIDS conference which ended in Durban on Friday, a spokesman said.
Health-AIDS-bombscare: Bomb scare disrupts AIDS conference: Agence France-Presse - July 14, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 14 (AFP) - Police detonated a suspicious package Friday at the 13th International AIDS Conference in Durban shortly before the arrival of former South African President Nelson Mandela to close the meeting.
Health-AIDS-figures: AIDS: the breakdown by regions: Agence France-Presse - July 14, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 14 (AFP) - A total of 34.3 million people throughout the world are suffering from HIV or full-blown AIDS according to calculations by the UN agency UNAIDS.
Health-AIDS-economies: Asia facing economic "catastrophe" if AIDS picks up pace: World Bank: Hugh Nevill; Agence France-Presse - July 14, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 14 (AFP) - Asian economies will face "catastrophe of an unimaginable scale" if the AIDS pandemic picks up pace there on the scale of southern Africa, where economies are slowing to a standstill, the World Bank says.
US-budget: Enhancing debt relief, US House passes foreign aid bill: Olivier Knox; Agence France-Presse - July 13, 2000; WASHINGTON, July 13 (AFP) - The US House of Representatives passed a 13.4 billion dollar foreign aid bill Thursday after sharply hiking debt relief monies, in hopes of averting a White House veto, and increasing funds to fight the scourge of AIDS.
Health-AIDS: Grim picture emerges as AIDS conference winds up: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 13, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 13 (AFP) - The 13th International AIDS Conference was due to close here Friday after a sombre appraisal of an epidemic that is spreading more viciously than even the gloomiest estimate of the last forum, two years ago.
Ethiopia-AIDS-WBank: World Bank gives Ethiopia priority in fight against AIDS: Agence France-Presse - July 13, 2000; ADDIS ABABA, July 13 (AFP) - Ethiopia is to get priority status as part of a 500-million-dollar (534-million-euro) scheme by the World Bank to help fight the spread of AIDS, the EMA news agency cited a top official from the financial institution as saying Thursday.
Health-AIDS-declaration: Durban Declaration paves way for orthodox AIDS debate: scientists: Agence France-Presse - July 13, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 13 (AFP) - A panel of scientists from around the globe agreed Thursday that the "Durban Declaration" by 5,000 doctors and scientists had paved the way for future scientific debate on HIV and AIDS within orthodox parameters.
Health-AIDS-companies: World pharmaceutical sales worth 400 billion dollars: Agence France-Presse - July 13, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 13 (AFP) - The world's pharmaceutical industry, cast as the villain at the 13th International AIDS Conference here because of its high AIDS drug prices, takes in some 400 billion dollars a year, far more than the revenue of many developing countries.
Health-AIDS-traditional: Doctors laud traditional medicine in fighting AIDS side effects: Agence France-Presse - July 13, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 13 (AFP) - Medical doctors at the 13th International AIDS conference lauded traditional medicine Thursday as valuable and effective in curing side effects of the killer disease.
Health-AIDS-orphans: Lost generation: AIDS will orphan tens of millions of children: Bart Marinovich; Agence France-Presse - July 13, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 13 (AFP) - Tens of millions of children will be orphaned by AIDS over the next decade, creating an unprecedented humanitarian tragedy that will linger for decades, according to new estimates published Thursday.
Health-AIDS-Zimbabwe: In a Harare AIDS care centre, children offered a glimmer of hope: Kate Chambers; Agence France-Presse - July 13, 2000; HARARE, July 13 (AFP) - Propped up by pillows in a low white bungalow at an AIDS care unit south of Harare, Redson knows his two young sons and daughter will grow up without him.
Health-AIDS: Mixed hopes for AIDS vaccine by 2007 goal: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 13, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 13 (AFP) - AIDS researchers on Thursday voiced mixed hopes for meeting the goal of 2007, sketched by US President Bill Clinton, for devising an effective vaccine against the human immunodeficiency virus.
G8-poor: Developing world hails new understanding with Group of Eight: David Williams; Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2000; MIYAZAKI, Japan, July 12 (AFP) - Poor nations reached a surprise agreement with the rich Group of Eight powers Wednesday on the need to cooperate over debt relief, aid and fighting disease.
Health-AIDS-quotes: Quotes from the International AIDS Conference: Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 12 (AFP) - Quotes from the International AIDS Conference...
US-debt: Administration, Democrats blast Congressional failure on debt relief: Nathaniel Harrison; Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2000; WASHINGTON, July 12 (AFP) - The Clinton administration and key House Democrats on Wednesday blasted a refusal by the Republican-controlled Congress to authorize enough money to meet a US commitment to debt relief for the world's poorest nations.
US-AIDS-Holbrooke: AIDS is "toughest and biggest" global problem: Holbrooke: Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2000; WASHINGTON, July 12 (AFP) - AIDS is the "toughest and biggest" issue confronting US foreign policy, especially -- but not only -- in Africa, Washington's UN Ambassador Richard Holbrooke warned US senators here Wednesday.
Health-AIDS-drugs: India, Thailand, Brazil offer cheap AIDS drugs to developing world: Hugh Nevill; Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 12 (AFP) - India, Thailand and Brazil offered on Wednesday to sidestep pharmaceutical giants and make available cheap copies of branded HIV drugs to other developing countries, an AIDS activist said.
Health-AIDS-vaccine: Trials proceeding smoothly for frontrunning HIV candidate vaccine: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 12 (AFP) - Large-scale trials of a potential AIDS vaccine that has excited hopes around the world are proceeding smoothly, researchers said here Wednesday, amid disappointing news about the effectiveness of a barrier cream designed to kill HIV.
Health-AIDS-condoms: Business balloons for condom makers at World AIDS Conference: Bart Malkovich; Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 12 (AFP) - Red, yellow, pink and blue, orange and purple and white... male contraceptives of every shape, colour and flavour have invaded this city as it hosts the 13th International AIDS Conference.
Health-AIDS-healers: Traditional healers march to demand greater role in AIDS fight: Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 12 (AFP) - Some 500 traditional healers marched through the streets of Durban Wednesday to demand a greater role in fighting AIDS.
Health-AIDS-SAfrica: AIDS will turn blacks into minority in S. Africa: minister: Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 12 (AFP) - AIDS will result in blacks becoming a minority in South Africa, Welfare and Population Development Minister Zola Skweyiya warned.
Nepal-UNICEF: UNICEF report highlights spread of HIV infection in Nepal: Shusham Shrestha; Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2000; KATHMANDU, July 12 (AFP) - UNICEF's annual "Progress of Nations" report has highlighted the problem of HIV and AIDS in Nepal, an official here said.
Health-AIDS: Activists invade drug company stand at AIDS conference: Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 12 (AFP) - Activists from the French branch of Act Up invaded the stall of a major drugs manufacturer at the 13th International AIDS Conference in Durban on Wednesday, taping "Greed Kills" on the floor.
Health-AIDS: Suffer, little children: AIDS ravages young in poor countries: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 12 (AFP) - Health experts warned Wednesday that AIDS was reaping a deadly harvest among infants and children in poor countries, despite simple, cheap preventive tools that lay within reach.
Cambodia-AIDS: Cambodia publishes AIDS manual to halt "second killing fields": Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2000; PHNOM PENH, July 12 (AFP) - Cambodian education authorities have published a textbook to halt what they describe as a "second killing fields" -- the rapid spread here of the AIDS virus, reports said Wednesday.
Health-AIDS-business: World Bank president calls on businesses to fight AIDS: Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 11, (AFP) - World Bank president James Wolfensohn called Tuesday on businesses to become involved in the fight against AIDS.
Health-AIDS-condom: Re-use of female condom in African countries stirs worries: Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 11 (AFP) - Health experts on Tuesday cautioned against a growing tendency among poor African women to re-use the female condom, a device promoted as a weapon against AIDS.
Health-AIDS-SAfrica: Mbeki under fire on AIDS policies: Hugh Nevill; Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 11 (AFP) - AIDS researchers and human rights activists are pounding a defiant South African President Thabo Mbeki, with one scientist accusing him Tuesday of moving toward "criminal irresponsibility."
Health-AIDS-demo : Activists stage brief demo against WHO at AIDS conference: Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 11 (AFP) - Activists accusing the UN World Health Organisation (WHO) of "selling out" to big pharmaceutical companies manufacturing expensive AIDS drugs briefly disrupted the 13th International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa on Tuesday.
AIDS-Britain-religion: British minister says Catholic Church is a "burden" in AIDS fight: Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2000; LONDON, July 11 (AFP) - The Catholic Church is a "burden" in the fight against AIDS, Britain's Minister for Overseas Development Clare Short said Tuesday.
Health-AIDS: AIDS virus is wily foe, say researchers: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 10 (AFP) - Top scientists issued a frustrated update here Tuesday of their crusade against HIV, saying the AIDS virus had an astonishing ability to mutate and evade the finest weapons in their arsenal.
Health-AIDS-vaccine: Two oldest professions help in search for African AIDS vaccine: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 11 (AFP) - Kenyan sex workers and a British MP are helping in the campaign to provide Africa's first AIDS vaccine, which on Tuesday was given the go-ahead for early trials on volunteers.
Zimbabwe-sex: Poverty-stricken Zimbabwe women exchange sex for fish: Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2000; HARARE, July 11 (AFP) - Poverty-stricken Zimbabwe women are exchanging sex for fish in the northern town of Kariba, the independent Daily News reported Tuesday.
Thailand-health: Thai hospitals given go-ahead to switch to herbal medicines: Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2000; BANGKOK, July 11 (AFP) - Thailand has listed five herbal treatments on its national drugs register, allowing hospitals to use them in place of modern medicines for the first time, officials said Tuesday.
Health-AIDS-US-Botswana: Gates, Merck, give 100 million dollars to fight AIDS in Botswana: Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2000; SEATTLE, Washington, July 10 (AFP) - The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the transnational pharmaceutical corporation Merck on Monday announced a 100-million-dollar grant to fight AIDS in Botswana.
OAU-summit: OAU summit opens divided over Libyan call for African Union: Peter Cunliffe-Jones; Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2000; LOME, July 10 (AFP) - African leaders opened the Organisation of African Unity summit on Monday in the absence of several countries and divided over a call from Libya's Moamer Kadhafi for an African political and economic union.
Health-AIDS: Calls mount for anti-HIV drugs for pregnant women: Hugh Nevill; Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 10 (AFP) - HIV treatment for pregnant women became a dominant call on Monday at the 13th International AIDS Conference in South Africa, where 5,000 infected babies are born every month.
Health-AIDS-pets: Pets offer paws-on support for lonely HIV victims: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 10 (AFP) - Pets are a boon to people with HIV or AIDS, providing them with companionship and a means of social contact, according to a crusading Californian group taking part in the International AIDS Conference here.
Health-AIDS-India: AIDS in India worsening, NGO warns: Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 10 (AFP) - The AIDS epidemic in India is heading toward African proportions as a result of inadequate political will, the head of the non-governmental Peoples Health Organisation (India) warned Monday.
Health-AIDS-Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi calls for greater openness on AIDS: Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 10 (AFP) - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Kyi called Monday in a video message to the 13th International Conference on AIDS in Durban, South Africa, for greater openness in discussing the causes of the killer disease.
Health-AIDS-demography: Demographic effect of AIDS south of Sahara will be like Black Death: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 10 (AFP) - AIDS will soon cause the population of worst-hit African countries to fall, marking the first time a disease has triggered demographic decline since the Black Death six centuries ago, an expert said Monday.
Health-AIDS-France: France proposes AIDS treatment access conference: Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 10 (AFP) - French President Jacques Chirac proposed Monday a global conference on access to HIV and AIDS treatment, and called for exploration of the idea of allowing developing countries to manufacture the drugs themselves.
Malaysia-AIDS: Malaysian AIDS victims told to report quack doctors: Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (AFP) - Malaysian HIV and AIDS sufferers who claim to have been conned by doctors must lodge complaints before any action can be taken, Health Minister Chua Jui Meng said Monday.
Myanmar-youth: Education crisis forces Myanmar youth into sex, drugs trade: Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2000; BANGKOK, July 10 (AFP) - Myanmar is facing a crisis among its youth who, barred from the education system, have been forced to leave the country or turn to the sex and drugs trade, an activist group said Monday.
Health-AIDS-judge: HIV-infected white judge can afford to pay "for life itself": Hugh Nevill; Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 10 (AFP) - A gay, white South African judge infected with HIV declared Monday that his continued existence embodied the injustice of AIDS in Africa, "because I can afford to pay for life itself."
Health-AIDS-US: AIDS complacency rising among American homosexuals: Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 10 (AFP) - Complacency towards AIDS is rising among American homosexuals, who remain the country's most exposed group in the epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Monday.
Health-AIDS: Scientists attempt to unravel AIDS mysteries: Hugh Nevill; Agence France-Presse - July 9, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 9 (AFP) - Scientists from around the world are comparing notes on AIDS, spurred by an emotive appeal from an 11-year-old boy who was infected at birth, in a desperate effort to unravel the complex disease.
Health-AIDS-SAfrica: Mbeki sidesteps row with scientists at start of AIDS forum: Agence France-Presse - July 9, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 9 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki sought to ease a row with the world's leading AIDS researchers on Sunday as he launched a six-day conference on the fast-spreading disease.
Health-AIDS-vaccine: Experts set down fast-track plan for distributing future AIDS vaccine: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 9, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 9 (AFP) - Health experts on Sunday unveiled plans for swift, global release of a future vaccine for the AIDS virus that would break the mould of pharmaceutical pricing to help poorer countries ravaged by the disease.
Health-AIDS-MSF: MSF urges poor countries to continue to bring AIDS prices down: Agence France-Presse - July 9, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 9 (AFP) - Medecins Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders - MSF) urged poor countries ahead of the opening of the 13th international AIDS conference Sunday to use loopholes in international trade laws to force the price of AIDS drugs down.
Health-AIDS: UN appeals for 3 bln dollars to fight AIDS in Africa ahead of conference: Hugh Nevill and Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 9, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 9 (AFP) - The head of the UN agency on AIDS appealed Sunday for three billion dollars -- close to a tenfold increase -- to fight the pandemic in Africa, where the infection rate reaches as high as one in three adults.
OAU-summit-arrivals: African leaders in Togo for OAU summit: Jean-Pierre Campagne; Agence France-Presse - July 9, 2000; LOME, July 9 (AFP) - African leaders gathered Sunday in Lome ahead of the 36th Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit, which will focus on debt forgiveness, the fight against AIDS and plans for creating an African political and economic union.
Health-AIDS-rural: Out of Africa: the AIDS-ravaged countryside: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 9, 2000; NTWALUME, South Africa, July 9 (AFP) - Scenes observed in a cluster of rural villages a few hours' away from Durban, venue of the International AIDS Conference....
Health-AIDS: Focus on drug costs as AIDS conference gets under way: Hugh Nevill; Agence France-Presse - July 9, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 9 (AFP) - The world's 13th conference on AIDS was getting under way in the South African city of Durban Sunday with African governments and activists campaigning hard for lower priced drugs.
Health-AIDS-condoms: Condoms failing tests in S. Africa: Agence France-Presse - July 8, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 8 (AFP) - The South African government has run short of the condoms it distributes without cost because a number of batches have failed quality control tests, the health department said Saturday.
Health-AIDS-US: Rates of HIV infection, AIDS deaths in US no longer falling: study: Agence France-Presse - July 8, 2000; WASHINGTON, July 8 (AFP) - The rate of people dying from AIDS, or being diagnosed with the disease or the virus that causes it, has stopped falling in the United States, according to a study released Saturday.
Health-AIDS: Africa sounds alarm bell at AIDS conference: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 8, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 8 (AFP) - The curtain rises here Sunday on a world conference on AIDS which Africans hope will shake wealthy countries out of complacency as the killer disease scythes through their continent, where up to one adult in three is infected by the plague.
G7-text: Main points of G7 statement: Agence France-Presse - July 8, 2000; FUKUOKA, Japan, July 8 (AFP) - Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers meeting here Saturday declared they would crack down on money-laundering, strengthen global financial systems and promote information-technology.
Italy-gays: Gay activists hail early success in campaign against homophobia: Gunther Kern; Agence France-Presse - July 7, 2000; ROME, July 7 (AFP) - Gay and lesbian activists in Italy were counting victories Friday in their long campaign to raise awareness of discrimination and homophobia as they prepared for Rome's first World Pride 2000 parade.
China-sex: China's first teen sexual health education center opens in Beijing: Agence France-Presse - July 7, 2000; BEIJING, July 7 (AFP) - China's first teenage sexual health education center opened here Friday as part of a bold attempt to address problems young people encounter in a society that prefers to avoid the subject of sex.
Thailand-Myanmar: Thai and Myanmar open historic meeting to fight disease: Agence France-Presse - July 7, 2000; BANGKOK, July 7 (AFP) - Senior Thai and Myanmar health officials Friday opened a historic first meeting to map out measures to eradicate diseases along their common border, public health officials said.
Health-AIDS-security: South African troops protect AIDS delegates: Hugh Nevill; Agence France-Presse - July 7, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 7 (AFP) - South African troops patrolled the streets of Durban on Friday alongside armed police to protect more than 11,000 delegates gathering for a international AIDS conference in one of the world's most crime-ridden countries.
Malaysia-AIDS: Asian nations urged to battle "wildfire" spread of AIDS: Agence France-Presse - July 7, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (AFP) - An international AIDS expert on Friday urged Asian nations to mount a battle against the disease, saying HIV infections could not be allowed to spread like wildfire.
Health-AIDS-SthnAfrica: AIDS in Southern Africa: up to one in three adults infected: Hugh Nevill; Agence France-Presse - July 7, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, July 7 (AFP) - In Botswana, one out of every three adults is HIV-positive or has full-blown AIDS.
UN-US-AIDS: US proposes voluntary HIV testing for all UN peacekeepers: Agence France-Presse - July 6, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, July 6 (AFP) - The United States on Thursday proposed that member countries encourage voluntary, anonymous HIV testing for soldiers, especially those who join UN peacekeeping operations.
UN-Congo-appeal: UN appeal for international donor support for peace in Congo: Agence France-Presse - July 6, 2000; GENEVA, July 6 (AFP) - Congo's peace process is solid and represents a real chance for development, but the war ravaged country needs more help from the international community, a UN official said here Thursday.
OAU-summit: OAU summit boycotted by Angola, Namibia, to exclude Ivory Coast: Jean-Pierre Campagne; Agence France-Presse - July 6, 2000; Paris, July 6 (AFP) - AIDS, war and debt will be high on the agenda when African heads of state meet for the 36th summit of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in the Togolese capital Lome.
Health-AIDS: Frustrating news from the AIDS front: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 6, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, July 6 (AFP) - The top brains in the war against AIDS meet here from Sunday to take stock of a campaign marked by a mounting death toll and few glimmers of hope.
Health-AIDS-facts: AIDS at a glance: Agence France-Presse - July 6, 2000; PARIS, July 6 (AFP) - Facts and figures about AIDS.
Health-AIDS-Thailand: Thailand struggles to cope with HIV-AIDS as drugs remain out of reach: Agence France-Presse - July 6, 2000; BANGKOK, July 6 (AFP) - Pharmaceutical giants' landmark pledge to slash the price of AIDS drugs has come to nothing in Thailand, say health experts who are battling to treat Asia's worst HIV-AIDS epidemic.
Health-AIDS-orphans: S. Africa's thousands of AIDS orphans waste away in care centres: Bronwen Roberts; Agence France-Presse - July 6, 2000; BOKSBURG, South Africa, July 6 (AFP) - The mother of toddler Sikumbuzo died from AIDS three days after she and the boy arrived at the Saint Francis Care Centre in the South African town of Boksburg, near Johannesburg.
Health-AIDS-India: India heads for AIDS conference amid criticism from activists: Uttara Choudhury; Agence France-Presse - July 6, 2000; NEW DELHI, July 6 (AFP) - India, which accounts for 60 percent of HIV cases in Asia, heads for next week's global conference on AIDS in South Africa amid criticism of government lethargy from grassroots activists here.
Health-AIDS-march: Activists to march for cheaper AIDS drugs on opening day of conference: Agence France-Presse - July 5, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, July 5 (AFP) - Some 5,000 AIDS activists from 230 organisations will take to the streets of Durban, South Africa, on Sunday to demand cheaper drugs as the 13th International AIDS Conference opens there, a local pressure group said Wednesday.
Malawi-AIDS: Malawi president bemoans AIDS pandemic on independence anniversary: Agence France-Presse - July 5, 2000; BLANTYRE, July 5 (AFP) - Malawian President Bakili Muluzi on Wednesday bemoaned the AIDS pandemic hitting the country as he opened celebrations to mark 36 years of independence.
Health-AIDS-Africa: AIDS tearing Africa apart: Hugh Nevill; Agence France-Presse - July 5, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, July 5 (AFP) - AIDS is tearing Africa apart, and worsening -- overwhelming the extended family system as it creates millions of orphans, fills hospital beds and cemeteries and kills off millions in the prime of their lives.
Cambodia-brothel-raid: Cambodian police raid brothel offering virgins to foreigners: Agence France-Presse - July 5, 2000; PHNOM PENH, July 5 (AFP) - Cambodian police said Wednesday they had raided a brothel in the capital which had allegedly offered services to wealthy foreign men seeking sex with underage virgin girls.
AIDS-SAfrica: AIDS experts to monitor HIV testing in South Africa: Agence France-Presse - July 4, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, July 4 (AFP) - South African government AIDS advisors on Tuesday agreed to run a series of tests to pinpoint the nature of HIV in this country where it has infected a 10th of the population.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigerian army again backs claims of HIV/AIDS cure: Agence France-Presse - July 4, 2000; LAGOS, July 4 (AFP) - The Nigerian army rode to the defence Tuesday of a controversial doctor whose claims to have found a cure for HIV were rubbished last week by the nation's highest scientific body.
Health-AIDS-SAfrica: AIDS declaration fit for dustbin: Mbeki's spokesman: Agence France-Presse - July 4, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, July 4 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki will consign a declaration by 5,000 doctors and scientists on AIDS to "the dustbins" if they present it to him, his spokesman said.
SAfrica-AIDS-Mbeki: AIDS forum should not be 'Mbeki-bashing bazaar': spokesman: Agence France-Presse - July 3, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, July 3 (AFP) - President Thabo Mbeki's office has warned that an upcoming International AIDS Conference in South Africa should not become a "Mbeki-bashing bazaar" after 5,000 experts signed a petition refuting dissident theory on the disease.
Caricom-summit Caribbean summit to focus on AIDS: Paula Bustamante; Agence France-Presse - July 3, 2000; CANOUAN, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, July 3 (AFP) - The scourge of AIDS, which is rapidly rising in parts of the Caribbean, is to be a top priority at the 21st Caricom summit opening here Monday.
SAfrica-AIDS S. Africa's government defends Mbeki on AIDS criticisms: Agence France-Presse - July 2, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, July 2 (AFP) - Three South African cabinet ministers on Sunday vigorously defended President Thabo Mbeki against accusations that he disputes the link between HIV and AIDS -- as shown by his consultations with scientists who question the connection.
Thailand-health: Chinese herbs effects against HIV, cancer: Thai researchers: Agence France-Presse - July 2, 2000; BANGKOK, July 2 (AFP) - Thai researchers have found that five Chinese herbs are as effective as western drugs in slowing the progress of HIV, and two others can fight lung cancer, reports said Sunday.
AIDS-vaccine: Path to AIDS vaccine is agonisingly long: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 2, 2000; PARIS, July 2 (AFP) - The AIDS virus has been known for two decades, but the search for a vaccine to ward off this modern plague has been depressingly long and unrewarding.
US-AIDS: HIV cases rise sharply in San Francisco: report: Agence France-Presse - July 1, 2000; NEW YORK, July 1 (AFP) - Health officials in San Francisco are seeing a sharp rise in the number of gay men becoming infected with the virus that causes AIDS, the New York Times reported Saturday.

June

UN-summit-close: UN social summit focuses on inequality, debt: Kate Millar; Agence France-Presse - June 30, 2000; GENEVA, June 30 (AFP) - Delegates at a United Nations summit were due Friday to unveil how they plan to reduce social inequalities in the world, including a call for steps to help ease the debt burden on developing countries.
Indonesia-grant: US grants Indonesia 27 million dollars in health aid: Agence France-Presse - June 29, 2000; JAKARTA, June 29 (AFP) - The United States Thursday granted Indonesia 27 million dollars in humanitarian aid to improve reproductive and child health care in the country.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigerian scientists criticise doctor's 'unscientific' AIDS vaccine claims: Agence France-Presse - June 28, 2000; LAGOS, June 28 (AFP) - Nigeria's highest scientific body has criticised as "unscientific" widely-publicised claims by a Nigerian doctor to have found an AIDS vaccine, press reports said Wednesday.
Health-RedCross: Red Cross warns of "silent crisis" in public health: Agence France-Presse - June 28, 2000; LONDON, June 28 (AFP) - Thirteen million people die every year because of infectious diseases that could be easily prevented for just five dollars (5.5 euros) per person, the Red Cross charged Wednesday.
Health-RedCross-Africa: Red Cross warns over AIDS fight in Africa: Agence France-Presse - June 28, 2000; LONDON, June 28 (AFP) - Multi-party democracy could be hindering the fight against AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa as some rulers are forced to take account of powerful groups opposed to certain health measures, a Red Cross report warned Wednesday.
Australia-AIDS: Australia to trial AIDS vaccine: Agence France-Presse - June 28, 2000; SYDNEY, June 28 (AFP) - Human trials of an AIDS vaccine are set to begin in Sydney within 18 months and in a developing country within five years, the Australian National University (ANU) said Wednesday.
US-Africa-AIDS US Peace Corps steps up fight against AIDS in Africa: Agence France-Presse - June 27, 2000; WASHINGTON, June 27 (AFP) - Every Peace Corps volunteer in Africa will receive training in AIDS prevention and care, so that all the US volunteers in 25 African countries can help battle the spread of the disease, the Peace Corps director announced Tuesday.<
Health-AIDS-UN-figures: Figures on AIDS around the world: Agence France-Presse - June 27, 2000; GENEVA, June 27 (AFP) - The following are the latest worldwide figures on the AIDS epidemic compiled by United Nations joint programme, UNAIDS, for 1999, showing the number of people infected with HIV or with full-blown AIDS has hit 34.3 million.
Health-AIDS-SAfrica: International AIDS conference to be held in S. Africa in July: Bronwen Roberts; Agence France-Presse - June 27, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, June 27 (AFP) - South Africa will be an appropriate host for next month's International AIDS Conference, since the country is home to the largest number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in the world, officials said Tuesday.
Health-AIDS-UN: 5.5 million new HIV cases last year, global figure 34.3 million: Catherine Rama; Agence France-Presse - June 27, 2000; GENEVA, June 27 (AFP) - Nearly 5.5 million new cases of the HIV virus were recorded last year, bringing the global number of those infected with HIV or full-blown AIDS to 34.3 million, a new report published here Tuesday by the joint United Nations programme, UNAIDS, said.
Uganda-vote-context: Ugandans vote on democracy amid war, encouraging economic signs: Anna Borzello; Agence France-Presse - June 27, 2000; KAMPALA, June 27 (AFP) - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni will see his peculiar brand of democracy put to the vote Thursday, against a background of economic progress but also at a time when Ugandan troops are fighting in an unpopular war abroad.
Vietnam-AIDS-Japan: Japan gives 3.6 million dollars to fight AIDS in Vietnam: Agence France-Presse - June 27, 2000; HANOI, June 27 (AFP) - Japan on Tuesday almost doubled Vietnam's budget for AIDS prevention with a grant of up to 382 million yen (just over 3.6 million dollars) to fund screening and other programmes around the commercial capital of Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam-blood: Vietnam obstetrician gives own blood to save mother, baby: Agence France-Presse - June 27, 2000; HANOI, June 27 (AFP) - A Vietnamese obstetrician won plaudits from provincial authorities Tuesday after giving a last-ditch transfusion of his own blood to save the life of a patient who was haemorrhaging during labour.
Pakistan-drugs: Pakistan opens new front against drug abuse: Agence France-Presse - June 26, 2000; ISLAMABAD, June 26 (AFP) - Military ruler General Pervez Musharraf on Monday said Pakistan had almost won its war against poppy production but now had a new battle against alarming levels of drug addiction.
Malaysia-drugs: Malaysia declares war on drugs, appeals for public support: Agence France-Presse - June 26, 2000; SHAH ALAM, June 26 (AFP) - Despite some of the world's toughest laws against trafficking, Malaysia Monday declared drug abuse its number one enemy and urged parents, teachers and bosses to unite in fighting the scourge.
Malaysia-drugs-users: Drug threat continues to haunt Malaysia, addicts say: M. Jegathesan; Agence France-Presse - June 26, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (AFP) - Despite draconian laws including death for drug traffickers, addicts openly inject heroin in the Malaysian capital.
Nepal-ban: Nepal to crack down on underage drinking and drug abuse: Agence France-Presse - June 25, 2000; KATHMANDU, June 25 (AFP) - A bill banning the sale of alcohol to Nepalese minors is to be tabled in parliament, state-run radio said Sunday.
Sex-research-books: 'Atlas' aims to help chart our sexual lives: Dan Beaulieu; Agence France-Presse - June 23, 2000; HONG KONG, June 23 (AFP) - Pity those whose job it is to study sex.Despite it" happening nearly 120 million times every day, we've never had a full picture of life between the sheets or its impact," according to a Hong Kong-based former physician and author, Judith Mackay, who last week launched the world's first "atlas" of human sexual behavior.
Africa-economy: Summit searches for African renaissance, but finds little hope: Emsie Ferreira; Agence France-Presse - June 23, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, June 23 (AFP) - A three-day summit in search of economic salvation for Africa ended here Friday with little to offer in the way of solutions to the continent's most pressing problems of debt relief and AIDS.
Africa-economy: Mbeki says world not serious about debt relief for Africa: Emsie Ferreira; Agence France-Presse - June 23, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, June 23 (AFP) - South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki on Friday led impatient calls at a regional summit here for the world to act faster on debt relief in order to free money for the fight against AIDS and save Africa from doom.
Malaysia-AIDS: Malaysia says AIDS drugmakers putting profits before lives: Agence France-Presse - June 23, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (AFP) - Malaysia's health minister Friday accused Western multinational pharmaceutical firms of putting profits before lives by banning developing countries from producing their anti-AIDS drugs.
Mozambique-SAfrica-AIDS: Maputo probes deportation of HIV-infected Mozambicans from SAfrica: Agence France-Presse - June 22, 2000; MAPUTO, June 22 (AFP) - The Mozambican government has launched an investigation into allegations that South African authorities have been repatriating Mozambican miners infected with HIV/AIDS.
SAfrica-EU: EU gives S.Africa 1.6 billion dollars in development aid: Agence France-Presse - June 22, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, June 22 (AFP) - The European Union pledged 11 billion rand (1.6 billion dollars, 1.7 billion euros) in development aid to South Africa Thursday to help the country tackle problems like poverty, AIDS and crime.
Italy-UN-AIDS: AIDS epidemic shifting from cities to rural areas: Agence France-Presse - June 22, 2000; ROME, June 22 (AFP) - The worldwide AIDS epidemic is shifting from urban centers to rural areas, where numbers of people infected with the AIDS virus are increasing rapidly, two UN agencies warned Thursday.
Africa-US-investments: Senior US commerce official assures Africa on investments: Agence France-Presse - June 21, 2000; MOMBASA, Kenya, June 21 (AFP) - A new investment bill approved by the US Congress last year will spur sub-Saharan African economic growth and enable the continent to become richer and more self-sufficient, a senior US commerce official said here late Tuesday.
China-sex-AIDS: China urged to take fresh look at rampant prostitution, AIDS: Robert J. Saiget; Agence France-Presse - June 21, 2000; BEIJING, June 21 (AFP) - Rampant growth of prostitution and sexually transmitted diseases in China have triggered an intense debate over how to control the age-old practice and prevent the spread of AIDS.
SAfrica-AIDS: South Africa launches five-year AIDS plan: Agence France-Presse - June 19, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, June 19 (AFP) - The South African government on Monday launched a five-year plan to minimise the impact of HIV and AIDS, which a study has projected will kill 250,000 South Africans this year.
SAfrica-SADC-AIDS: SADC health ministers prepared to hold talks on AIDS treatment: Agence France-Presse - June 17, 2000; >PRETORIA, June 17 (AFP) - Southern African health ministers said Saturday they were prepared to enter into talks with five multinational drug companies to provide cheaper HIV-AIDS medicines for developing countries.
Africa-health: Prices of malaria and AIDS medication higher in Africa, study reveals: Agence France-Presse - June 16, 2000; NAIROBI, June 16 (AFP) - Medication for malaria or AIDS-related diseases is significantly more expensive in Africa than in most western countries, a comparative study on the prices of medication published Friday revealed.
WorldBank-Tanzania: World Bank announces 212 million in new loans to Tanzania: Agence France-Presse - June 16, 2000; WASHINGTON, June 16 (AFP) - The World Bank granted two loans to Tanzania totaling 212 million dollars to support economic reforms and improve health services, the bank said in a statement Friday.
Kenya-US: US commerce official in Kenya for trade talks: Agence France-Presse - June 16, 2000; NAIROBI, June 16 (AFP) - An official from the US department of commerce arrived here Friday for a five-day official visit during which he will hold talks on increasing US-Kenyan investment, the US embassy here said.
Thailand-US-boy: Thai boy used by human smuggling ring tests HIV-positive: Agence France-Presse - June 16, 2000; BANGKOK, June 16 (AFP) - The three-year-old Thai boy brought illegally into the United States as a prop in a human smuggling racket has tested HIV-positive, Thai officials said Friday.
Health-AIDS-SAfrica: Small amount spent on HIV drugs could reduce SAfrica AIDS crisis: Agence France-Presse - June 16, 2000; PARIS, June 16 (AFP) - Spending just a small amount of money to pay for HIV drugs would score instant gains in the campaign against South Africa's AIDS crisis, Canadian scientists say.
US-Africa-AIDS: US won't leave Africa to fight AIDS alone: Agence France-Presse - June 15, 2000; PRETORIA, June 15 (AFP) - The United States will not desert Africa in the fight against AIDS but will not provide unconditional help due to chronic corruption in developing countries, US Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said here Thursday.
SAfrica-Mbeki: S.African president fights criticism of his first year in power: Agence France-Presse - June 14, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, June 14 (AFP) - South Africa's normally reticent President Thabo Mbeki has used the one-year mark of his presidency to rebut criticism of his policies on everything from AIDS to the Zimbabwe crisis.
Mozambique-SADC-AIDS: Young people call for grassroots approach to AIDS: Agence France-Presse - June 13, 2000; MAPUTO, June 13 (AFP) - Young people in southern Africa called Tuesday for a grassroots approach to combating AIDS.
SAfrica-presidency: Parliament issues bouquets, brickbats after Mbeki's year in power: Bronwen Roberts; Agence France-Presse - June 13, 2000; CAPE TOWN, June 13 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki received bouquets from his own party but an avalanche of brickbats from the opposition during parliamentary debate on his presidency Tuesday, almost a year after he took office.
Tanzania-AIDS: Tanzanian president calls for moral revival in anti-AIDS fight: Agence France-Presse - June 13, 2000; DAR ES SALAAM, June 13 (AFP) - Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa launched an appeal for a return to traditional morality as part of the battle to contain the spread of the HIV, which leads to the fatal condition of AIDS.
SAfrica-Mbeki: Mbeki still a political enigma after one year in power: Jean-Claude Boksenbaum; Agence France-Presse - June 13, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, June 13 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki has remained something of a political enigma during his first year in office, leaving some observers wondering just where he is taking the country.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigerian doctors back controversial AIDS cure claim: Agence France-Presse - June 12, 2000; LAGOS, June 12 (AFP) - Nigerian physicians came out in support Monday of a controversial claim by a local doctor that he has found a cure for HIV/AIDS.
Japan-HIV: Japanese man wins unfair dismissal case after secret HIV test: Agence France-Presse - June 12, 2000; TOKYO, June 12 (AFP) - A Brazilian-Japanese man won his fight for compensation Monday after being secretly tested for HIV by his company and then sacked, officials and reports said.
Philippines-AIDS: First Philippine woman to admit having AIDS dies: Agence France-Presse - June 11, 2000; MANILA, June 11 (AFP) - The first Filipino to have publicly admitted having contracted AIDS died in a government hospital Sunday, officials said.
Egypt-Bulgaria: Bulgarian foreign minister sees Mubarak at last: Agence France-Presse - June 10, 2000; CAIRO, June 10 (AFP) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mikhailova had a private meeting Saturday with President Hosni Mubarak, an official source said.
France-blood: French court to decide on AIDS-tainted blood case in November: Agence France-Presse - June 9, 2000; PARIS, June 9 (AFP) - The Paris appeal court said Friday it will decide on November 27 how to handle the third case brought against doctors and health officials named in a scandal caused by distribution of AIDS-tainted blood.
ILO-AIDS: 42 million AIDS orphans predicted for 2010: Agence France-Presse - June 9, 2000; GENEVA, June 9 (AFP) - There are currently 12 million AIDS orphans in the world and their number will rise to 42 million by 2010, Peter Piot, executive director of the United Nations program against AIDS (UNAIDS), said here.
US-AIDS: HIV infection developed around 1931: Agence France-Presse - June 8, 2000; WASHINGTON, June 8 (AFP) - Humans were first infected with the Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV) around 1931, according to a new study due to appear Friday in the magazine Science.
US-population: World population to skyrocket to 9 billion by 2050: Magan Crane; Agence France-Presse - June 8, 2000; WASHINGTON, June 8 (AFP) - The world's population is on track to jump to nine billion in the next 50 years, a rise of 50 percent, taxing the planet's resources and exacerbating poverty, the Population Reference Bureau said Thursday.
Japan-G8: G8 to unveil plan to curb infectious diseases in poor nations: Agence France-Presse - June 8, 2000; TOKYO, June 8 (AFP) - Leaders of the Group of Eight major powers will unveil their support for developing nations in their fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria when they gather in Japan next month, a report said Thursday.
Bulgaria-Egypt-Libya: Bulgarian foreign minister in Egypt discusses fate of compatriots in Libya: Agence France-Presse - June 7, 2000; CAIRO, June 7 (AFP) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadejda Mikhailova held talks in Egypt Wednesday in an effort to drum up support for six Bulgarians currently on trial in Libya, but failed to see Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
ILO-conference-AIDS: HIV/AIDS catastrophe looming, warns ILO: Agence France-Presse - June 7, 2000; GENEVA, June 7 (AFP) - The International Labour Office (ILO) warned here Wednesday against an HIV/AIDS "catastrophe" facing workers and employers around the world and projected a severe decline in the size of the workforce in some countries over the next 20 years.
Bulgaria-Egypt-Libya: Egypt postpones talks over Bulgarians on trial in Libya: Agence France-Presse - June 7, 2000; SOFIA, June 7 (AFP) - President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt has postponed a meeting with Bulgaria's foreign minister to discuss the case of six Bulgarians accused by Libya of deliberately infecting children with AIDS, officials said Wednesday.
SAfrica-Mbeki-Mandela: Mandela sings Mbeki's praises one year after handing over power: Agence France-Presse - June 7, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, June 7 (AFP) - South African former president Nelson Mandela on Wednesday said he believed his successor Thabo Mbeki had done a good job during his first year as president.
Russia-AIDS: Russian Siberian city announces AIDS epidemic: Agence France-Presse - June 7, 2000; MOSCOW, June 7 (AFP) - An AIDS epidemic has hit the Siberian city of Yekaterinburg, where the number of infected people has risen dramatically since last year, Russian media reported Wednesday.
US-Africa: Summers urges targeted Africa aid, more education for girls: Agence France-Presse - June 6, 2000; WASHINGTON, June 6 (AFP) - US Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said Tuesday international aid to Africa should be limited to corruption-free governments and called for more educational opportunities for girls on the continent.
Bulgaria-Libya: Sofia to seek Cairo's help for Bulgarians on trial in Libya: Agence France-Presse - June 6, 2000; SOFIA, June 6 (AFP) - Bulgaria is to ask for Egypt's help in the case of six Bulgarian medical workers on trial in Libya for allegedly infecting 393 children with the AIDS virus, the foreign ministry here announced Tuesday.
Vietnam-AIDS: More than 20,000 infected with HIV in Vietnam: Agence France-Presse - June 6, 2000; HANOI, June 6 (AFP) - A total of 20,215 people in Vietnam are infected with HIV, and 1,838 have died of AIDS since records of the epidemic began in 1990, a health official said Tuesday.
UN-women: UN women's conference pins hopes on education, access to credits: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - June 5, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, June 5 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and US First Lady Hillary Clinton set the tone Monday for a week-long conference on women, emphasising credits for small businesses and education as weapons against inequality.
UN-women-Annan: Future of planet depends on women: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - June 5, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, June 5 (AFP) - Declaring that the future of the planet depends on women, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said Monday that the education of girls was the chief weapon against inequality, violence and AIDS.
Mozambique-AIDS-orphans: More than a million Mozambicans to be orphaned by AIDS: Agence France-Presse - June 5, 2000; MAPUTO, June 5 (AFP) - More than a million children will be orphaned by AIDS in Mozambique in the next five years, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned Monday.
France-blood: French court opens new hearing in AIDS-contaminated blood scandal: Agence France-Presse - June 5, 2000; PARIS, June 5 (AFP) - The appeal court in Paris met Monday to decide how to proceed in the third case brought against doctors and health officials implicated in the distribution and use of AIDS infected blood.
Libya-Bulgaria: Tripoli says it wants to avoid controversy with Bulgaria in AIDS case: Agence France-Presse - June 4, 2000; TRIPOLI, June 4 (AFP) - Libya urged the Bulgarian government Sunday not to make a controversy out of the trial of six Bulgarians charged with injecting Libyan children with the HIV virus.
SAfrica-Mbeki: Mbeki's first year: triumphs abroad, troubles at home, press say: Agence France-Presse - June 4, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, June 4 (AFP) - President Thabo Mbeki's first year in power has been hailed by media commentators at the weekend as a glittering triumph in the international field but a somewhat more lackluster display at home.
Bulgaria-Libya: Bulgarian nurses held in Libya claim they were tortured by police: Agence France-Presse - June 2, 2000; SOFIA, June 2 (AFP) - Five Bulgarian nurses on trial in Libya for allegedly infecting nearly 400 Libyan children with the AIDS virus claim they were tortured by police investigating the case, Bulgaria's justice minister said Friday.
Kenya-Moi: Moi pledges to battle corruption, insecurity, AIDS: Agence France-Presse - June 1, 2000; NAIROBI, June 1 (AFP) - Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi pledged Thursday to pursue the fight against corruption, insecurity and the killer disease AIDS -- all ills currently bedevilling the country.

May

Bulgaria-Libya: Libyan trial of Bulgarians for spreading AIDS "absurd": Agence France-Presse - May 31, 2000; SOFIA, May 31 (AFP) - Bulgaria raised doubts Wednesday over the objectivity of a Libyan court to resume the trial this weekend of six Bulgarians accused of deliberately infecting Libyan children with the AIDS virus.
Bank-Africa: World Bank sees better days ahead for Africa: Nathaniel Harrison; Agence France-Presse - May 31, 2000; WASHINGTON, May 31 (AFP) - The World Bank on Wednesday predicted better days ahead for Africa, where despite dire poverty, military conflict and the scourge of HIV/AIDS, economic momentum is gathering steam and political processes are opening up.
EU-US: EU-US summit makes no progress on trade disputes: Allen Nacheman; Agence France-Presse - May 31, 2000; QUELUZ, Portugal, May 31 (AFP) - Thorny transatlantic trade disputes got no closer to resolution at a top-level EU-US summit here Wednesday, although broad initiatives to fight disease and protect electronic data were launched.
EU-US-disease: EU, US agree to fight harder against disease in developing world: Agence France-Presse - May 31, 2000; QUELUZ, Portugal, May 31 (AFP) - The United States and the European Union will bolster their efforts to fight the spread of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in developing countries, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres said Wednesday.
Zimbabwe-health: Crowds flock to Zimbabwean healers who claim to cure AIDS: Isabelle Ligner; Agence France-Presse - May 31, 2000; CHIVU, Zimbabwe, May 31 (AFP) - Some 10 kms (six miles) from here, a rutted road leads across the deserted Milands region in central Zimbabwe, to the hut of Kadenge, a traditional healer who claims he can cure all ills including AIDS.
EU-US-accords: EU, US launch joint efforts on data protection, biotechnology, disease: Agence France-Presse - May 31, 2000; QUELUZ, Portugal, May 31 (AFP) - The US and the European Union on Wednesday announced joint efforts to protect electronic data transmission, cooperate on biotechnology issues and fight disease in the developing world.
US-Angola: US boosts AIDS awareness assistance to Angola, calls for peace, fair polls: Agence France-Presse - May 30, 2000; WASHINGTON, May 30 (AFP) - The United States has boosted its assistance to anti-AIDS programs in Angola, urged its government to ensure that next year's scheduled elections are free and fair, and called for an end to the country's long-running civil war, the State Department said Tuesday.
ILO-conference: Forced labour in Myanmar, AIDS at work, main issues at labour forum: Agence France-Presse - May 30, 2000; GENEVA, May 30 (AFP) - Combatting forced labour in Myanmar, protection for working mums and dealing with HIV/AIDS in the work place are among the issues facing some 3,000 delegates at a labour conference starting here Tuesday.
Portugal-US: Clinton sounds alarm on spread of AIDS, TB, malaria: Allen Nacheman; Agence France-Presse - May 30, 2000; LISBON, May 30 (AFP) - Kicking off a week-long European tour, US President Bill Clinton sounded an alarm Tuesday at the galloping spread of AIDS, TB and malaria in the third world and called for a concerted US-EU drive to check the diseases
ILO-Myanmar: Forced labour in Myanmar provides focus for international labour conference: Agence France-Presse - May 29, 2000; GENEVA, May 29 (AFP) - Delegates at an international labour conference starting here Tuesday could decide to call on companies, trade unions, international bodies and states to review their ties with Myanmar to ensure they do not contribute to the use of forced labour there.
SAfrica-justice-Basson: S.African trial hears of poisoned food and hygene products: Agence France-Presse - May 29, 2000; PRETORIA, May 29 (AFP) - Deadly lip balm, roll-on deodorant, shampoo, chocolates, beer and whiskey were supplied to Wouter Basson, mastermind of apartheid South Africa's chemical warfare programme, a court heard Monday.
Zimbabwe-Banana: Ex-Zimbabwean president to go to jail as sodomy appeal turned down: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - May 29, 2000; HARARE, May 29 (AFP) - Former Zimbabwean president Canaan Banana will soon start serving a one-year prison term for homosexual rape and other offences after the Supreme Court rejected his appeal Monday
EU-US-summit: EU-US program on disease in Africa to highlight Wednesday summit: Allen Nacheman; Agence France-Presse - May 28, 2000; BRUSSELS, May 28 (AFP) - A common strategy against cyber-crime and a massive EU-US program to fight AIDS, HIV, TB and malaria in Africa and southeast Europe will highlight an EU-US summit in Portugal Wednesday, US and EU officials say.
Singapore-AIDS: Foreign Singaporean spouses can remain: Agence France-Presse - May 28, 2000; SINGAPORE, May 28 (AFP) - The repatriated foreign spouses of Singaporeans infected with the virus that causes AIDS can return to the city state if they wish, a newspaper report said Sunday.
US-AIDS: US to create network to coordinate AIDS vaccine trials: Agence France-Presse - May 26, 2000; WASHINGTON, May 26 (AFP) - US health authorities plan to create a new network to coordinate trials of vaccines to fight AIDS, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has announced.
Malaysia-Thailand-AIDS: Stay away from Thai prostitutes, Mahathir tells Malaysians: Agence France-Presse - May 26, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (AFP) - Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Friday urged Malaysian men not to frequent prostitutes in a Thai border town to avoid contracting the HIV virus.
Zimbabwe-AIDS: AIDS sufferers are first victims of Zimbabwe's economic crisis: Isabelle Ligner; Agence France-Presse - May 25, 2000; HARARE, May 25 (AFP) - AIDS sufferers are among the first victims of Zimbabwe's economic crisis, where the infection rate is among the highest in the world.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigerian medical association investigations AIDS claim: Agence France-Presse - May 25, 2000; LAGOS, May 25 (AFP) - The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has set up a committee to investigate claims by a number of Nigerians to have found a cure for HIV/AIDS, officials confirmed Thursday.
US-SAfrica: Mbeki says Africa needs more clout in global trade: Glenn Chapman; Agence France-Presse - May 24, 2000; SAN FRANCISCO, May 24 (AFP) - Africa and other developing nations need more clout in global trade organizations and additional debt relief to cope with war, famine, AIDS and other woes, South African President Thabo Mbeki said Wednesday.
SAfrica-justice-Basson: Apartheid scientists kept HIV-infected blood for "political enemy": Agence France-Presse - May 24, 2000; PRETORIA, May 24 (AFP) - Apartheid chemical warfare expert Wouter Basson held freeze-dried HIV-infected blood and a cocktail of poisons and bacteria to kill or sicken opponents of the white regime, a witness told his trial Wednesday.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. African politicians reveal HIV status: Agence France-Presse - May 23, 2000; CAPE TOWN, May 23 (AFP) - Three South African MPs who underwent public HIV tests last week in a bid to highlight awareness about the AIDS epidemic announced here Tuesday that their tests were negative.
SAfrica-US: South African president begins White House visit: Gretchen Cook; Agence France-Presse - May 22, 2000; WASHINGTON, May 22 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki began his first state visit to US President Bill Clinton Monday to talk trade and investment prospects, his controversial stand on the AIDS epidemic, and the crisis in Zimbabwe.
SLeone-UNAMSIL: Annan recommends increasing UN force in Sierra Leone to 16,500: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - May 22, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, May 22 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan asked the Security Council on Monday to authorise an increase in the United Nations peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone, from 13,000 to 16,500 troops.
Thailand-sex: Thailand crowns transvestite "queen": Agence France-Presse - May 21, 2000; PATTAYA, May 21 (AFP) - Thailand has crowned the winner of Miss Tiffany's 2000, the country's transvestite annual "queen" beauty pageant, in this flashy and notorious seaside resort.
Malaysia-AIDS: Malaysia urges calm following tainted blood cases: Agence France-Presse - May 21, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (AFP) - Malaysian health authorities have appealed to blood donors and recipients not to panic in the wake of two cases of HIV-contaminated blood incidents, a press report said Sunday.
Malaysia-AIDS: Malaysia fears tainted blood cases may spark "panic": Agence France-Presse - May 21, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (AFP) - Malaysian health authorities have appealed to blood donors and recipients not to panic in the wake of two cases of HIV-contaminated blood incidents, a report said Sunday.
WHO-AIDS: Health delegates urge better global access to anti-AIDS treatment: Agence France-Presse - May 20, 2000; GENEVA, May 20 (AFP) - Health delegates from 191 states passed a resolution here Saturday calling for greater global access to treatments for HIV-related illnesses and for drugs to be made available and affordable.
SAfrica-France-baboons: S.African government probing French-owned baboon breeding centre: Agence France-Presse - May 20, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, May 20 (AFP) - The South African government has launched an probe into an animal experimentation centre accused of supplying primates to the French military for nuclear tests, a report said Saturday.
Liberia-Jackson: War damages Africa as much as AIDS: Jesse Jackson: Agence France-Presse - May 20, 2000; MONROVIA, May 20 (AFP) - The ravages of war are at least as damaging to Africa as the effects of the AIDS virus, Jesse Jackson, the special envoy to the continent of the US presidency, said Saturday.
Malaysia-AIDS: HIV blood transfusion death in Malaysia: Agence France-Presse - May 20, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (AFP) - Malaysian authorities have confirmed a woman died six years after receiving HIV-contaminated blood, a report said Saturday just weeks after a housewife was infected in a bungled blood transfusion.
Nigeria-soldiers-AIDS: Obasanjo warns soldiers against unprotected sex: Agence France-Presse - May 19, 2000; LAGOS, May 19 (AFP) - President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned soldiers against casual sex and urged the use of condoms saying 11 percent of soldiers who returned from duty in Sierra Leone had acquired the HIV virus there.
DRCongo-AIDS: HIV-positive women spread anti-AIDS message in DR Congo: Agence France-Presse - May 19, 2000; KINSHASA, May 19 (AFP) - A group of Congolese women, all of them HIV-positive, are hoping that their own sad experiences can help save the next generation from the ravages of AIDS.
Malaysia-AIDS: Blood donor makes tearful apology to HIV-infected housewife: Agence France-Presse - May 18, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 (AFP) - The family of a Malaysian housewife who was infected with the HIV virus in a bungled hospital blood transfusion received a tearful personal apology from the suspected donor on Thursday.
US-SAfrica: Mbeki's US visit to focus on Zimbabwe, AIDS and poverty: Agence France-Presse - May 18, 2000; WASHINGTON, May 18 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki arrives for his first visit to the United States on Sunday for talks focussing on the crisis in Zimbabwe, AIDS and poverty, South African Ambassador Sheila Sisulu said.
Spain-science: HIV co-discoverers win Spanish research prize: Agence France-Presse - May 17, 2000; OVIEDO, Spain, May 17 (AFP) - French scientist Luc Montagnier and US colleague Robert Gallo won Spain's Prince of Asturias research prize for discovering the AIDS virus, the award's jury announced Wednesday
Malaysia-AIDS: Housewife infected by hospital with HIV sues for 26 million dollars: Agence France-Presse - May 17, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 (AFP) - A Malaysian housewife infected with the HIV virus during a hospital blood transfusion is suing the government for 100 million ringgit (26.3 million dollars), reports said Wednesday.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. African politicians to reveal HIV status: Agence France-Presse - May 16, 2000; CAPE TOWN, May 16 (AFP) - A handful of South African politicians Tuesday underwent public HIV/AIDS tests in parliament after a challenge by the opposition Pan Africanist Congress for politicians to reveal their HIV status.
SAfrica-aid-US: USAID promises South Africa 250 mln dollars in development aid: Agence France-Presse - May 16, 2000; PRETORIA, May 16 (AFP) - The US Agency for International Development (USAID) pledged Tuesday 250 million dollars (277 million euros) in development aid to South Africa for the next five years.
Japan-US-health: Hitachi teams up with cutting-edge US genetics firm: Agence France-Presse - May 16, 2000; TOKYO, May 16 (AFP) - Japan's Hitachi Ltd. announced Tuesday it was ploughing 26 million dollars into a US genetics company to accelerate drug research and combat conditions including HIV and cancer.
SAfrica-US-Britain: Mbeki's UK, US visits aimed at easing Zimbabwe land crisis: Agence France-Presse - May 16, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, May 16 (AFP) - South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki was due to leave Tuesday for back-to-back visits to Britain and the United States likely to be dominated by talks on the turmoil in Zimbabwe.
Botswana-AIDS: HIV/AIDS will curb Botswana's economic growth by third: report: Agence France-Presse - May 15, 2000; GABORONE, May 15 (AFP) - The HIV/AIDS epidemic will curb the growth of the economy of Botswana by about a third over the next ten years, according to a government-commissioned report published Monday.
WHO-health-assembly: WHO chief hails public-private sector partnerships: Agence France-Presse - May 15, 2000; GENEVA, May 15 (AFP) - World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Gro Harlem Brundtland hailed here Monday efforts by private companies and development partners to team up to tackle global health problems, but she warned such initiatives needed patience and trust.
Malaysia-AIDS: Authorities to probe report of HIV-tainted blood transfusion: Agence France-Presse - May 15, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (AFP) - Health authorities in a northern Malaysian state have been ordered to report urgently on the case of a housewife given HIV-contaminated blood during a hospital transfusion.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigerian government backs AIDS cure claim: Agence France-Presse - May 14, 2000; LAGOS, May 14 (AFP) - The Nigerian government is excited by an HIV/AIDS cure claim, considering it a major breakthrough for science, Information Minister Jerry Gana said, according to Sunday's Champion newspaper.
Cambodia-crime: Grenade blast injures four in Cambodian capital: Agence France-Presse - May 14, 2000; PHNOM PENH, May 14 (AFP) - An AIDS-infected former Cambodian soldier left himself and three others seriously wounded after he attempted to smuggle two grenades intended for a suicide bid through a police checkpost, police said Sunday.
Australia-AIDS: Australian AIDS vaccine to be tested in three years: Agence France-Presse - May 14, 2000; SYDNEY, May 14 (AFP) - Large-scale human trials of a new Australian vaccine to treat HIV could begin within three years, according to experts at an international conference on HIV/AIDS here Sunday.
Singapore-AIDS: Nine foreign women in Singapore with AIDS repatriated: Agence France-Presse - May 14, 2000; SINGAPORE, May 14 (AFP) - Nine foreign women married to Singaporeans have been repatriated because they were infected with the virus that causes AIDS, the Sunday Times newspaper said.
SAfrica-AIDS-drugs: S. African government says AIDS drugs deal won't benefit most sufferers: Agence France-Presse - May 12, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, May 12 (AFP) - South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang on Friday said a move by five major pharmaceutical firms to give cheaper HIV/AIDS treatment to developing countries, would still not allow her to distribute the drug freely.
Thailand-AIDS-drugs: Thai AIDS groups question agreement to slash drug costs: Agence France-Presse - May 12, 2000; BANGKOK, May 12 (AFP) - AIDS activists in Thailand, where nearly one in 60 people is infected with the HIV virus, welcomed Friday an agreement by pharmaceutical giants to slash the price of AIDS drugs but warned details of the deal remained vague.
US-AIDS: US researchers to test AIDS vaccine with other treatments: Agence France-Presse - May 11, 2000; WASHINGTON, May 11 (AFP) - US researchers are set to begin clinical trials on the efficacy of using an AIDS vaccine in conjunction with other existing treatments, the manufacturer announced Tuesday.
Bulgaria-Libya-AIDS: Libyan lawyer of AIDS-case Bulgarians denies speaking of torture: Agence France-Presse - May 11, 2000; TRIPOLI, May 11 (AFP) - The Libyan lawyer representing a Bulgarian doctor and five Bulgarian nurses accused of contaminating Libyan children with the AIDS virus, denied Thursday telling a Bulgarian paper that confessions had been obtained by force.
Mozambique-SADC-AIDS: Half southern African hospital patients HIV positive: health experts: Agence France-Presse - May 11, 2000; MAPUTO, May 11 (AFP) - About 50 per cent of patients across southern African hospitals are HIV positive, regional health experts taking part in a forum in Mozambique's capital Maputo said Thursday.
Africa: Africa: still mired in war, poverty despite good intentions: Ivan Briscoe; Agence France-Presse - May 11, 2000; PARIS, May 11 (AFP) - With violence erupting in Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa has entered the new century much as it ended the last one: at war, in extreme poverty and neglected by a world apparently unwilling to help remedy the continent's ills.
UN-AIDS-SAfrica: South Africa cool on drug companies' AIDS scheme: Agence France-Presse - May 11, 2000; STOCKHOLM, May 11 (AFP) - South Africa gave a cool welcome here Thursday to word that big drug firms might cut costs of AIDS medicine in poor countries, saying any relief would be good but questioning the multinationals' motives.
UN-AIDS-drugs: Drugs firms team up with UN to help fight AIDS in poor states: Agence France-Presse - May 11, 2000; GENEVA, May 11 (AFP) - Five major pharmaceutical firms are in talks with the United Nations on stepping up provision of HIV/AIDS treatment in developing countries, a UN organisation said here Thursday.
Uganda-Ghana-AIDS: Ghanaian team to study Uganda's anti-AIDS campaign: Agence France-Presse - May 11, 2000; KAMPALA, May 11 (AFP) - A team of Ghanaian health officials and government ministers arrived Thursday in Uganda to study an anti-AIDS campaign that has registered some success by reducing the rate of infection amongst the people.
UN-AIDS-drugs: Drugs firms team up with UN to help fight AIDS in poor countries: Agence France-Presse - May 11, 2000; GENEVA, May 11 (AFP) - Five major pharmaceutical firms are in talks with the United Nations on stepping up the provision of HIV/AIDS treatment in developing countries, a UN organisation said here Thursday.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. African government may force down prices of AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - May 10, 2000; CAPE TOWN, May 10 (AFP) - The South African government was mulling the use of a controversial method to force down the price of drugs, such as AIDS treatments, by letting non-patent holders produce medicines cheaper locally, a senior official indicated Wednesday.
US-Africa-AIDS: US announces changes to make anti-AIDS drugs more available in Africa: Agence France-Presse - May 10, 2000; WASHINGTON, May 10 (AFP) - President Bill Clinton on Wednesday signed an executive order aimed at making anti-AIDS drugs and medical technology more accessible throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Africa-AIDS: Africa needs up to two billion dollars for AIDS prevention: Agence France-Presse - May 8, 2000; OUAGADOUGOU, May 8 (AFP) - Africa needs between one and two billion dollars for AIDS prevention alone, said Monday the executive director of the UN AIDS programme, Peter Piot
Zimbabwe-SADC: Zimbabwe set to be talking point of SADC-US forum in Maputo: Agence France-Presse - May 8, 2000; GABORONE, May 8 (AFP) - The crisis in Zimbabwe could be the main talking point at the second meeting of the Southern African Development Community and the United States forum this week in Maputo, participants have indicated.
Zambia-opposition: Zambia's main opposition searches for a new leader after Kaunda: Agence France-Presse - May 8, 2000; LUSAKA, May 8 (AFP) - Zambia's main opposition United National Independence Party (UNIP) was to begin a special four-day congress here Monday during which a new leader is to be elected to replace the party's founding president Kenneth Kaunda.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigerian Academy of Science investigates AIDS cure claims: Agence France-Presse - May 8, 2000; LAGOS, May 8 (AFP) - The Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has set up a five-man panel to investigate claims by several Nigerians that they have discovered a cure for HIV/AIDS, the newspaper The Guardian reported Monday.
SAfrica-AIDS: Mainstream, dissident scientists, fail to agree on AIDS: Jean-Claude Boksenbaum; Agence France-Presse - May 7, 2000; PRETORIA, May 7 (AFP) - Mainstream and dissident scientists who met in Pretoria over the weekend to seek new solutions to AIDS failed to agree, several participants said Sunday.
Malawi-SADC: Southern African states resolve to push for debt forgiveness: Agence France-Presse - May 6, 2000; BLANTYRE, May 6 (AFP) - The Southern Africa Development Community has made a concerted push for western nations to cancel outstanding debts in a bid to reverse the region's health and economic woes, a SADC statement said Saturday.
World-children: Mandela, Machel, Bellamy, launch children's initiative: Agence France-Presse - May 6, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, May 6 (AFP) - Former South Africa president Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel joined UNICEF executive director Carol Bellamy Saturday to urge global leaders to head a new movement to turn the world around for millions of children.
SAfrica-AIDS: Mbeki opens controversial AIDS panel: Agence France-Presse - May 6, 2000; PRETORIA, May 6 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki opened a controversial panel seeking new solutions to AIDS Saturday by warning that the fatal disease was a "catastrophe" in Africa.
SAfrica-AIDS: Mbeki hosting face-off between AIDS scientists, dissidents: Emsie Ferreira; Agence France-Presse - May 5, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, May 5 (AFP) - The chief proponents and opponents of the theory that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS will meet behind closed doors here Saturday at the invitation of South African President Thabo Mbeki, who wants them to find an answer to the epidemic in Africa.
ADB-Thailand: Huge security operation as activists slam ADB at Thailand meet: Agence France-Presse - May 4, 2000; BANGKOK, May 4 (AFP) - Police vowed Thursday that a huge security sweep would foil any violence or protests at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) annual meeting as activists claimed ADB policies had devastated the Thai economy.
US-Africa-CentrAm-demo: AIDS activists arrested at US protests of Africa trade vote: Agence France-Presse - May 4, 2000; WASHINGTON, May 4 (AFP) - A total of eight people were arrested at the US Capitol Wednesday in two separate protests against a bill aimed at expanding US trade with Africa, Central America, and the Caribbean, police said.
Medicine-AIDS: AIDS virus could be used to fight genetic diseases: Agence France-Presse - May 4, 2000; PARIS, May 4 (AFP) - The AIDS virus could soon be used to fight genetic diseases, cancer and even AIDS itself, a research team told a medical conference in Paris Thursday.
France-AIDS: AIDS vaccine top priority for researchers: Agence France-Presse - May 4, 2000; PARIS, May 4 (AFP) - The development of an AIDS vaccine, once considered unrealistic, has become the top priority for researchers from around the world who gather in Paris from Friday.
SAfrica-AIDS: HIV discoverer Montagnier, dissidents on SAfrican AIDS panel: Agence France-Presse - May 4, 2000; PRETORIA, May 4 (AFP) - South Africa's panel of 33 AIDS experts, to meet for the first time this weekend, includes Luc Montagnier of France, who discovered HIV, and "dissident" scientists who do not believe the virus is linked to AIDS.
SAfrica-AIDS: AIDS experts, dissidents to meet in S.Africa: Agence France-Presse - May 3, 2000; PRETORIA, May 3 (AFP) - A panel of 30 international experts with widely differing views on the disease AIDS will gather in Pretoria at the weekend to discuss its causes, South African government officials announced Wednesday.
Baltics-Russia-AIDS: Baltics and Russia sign plan to halt fastest AIDS spread in the world: Agence France-Presse - May 3, 2000; RIGA, May 3 (AFP) - The Baltic states and Russia signed a multi-million dollar regional action plan Wednesday designed to slow the rapid spread of HIV infection in eastern Europe.
Rwanda-AIDS: 500,000 are HIV+ in Rwanda, harsh conditions for those with AIDS: Emmanuel Goujon; Agence France-Presse - May 3, 2000; KIGALI, May 3 (AFP) - Half a million Rwandans are infected with the HIV virus and those who are sick as a result live in harsh conditions, shunned by society and victims of lack of health service funding, according to officials.
Malawi-SADC-health: Southern African health experts discuss regional epidemic diseases: Agence France-Presse - May 2, 2000; BLANTYRE, May 2 (AFP) - Health experts from the 14-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tuesday began a four-day conference on epidemic diseases afflicting millions of people in the region.
Nigeria-WBank: World Bank aids Nigerian privatisation with 40 million dollars: Agence France-Presse - May 2, 2000; ABUJA, May 2 (AFP) - The World Bank has released the sum of 40 million dollars to help Nigeria implement its privatisation programme, a top government official said Tuesday.
US-AIDS-Sachs: Harvard economist dismisses international support for anti-AIDS campaign: Agence France-Presse - May 2, 2000; WASHINGTON, May 2 (AFP) - Harvard economist Jeffrey Sachs on Tuesday described global support for efforts to stamp out AIDS as insufficient and called for stepped-up debt relief to free resources to fight the disease.
Ireland-blood: Inquiry opens into Irish haemophilia blood scandal: Agence France-Presse - May 2, 2000; DUBLIN, May 2 (AFP) - A judicial inquiry opened here Tuesday into contaminated blood products which left more than half of Ireland's 400 haemophiliacs infected with HIV and Hepatitis C.
US-AIDS-Iran: US move on AIDS threat is election appeasement for gays: Iran paper: Agence France-Presse - May 2, 2000; TEHRAN, May 2 (AFP) - US President Bill Clinton's decision to name AIDS as a national security threat is a political ploy to "appease the sodomites during an election year," an Iranian newspaper charged Tuesday.
UN-AIDS-assembly: UN asked to hold special AIDS conference: Agence France-Presse - May 1, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, May 1 (AFP) - The United Nations General Assembly is considering a proposal that it hold a special session in May next year on the AIDS pandemic, a spokeswoman said Monday.
US-AIDS: US designation of AIDS brings hopes, protests: Gretchen Cook; Agence France-Presse - May 1, 2000; WASHINGTON, May 1 (AFP) - US President Bill Clinton is hoping his unprecedented decision to target AIDS as a national security threat will rally world leaders behind waging a war on the epidemic, which is besieging poor countries.
Nigeria-AIDS: HIV tests for Nigerian Catholic couples: report: Agence France-Presse - May 1, 2000; LAGOS, May 1 (AFP) - Catholic couples in Nigeria are to produce HIV-free certificates before they can be married, The Guardian newspaper on Monday quoted a senior priest as saying.

April

Burkina-OAU-AIDS: 50 health ministers to attend African AIDS conference: Agence France-Presse - April 30, 2000; BOBO-DIOULASSO, Burkina Faso, April 30 (AFP) - Fifty health ministers from Organisation of African Unity (OAU) nations will meet in Burkina Faso next week to discuss the struggle against AIDS, the country's health minister Alain Ludovic Tou announced Saturday.
Bulgaria-Libya-AIDS: Trial of Bulgarians accused of injecting Libyan children with AIDS delayed: Agence France-Presse - April 30, 2000; SOFIA, April (AFP) - The trial of six Bulgarians accused of deliberately infecting 400 Libyan children with AIDS has been adjourned for a third time, the Bulgarian president's office announced Sunday.
US-AIDS: AIDS is declared US security threat: report: Agence France-Presse - April 30, 2000; WASHINGTON, April 30 (AFP) - The US government has formally designated AIDS as a security threat that could topple foreign governments, touch off ethnic wars and undo decades of work in building democracies abroad, the Washington Post reported Sunday.
US-Pfizer: Pfizer shareholders back deal with Warner-Lambert, AIDS activists rally: Agence France-Presse - April 27, 2000; NEW YORK, April 27 (AFP) - Shareholders in Pfizer Incorporated on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a merger with Warner-Lambert, a deal that would create one of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms.
ADB-Cambodia: Low social spending cripples Cambodian peace dividend: Agence France-Presse - April 26, 2000; BANGKOK, April 26 (AFP) - Low spending on health and education and a looming AIDS epidemic threaten newly peaceful Cambodia's otherwise strong economic growth prospects, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Wednesday.
Africa-malaria: Africa commits to halve malaria deaths within a decade: Peter Cunliffe-Jones; Agence France-Presse - April 25, 2000; ABUJA, April 25 (AFP) - Dozens of African leaders meeting in Nigeria on Tuesday committed themselves to halving the one million annual death toll from malaria by 2010 and called for one billion dollars a year in international funding.
Africa-malaria-funding: One billion dollars a year needed on malaria: summit: Agence France-Presse - April 25, 2000; ABUJA, April 25 (AFP) - African leaders called Tuesday for international donors to provide one billion dollars a year on fighting malaria on the continent where one person dies every 15 seconds from the curable disease.
Ethiopia-AIDS: Ethiopia among hardest hit by AIDS: president: Agence France-Presse - April 23, 2000; ADDIS ABABA, April 23 (AFP) - Ethiopia, with more than three million carriers of HIV, has become one of the countries hardest hit by the AIDS pandemic, President Negasso Gidada said.
UN-Annan-Africa: Annan visit to Africa to focus on education, AIDS and personal contacts: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - April 23, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, April 23 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan begins a visit to five West African countries on Tuesday which a senior aide said would focus on promoting education in the fight against poverty and the AIDS pandemic.
Cambodia-rape: Reported rapes triple in Cambodia amid AIDS scare: Agence France-Presse - April 20, 2000; PHNOM PENH, April 20 (AFP) - More than three time as many women and girls reported being raped in Cambodia in 1999 than a year earlier, a local human rights groups said in a report published in a newspaper here Thursday
SAfrica-AIDS: Mbeki stance on AIDS leaves scientists in a daze: Philippe Coste; Agence France-Presse - April 19, 2000; PARIS, April 21 (AFP) - Top French specialists voiced shock Friday at South African President Thabo Mbeki's defence of alternative medical approaches to AIDS, and dismissed as a "provocateur" the US researcher Mbeki has cited in support of his stance.
US-SAfrica-AIDS: White House ready to help South Africa on AIDS research: Agence France-Presse - April 19, 2000; WASHINGTON, April 19 (AFP) - The White House promised Wednesday to help South Africa explore new approaches to the AIDS crisis sweeping the country after President Thabo Mbeki criticized the West's approach to the epidemic in a letter to US President Bill Clinton.
SAfrica-AIDS: Mbeki's AIDS letter shows serious lack of judgement: opposition: Agence France-Presse - April 19, 2000; CAPE TOWN, April 19 (AFP) - A letter sent by President Thabo Mbeki to US President Bill Clinton and other world leaders defending an alternative medical approach to AIDS showed a "serious lack of judgment", opposition leaders claimed Wednesday in parliament.
US-AIDS-Mbeki: Thabo Mbeki makes pitch for alternative treatment of AIDS - report: Agence France-Presse - April 19, 2000; WASHINGTON, April 19 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki has written to US President Bill Clinton and other world leaders defending an alternative medical approach to AIDS, The Washington Post said Wednesday
UNICEF urges world leaders to advance girls' education: Agence France-Presse - April 18, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, April 18 (AFP) - The United Nations children's fund, UNICEF, on Tuesday urged leaders attending next week's World Education Forum in Senegal to make girls' schooling their priority for the coming decade.
Health-Finland: Finland at risk of resistant tuberculosis strain: researcher: Agence France-Presse - April 18, 2000; HELSINKI, April 18 (AFP) - A drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis could spread to Finland within a few months via drug addicts infected in Russia and Estonia, a researcher at Helsinki's University Hospital said Wednesday.
Lithuania-drugs-AIDS: Increasing drug abuse in schools threatens explosion of AIDS in Lithuania: Agence France-Presse - April 18, 2000; VILNIUS, April 18 (AFP) - A five-fold increase in drug abuse in Lithuanian schools since 1995 could lead to an explosion of AIDS cases, experts warned at a conference Tuesday.
SAfrica-AIDS: One in 10 S. Africans HIV-positive: government: Agence France-Presse - April 18, 2000; PRETORIA, April 18 (AFP) - Some 4.2 million South Africans -- more than one in 10 -- were HIV-positive at the end of last year, the health ministry estimated Tuesday.
Money-development-points: Main points of development committee statement: Agence France-Presse - April 17, 2000; WASHINGTON, April 17 (AFP) - Here are the main points of the statement issued by the Development Committee of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund concluding the spring meetings of the two organizations
Money-close: IMF-World Bank panel says rich countries should open doors to trade: Agence France-Presse - April 17, 2000; WASHINGTON, April 17 (AFP) - World Bank and International Monetary Fund policymakers said Monday that wealthy nations must open their doors to trade from developing nations as a "critical" part of efforts to reduce poverty.
France-eroticism: Catholic Church in Bordeaux protests erotic exhibition during Easter Week: Agence France-Presse - April 16, 2000; BORDEAUX, France, April 16 (AFP) - The Roman Catholic cardinal of Bordeaux protested Sunday against the holding of a public exhibition of erotica in this western French city during Easter Week.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigeria's air force chief says 30 soldiers cured of AIDS virus: Agence France-Presse - April 13, 2000; LAGOS, April 13 (AFP) - Nigeria's chief of air staff Isaac Alfa said 30 HIV-positive returnee soldiers are now cured after taking doses of a vaccine developed by a doctor, press reports said Thursday.
Ireland-blood: Cash row threat to Irish haemophilia blood scandal probe settled: Agence France-Presse - April 13, 2000; DUBLIN, April 14 (AFP) - A row about costs which threatened a judicial inquiry into the deaths of 72 Irish haemophiliacs from contaminated blood products has been settled with the provision of more funds, Health Minister Micheal Martin said Friday.
Money-AIDS: World Bank says fighting AIDS must be part of development assistance: Rob Lever; Agence France-Presse - April 12, 2000; WASHINGTON, April 12 (AFP) - The World Bank said Wednesday the fight against AIDS, especially in sub-Saharan African, must become an integral part of efforts to combat poverty and promote economic development.
SAfrica-Nigeria-AIDS: S. Africa warns against AIDS quacks in Nigeria: Agence France-Presse - April 10, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, April 10 (AFP) - South Africa's Medical Information Service warned Monday that travellers to Nigeria should not to be fooled by practitioners there claiming to have developed AIDS cures.
Singapore-France-AIDS: French, Singapore biotech firms in AIDS test-kit battle: Agence France-Presse - April 9, 2000; SINGAPORE, April 9 (AFP) - French and Singaporean biotechnology firms are engaged in a legal battle over the rights to make medical kits to detect a new strain of the virus that causes AIDS, a report said Sunday.
Nigeria-health: Nigeria to set up blood transfusion agency: minister: Agence France-Presse - April 8, 2000; LAGOS, April 8 (AFP) - The Nigerian government is planning legislation to govern blood transfusions, Health Minister Tim Menakaya told Saturday's edition of the newspaper The Guardian.
SAfrica-AIDS-drug: AIDS drug maker disputes link to deaths in South African trial: Agence France-Presse - April 7, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, April 7 (AFP) - The manufacturer of the anti-AIDS drug Nevirapine has disputed a claim by South Africa's health minister that the product may be linked to the deaths of five women on clinical trials, reports said Friday.
Africa-AIDS-drug: Five women die during anti-AIDS drug trial in South Africa: Agence France-Presse - April 5, 2000; CAPE TOWN, April 5 (AFP) - Five South African women have died during an ongoing clinical trial of anti-retroviral AIDS drug Nevirapine, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang told parliament Wednesday.
Unions-SAfrica: Rights of women, gays raised at international union congress: Agence France-Presse - April 5, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, April 5 (AFP) - The rights of women and homosexuals were highlighted Wednesday, the third day of a week-long congress in South Africa of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.
UN-AIDS-Gates: Gates Foundation gives 57 million dollars to fight AIDS in Africa: Agence France-Presse - April 4, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, April 4 (AFP) - The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has made a grant of 57 million dollars to support programs to protect young people against HIV/AIDS in four African countries, the UN said on Tuesday.
SAfrica-AIDS-drug: US pharmaceutical giant offers free AIDS drug to South Africans: Agence France-Presse - April 4, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, April 4 (AFP) - US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has offered to provide a drug free of charge to thousands of South Africans suffering from AIDS-related meningitis, the South African media reported Tuesday.
China-AIDS: China's AIDS patients surges 69 percent in 1999: Agence France-Presse - April 4, 2000; BEIJING, April 4 (AFP) - The number of AIDS patients in China surged by 69 percent year-on-year in 1999, the Shanghai Daily reported Tuesday quoting health ministry figures.
Cambodia-culture: Cambodian PM bans "sexy" short skirts from TV: Agence France-Presse - April 4, 2000; OUDONG, Cambodia, April 4 (AFP) - Cambodia's female pop stars have been banned from wearing "sexy" short skirts during television appearences, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced Monday during a keynote speech on culture.
Myanmar-rights-UN: Myanmar blasts UN report on human rights violations: Agence France-Presse - April 2, 2000; BANGKOK, April 2 (AFP) - Myanmar Sunday blasted as "highly biased" and "derogatory" a report by the United Nations special rapporteur for human rights that condemned the Yangon junta for widespread rights violations.
AIDS-unions: Unions vow to battle AIDS: Anne Renaut; Agence France-Presse - April 2, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, April 1 (AFP) - Unions from around the world expressed their determination Saturday to battle the AIDS virus, in a study published in advance of a conference in the Indian Ocean city of Durban.
Tanzania-health: TB cases on the rise in Tanzania, says minister: Agence France-Presse - April 2, 2000; DAR ES SALAAM, April 1 (AFP) - Cases of Tuberculosis (TB) are on the rise in Tanzania, leading to a heavier burden on the country's already poor health services delivery system, press reports said Saturday.
AIDS-SAfrica: Angry debate in South Africa on AIDS theories: Jean-Claude Boksenbaum; Agence France-Presse - April 2, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, April 2 (AFP) - A decision by President Thabo Mbeki to include dissident scientists on a panel of experts studying measures to counter AIDS is provoking angry debate in South Africa, a country where nine percent of the population -- 3.6 million people -- are HIV-positive.
Unions-AIDS-SAfrica: Unionists plan "another Seattle" at Durban AIDS conference: organiser: Agence France-Presse - April 1, 2000; DURBAN, South Africa, April 1 (AFP) - Trade unionists plan to create "another Seattle" by demonstrating in the South African east coast city of Durban on July 9 at a world conference on AIDS, an organiser told AFP Saturday.

March

Africa-sects: Religious sects preying on Africa's misery: Adnane Zaka; Agence France-Presse - March 31, 2000; PARIS, March 31 (AFP) - Thousands of religious sects have sprung up in Africa in the last ten years, exploiting the misery caused by dire poverty, AIDS and broken families, French-based experts said Friday.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigeria increases budget for verification of AIDS cure claims: Agence France-Presse - March 31, 2000; ABUJA, March 31 (AFP) - The Nigerian health minister said Thursday that the government has increased almost by threefold its budget on verification of HIV/AIDS cure claims, moving it from 2.8 million dollars to 7.8 million.
New evidence drug cocktail boosts longevity of HIV victims: Agence France-Presse - March 31, 2000; PARIS, March 31 (AFP) - A cocktail of medications introduced four years ago has immensely increased the longevity of people with the AIDS virus, according to research published in Friday's Lancet.
US-health-AIDS: AIDS: level of HIV virus in blood determines transmission risk: Agence France-Presse - March 30, 2000; BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 30 (AFP) - The risk of transmitting AIDS is heightened according to the amount of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) present in the blood, according to a major new study published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigerian government mulls legislation on AIDS: Agence France-Presse - March 29, 2000; ABUJA, March 29 (AFP) - Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo said Wednesday his government is considering legislation to back up its campaign against the spread of AIDS, including a bill outlawing discrimination against people infected with the HIV virus.
Zimbabwe-AIDS-strike: Zimbabwean trade unions threaten mass action over controversial AIDS tax: Agence France-Presse - March 27, 2000; HARARE, March 27, (AFP) - The powerful Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) on Monday threatened mass action to protest against a controversial AIDS tax introduced in January.
Nepal-AIDS: Nepal facing AIDS explosion among young people: Kedar Man Singh; Agence France-Presse - March 27, 2000; KATHMANDU, March 27 (AFP) - In the backyard of the world's tallest snow-capped peak, more and more youngsters are being seduced by the highs of grainy powders and needles -- and soon, more will be dying of AIDS.
SriLanka-AIDS: Sri Lankan AIDS battle bogged down by condom controversy: Amal Jayasinghe; Agence France-Presse - March 27, 2000; COLOMBO, March 27 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's battle against the spread of AIDS has a cultural foe: a taboo against advertising condoms.
Malawi-AIDS: Donors pledge 109 mln dlrs to fight AIDS in Malawi: Agence France-Presse - March 26, 2000; BLANTYRE, March 26 (AFP)- Western donors have pledged 109 million US dollars to Malawi to help fight the AIDS epidemic which is ravaging the country.
EU-Africa: Euro-African summit to consider war, AIDS and poverty: Agence France-Presse - March 26, 2000; CAIRO, March 26 (AFP) - More than 50 European and African leaders will meet in Cairo next month to discuss issues ranging through war, poverty and the AIDS epidemic, the government daily Al Ahram reported Sunday, citing the foreign ministry.
SAfrica-AIDS: Mbeki digs heels in over AIDS panel: report: Agence France-Presse - March 26, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, March 26 (AFP) - President Thabo Mbeki, under fire for calling into question the causal link between HIV and AIDS, has issued a stern reprimand to his critics, among them a judge, two AIDS experts and two church leaders, a report said Sunday.
UN-AIDS: Development aid must be linked to AIDS fight: UN official: Agence France-Presse - March 22, 2000; OSLO, March 22 (AFP) - Development aid for poor countries is wasted if not also accompanied by help in fighting AIDS, the director of the United Nations' AIDS program said here Tuesday.
Health-tuberculosis: Tuberculosis, an accurate barometer of national economic health: Agence France-Presse - March 22, 2000; AMSTERDAM, March 22 (AFP) - Delegates from the 20 countries most plagued by tuberculosis are to begin a three-day conference here Wednesday to discuss ways of eradicating the disease which kills six people per minute around the world.
Malawi-AIDS: Malawi seeks 80 million dollars to fight HIV/AIDS: Agence France-Presse - March 22, 2000; BLANTYRE, March 22 (AFP) - Malawi is seeking 80 million dollars from donors to help fight the rampant spread of AIDS, a senior health official here said Wednesday.
India-US-AIDS: Clinton pledges support for India's anti-AIDS drive: Agence France-Presse - March 22, 2000; NEW DELHI, March 22 (AFP) - US President Bill Clinton on Wednesday pledged support for anti-AIDS efforts in India, a country which the World Bank says accounts for 60 percent of HIV cases in Asia.
Vietnam-AIDS: Vietnam to spend 4.3 million dollars on anti-AIDS work in 2000: Agence France-Presse - March 22, 2000; HANOI, March 22 (AFP) - Vietnam will spend 4.3 million dollars (60 billion dong) to bankroll the country's war against HIV and AIDS this year, an official said on Wednesday.
China-prostitution: Crack down on growing sex trade, top Chinese lawmaker urges: Agence France-Presse - March 20, 2000; BEIJING, March 20 (AFP) - A leading Chinese woman lawmaker has urged a crackdown on the "filthy" sex trade, warning it could shake the country's foundations, state media reported Monday.
EU-foreign: EU ministers revisit concern over Chechnya, Mozambique, Serbia: Allen Nacheman; Agence France-Presse - March 20, 2000; BRUSSELS, March 20 (AFP) - The European Union on Monday reiterated deepening concern over Chechnya, deploring Moscow's failure to respond to EU calls for humanitarian monitoring and improvement, but made no move to beef up toothless sanctions enacted months ago.
Namibia-independence: Namibia to celebrate 10 years of independence: Agence France-Presse - March 20, 2000; WINDHOEK, March 20 (AFP) - African presidents are due in Windhoek Tuesday to help Namibia celebrate 10 years of independence, an anniversary which comes against a background of instability on its border with Angola.
UN-AIDS: UN to distribute condoms to at-risk troops: report: Agence France-Presse - March 18, 2000; WASHINGTON, March 18 (AFP) - Concern that United Nations peacekeepers are vulnerable to AIDS and other sexually-transmitted diseases has prompted UN officials to distribute a condoms to male UN troops in "high risk" areas, the Washington Post reported Saturday.
India-AIDS: India concerned at AIDS spread in northeast: Agence France-Presse - March 17, 2000; GUWAHATI, India, March 17 (AFP) - Indian health officials warned Friday of a growing AIDS threat in the country's remote northeast region, amid an alarming rise in prostitution and the number of intravenous drug users.
US-health-AIDS: AIDS microbicide likely to be available before vaccine: UNAIDS: Agence France-Presse - March 13, 2000; WASHINGTON, March 13 (AFP) - The search for a microbicide that kills the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) before it infects a person is likely to be available before a vaccine to prevent the deadly disease, the head of UNAIDS said here Monday.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigerian government warns public against claims over AIDS cure: Agence France-Presse - March 13, 2000; ABUJA, March 13 (AFP) - The Nigerian government on Monday warned members of the public to be wary of recent claims of HIV/AIDS curea, saying that these claims have not yet been "authenticated".
Health-AIDS: AIDS virus strains are mutating -- raises test, treatment worries: Agence France-Presse - March 10, 2000; MONTPELLIER, France, March 10 (AFP) - French and African researchers said Friday that strains of the AIDS virus were mutating, a development with potentially alarming repercussions on testing and treatment for the infection.
US-health-AIDS: US scientists use rabies virus to create AIDS vaccine for mice: Francis Temman; Agence France-Presse - March 6, 2000; WASHINGTON, March 6 (AFP) - US scientists have created an AIDS vaccine for mice by genetically modifying the rabies virus to trick mice's immune systems into fighting HIV, according to a study to be published Tuesday.
India-AIDS-Bangladesh: Half of Bangladeshis have pre-marital sex: UNAIDS: Agence France-Presse - March 6, 2000; NEW DELHI, March 6 (AFP) - Almost half of Bangladeshis have pre-marital sex and hundreds of thousands visit sex workers every day despite growing risks of contracting AIDS, a UN official said here on Monday.
India-AIDS: UN global AIDS campaign targets men as key to curbing infection: Agence France-Presse - March 6, 2000; NEW DELHI, March 6 (AFP) - The United Nations launched a new global AIDS programme for the year 2000 here Monday, focused on raising awareness among men and highlighting their role in the spread of the disease.
China-sex: Sexually transmitted diseases rise 30 pct in China since 1998: Agence France-Presse - March 3, 2000; BEIJING, March 3 (AFP) - The number of sexually transmitted disease cases in China has jumped 30 percent since 1998 and treatment has become chaotic because of quack doctors, Xinhua reported Friday.
China-AIDS: Chinese more vulnerable to AIDS: report: Agence France-Presse - March 2, 2000; BEIJING, March 2 (AFP) -- Ethnic Chinese could be more vulnerable to the AIDS virus because they lack a genetic mutation that helps fight off the virus, state media reported Thursday.
China-condoms: Commotion caused by first hotel in China to give out condoms: Agence France-Presse - March 2, 2000; BEIJING, March 2 (AFP) - A hotel in China's Sichuan Province has added something new to ho-hum complimentary bathroom supplies -- condoms.

February

Rwanda-AIDS: Around 400,000 Rwandans have HIV virus say officials: Agence France-Presse - February 26, 2000; KIGALI, Feb 26 (AFP) - Around 400,000 people in Rwanda, the majority of whom are women, are infected with the HIV virus, the head of the country's national programme to fight AIDS said Saturday.
Japan-AIDS: Japanese drug company chiefs jailed for HIV-contaminated blood scandal: Agence France-Presse - February 24, 2000; TOKYO, Feb 24 (AFP) - A Japanese court Thursday jailed three former chiefs of drug maker Green Cross Corp. over a scandal in which HIV-contaminated blood products infected 1,434 people, an official said.
SAfrica-budget: S. African growth expected at 3.4 percent for next 3 years: minister: Emsie Ferreira; Agence France-Presse - February 23, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Feb 23 (AFP) - South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel Wednesday delivered a 233.5 billion rand (37 billion dollar) budget to parliament in which he set long-awaited inflation targets and predicted growth of 3.4 percent in the next three years.
US-biotech: Citing flawed biosafety fears Albright urges science boost in US diplomacy: Matthew Lee; Agence France-Presse - February 23, 2000; WASHINGTON, Feb 21 (AFP) - Citing misguided fears over genetically altered food as a potential diplomatic flashpoint, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Monday urged making science and technology a top priority in US foreign policy.
UN-drugs-Europe: Drug abuse up in Europe as attitudes relax, prices fall: Michael Thurston; Agence France-Presse - February 23, 2000; VIENNA, Feb 23 (AFP) - Drug abuse is growing across western Europe, a report said Wednesday, urging governments to do more to fight a scourge notably fueled by increasingly relaxed attitudes and lower prices.
Madcow-blood: France mulls madcow ban on blood donors: Agence France-Presse - February 23, 2000; PARIS, Feb 23 (AFP) - A French government committee meets Wednesday to discuss whether to impose a ban on blood donations by people who lived in Britain at a time when beef there may have been contaminated by "mad cow" disease.
Madcow-France-Britain: French health panel meets to weigh ban on British blood donors: Agence France-Presse - February 18, 2000; PARIS, Feb 18 (AFP) - A top health committee will meet here next week to discuss whether France should follow North America and ban blood donated by people who lived in Britain during a period when beef may have been contaminated by "mad cow" disease.
Malaysia-drugs-fishermen: Probe into claims of drug-addicted Malaysian fishermen: Agence France-Presse - February 18, 2000; KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 (AFP) - Many fishermen from a northern Malaysian state are buying drugs on the high seas and returning to shore penniless, a report said Friday.
Singapore-employment: Singapore imposes medical exam for all expats, long-term visitors: Agence France-Presse - February 18, 2000; SINGAPORE, Feb 18 (AFP) - Singapore on Friday said it will require all expatriates and long-term visitors to pass medical examinations before they are granted permits to work or live here, from March.
US-Africa-Albright: Albright urges renewed engagement with Africa: Agence France-Presse - February 17, 2000; WASHINGTON, Feb 17 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Thursday urged renewed American engagement with Africa saying events on the continent have a "direct impact" on the United States and calling for congressional passage of an African trade and investment bill.
US-SAfrica: US willing to give DRC peacekeeping mission military support: Cohen: Jim Mannion; Agence France-Presse - February 15, 2000; PRETORIA, Feb 15 (AFP) - The United States is prepared to provide logistics and other forms of military support to a UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo should the belligerants make a genuine peace, US Defense Secretary William Cohen said Tuesday.
SAfrica-Norway: Norwegian prime minister leaves South Africa for Nigeria: Agence France-Presse - February 14, 2000; JOHANNESBURG, Feb 14 (AFP) - Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik left Johannesburg for Nigeria on Monday, ending a four-day visit to South Africa that included talks with President Thabo Mbeki.
Italy-AIDS-prison: Italian prisons face AIDS threat, report says: Agence France-Presse - February 11, 2000; ROME, Feb 11 (AFP) - Italy's prisons face a "serious health situation" caused by the spread of AIDS among inmates, an anti-AIDS group said on Friday.
Germany-Africa-condom: German condom maker Condomi to set up factory in Kenya: Agence France-Presse - February 11, 2000; COLOGNE, Germany, Feb 11 (AFP) - Condomi, the biggest maker of condoms in Germany, said on Friday that it had signed an agreement with a Kenyan company to set up a joint manufacturing facility in Nairobi.
US-health-AIDS: Gene therapy may have exposed cancer patients to AIDS virus: report: Agence France-Presse - February 11, 2000; WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (AFP) - US researchers may have accidentally exposed more than two dozen young cancer patients to the virus that causes AIDS, the Washington Post reported Friday.
Brazil-carnival: A condom novelty for Carnival goers: Agence France-Presse - February 9, 2000; SAO PAULO, Feb 9 (AFP) - Flavored condoms -- chocolate, grape, strawberry and mint -- will be sold at Carnival this year, as part of a campaign to prevent AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Uganda-AIDS: Ugandan soldier arrested for infecting 30 women with HIV: Agence France-Presse - February 8, 2000; KAMPALA, Feb 8 (AFP) - A Ugandan soldier who told a mosque gathering that he had deliberately infected 30 women with the HIV virus that causes AIDS has been arrested, a military spokesman told AFP on Tuesday.
Botswana-budget: 10 million dollar surplus for Botswana's 2000/2001 budget: Agence France-Presse - February 7, 2000; GABORONE, Feb 7 (AFP) - Botswana's 2000/2001 budget is expected to turn a nearly 50 million pula (10 million dollar) surplus, Finance Minister Baledzi Gaolathe told the national assembly of the diamond-rich country Monday.
SAfrica-Britain-Hain: Britain ready to give money, people for peace in Africa: Agence France-Presse - February 3, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Feb 3 (AFP) - Britain is willing to commit money and personnel to peacekeeping efforts in Africa and funding to fight its AIDS epidemic, Britain's minister for Africa Peter Hain said here Tuesday.
US-health-AIDS-genetic: New gene therapy successful against AIDS in monkeys: Agence France-Presse - February 3, 2000; SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 3 (AFP) - A team of researchers here has announced the first successful use of gene therapy in the fight against AIDS.
US-AIDS: AIDS virus leapt from ape to man in 1930s: study: Agence France-Presse - February 3, 2000; SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 3 (AFP) - The AIDS virus, which has devasted millions of lives, migrated from a chimpanzee to a human at some point in the 1930s, US researchers said in a study based on computer-generated mutations.
SAfrica-health-AIDS: Doctor fined for criticising health minister over AZT drug: Agence France-Presse - February 2, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Feb 2 (AFP) - A government committee has fined a doctor 1,000 rand (170 dollars) for criticising a former health minister over South Africa's refusal to issue the anti-AIDS drug AZT to infected pregnant women, a report said Wednesday.
US-AIDS: Risk of HIV infection with oral sex: study: Agence France-Presse - February 1, 2000; SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 1 (AFP) - The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be transmitted through oral sex, contrary to theories that the practice is safe, according to a study published here Tuesday.

January

China-drugs: Drug-related crime spiralling in Beijing: Agence France-Presse - January 31, 2000; BEIJING, Jan 31 (AFP) - Drug-related crime in Beijing more than doubled last year leading to the arrest of 5,600 drug dealers in the Chinese capital, state media reported Sunday.
US-AIDS: Suspension of therapy possible after long-term AIDS infection: Agence France-Presse - January 31, 2000; SAN FRANCISCO, California, Jan 31 (AFP) - Researchers have found that patients who have infected with the HIV virus for several years can suspend their treatments without irreversible consequences, according to a study released Monday.
Namibia-Nujoma-bishop: Archbishop of Canterbury visits Namibia's Nujoma: Agence France-Presse - January 31, 2000; WINDHOEK, Jan 31 (AFP) - The Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, on Monday held talks with Namibia's President Sam Nujoma as part of a three-day visit to the country.
US-AIDS: Anti-HIV drugs create false sense of security : study: Agence France-Presse - January 31, 2000; SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 31 (AFP) - Availability of powerful drugs able to suppress the AIDS virus creates a false sense of security among people belonging to high-risk groups, according to a new study.
US-aids-church: AIDS epidemic strikes US priests: report: Agence France-Presse - January 31, 2000; WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (AFP) - Catholic priests in the US are dying of AIDS at a rate at least four times that of the general population, a leading American newspaper reported this week.
Davos-health: Gates gives cash to child vaccine campaign: Agence France-Presse - January 31, 2000; DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 31 (AFP) - An international alliance including governments and private-sector leaders launched a campaign Monday to provide life-saving vaccines to children around the world.
UN-Aids-peacekeeping: New UN peacekeeping mandates to mention AIDS for first time: Agence France-Presse - January 28, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Jan 28 (AFP) - The mandates of UN peacekeeping forces to be renewed next week will for the first time mention the prevention and control of AIDS, Security Council president Richard Holbrooke said Friday.
Britain-AIDS: More heterosexuals with HIV in Britain: report: Agence France-Presse - January 27, 2000; LONDON, Jan 28 (AFP) - Britain last year registered more heterosexuals than homosexuals with the AIDS-related human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), according to latest official statistics published Friday.
France-blood: France sets up new blood transfusion service: Emsie Ferreira; Agence France-Presse - January 27, 2000; PARIS, Jan 27 (AFP) - France will create a new blood transfusion service, replacing one which was itself set up in the wake of the scandal of HIV-contaminated blood, Health Minister Dominique Gillot said Thursday.
SAfrica-law: S. Africa passes landmark bill to outlaw discrimination: Emsie Ferreira; Agence France-Presse - January 26, 2000; CAPE TOWN, Jan 26 (AFP) - The South African national assembly on Wednesday approved a bill that outlaws discrimination on grounds such as race, gender, religion and disability in a bid to eradicate the lingering inequalities of the apartheid era.
Setback for AIDS vaccine as "immune" prostitutes catch virus: Agence France-Presse - January 26, 2000; PARIS, Jan 26 (AFP) - The search for an AIDS vaccine has been dealt a heavy blow by the discovery that a group of Kenyan prostitutes thought to be immune to HIV have now caught the virus, New Scientist reports.
SAfrica-US-ambassador: New US ambassador to South Africa presents papers: Agence France-Presse - January 21, 2000; PRETORIA, Jan 21 (AFP) - Incoming US ambassador Delano Lewis said Friday he would use Washington's links with Pretoria to give priority to educational and economic development and the fight against AIDS during his tenure.
US-environment-health: New diseases in wildlife threaten to cross over to humans: Agence France-Presse - January 20, 2000; WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (AFP) - Human beings and biodiversity are being threatened by new infectious diseases spreading among wildlife, according to a study published Friday in Science magazine.
US-Africa: Holbrooke calls for more attention on Africa: Elise Labott; Agence France-Presse - January 20, 2000; NEW YORK, Jan 20 (AFP) - US Ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke called Africa "one of the largest untapped markets in the world," and pledged US support toward the continents social, economic and political development.
Cambodia-suicide: AIDS-ridden Cambodian torches himself in city center: Agence France-Presse - January 20, 2000; PHNOM PENH, Jan 20 (AFP) - A man who feared he was infected with AIDS after a local hospital refused to buy his blood set himself ablaze in the center of the Cambodian capital Thursday, police and witnesses said.
Vietnam-AIDS: HIV infections in Vietnam rise more than 50 percent in 1999: Agence France-Presse - January 20, 2000; HANOI, Jan 20 (AFP) - Vietnamese health authorities said the number of people infected with the AIDS-related human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rose 51.5 percent in 1999, with more than 5,827 new cases reported, the press said Thursday.
Tanzania-US-AIDS: US donates 2.5 million dollars for Tanzanian HIV programmes: Agence France-Presse - January 19, 2000; DAR ES SALAAM, Jan 19 (AFP) - The United States has donated 2.5 million dollars to finance programmes aimed at reducing the spread of HIV in Tanzania, according to a US statement released here Wednesday.
Philippines-population: Philippine's Estrada asks church to help with family planning: Agence France-Presse - January 19, 2000; MANILA, Jan 19 (AFP) - Philippine President Joseph Estrada on Wednesday urged the Roman Catholic church to help him get the government's family planning program back on track.
Pacific-AIDS: AIDS campaigner accuses churches of being pro-establishment: Agence France-Presse - January 19, 2000; AUCKLAND, Jan 18 (AFP) - Pacifics influential Christian churches had become too pro-establishment and were "hiding behind tradition" in dealing with AIDS, a leading UN-funded campaigner charged Tuesday.
Thailand-US-AIDS: Thai AIDS activists appeal to US over drug: Agence France-Presse - January 19, 2000; BANGKOK, Jan 19 (AFP) - Thai activists pleaded with US President Bill Clinton Tuesday to turn a blind eye if Thailand licenses a version of an anti-AIDS drug sold by a US pharmaceutical giant at prices few Thais can afford.
US-AIDS: Specialists recommend individualized treatment plans for HIV: journal: Agence France-Presse - January 18, 2000; CHICAGO, Jan 18 (AFP) - New recommendations by international specialists in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) appeared Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), stressing the importance of individualized treatment plans.
China-medicine: China punishes firms for making bogus medicine: report: Agence France-Presse - January 18, 2000; BEIJING, Jan 18 (AFP) - China has punished 132 companies for making and marketing bogus and substandard medicine, state media reported Tuesday.
Britain-pharmaceuticals: Glaxo Wellcome, SmithKline Beecham merge to form biggest drugs company: Agence France-Presse - January 17, 2000; LONDON, Jan 17 (AFP) - British pharmaceuticals giants Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham announced a merger on Monday which is set to create the biggest pharmaceutical group in the world.
Russia-AIDS: HIV-positive woman jailed for spreading AIDS virus: Agence France-Presse - January 15, 2000; MOSCOW, Jan 15 (AFP) - A 21-year-old Russian woman, Angela Kozhakhmetova, was jailed for a year at Pavlodar, in Kazakhstan, for having infected several men when she knew she was a carrier of the HIV virus that causes AIDS, Interfax reported.
SAfrica-AIDS: South Africa forms new body to combat AIDS crisis: Agence France-Presse - January 14, 2000; PRETORIA, Jan 14 (AFP) - South Africa on Friday launched a high-powered new body to coordinate the government's response to one of the world's worst AIDS crises at a ceremony in the capital Pretoria.
Cambodia-crime: Two die in AIDS-related shoot-out: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - January 14, 2000; PHNOM PENH, Jan 14 (AFP) - A Cambodian soldier infected with HIV shot the father of his sweetheart and blew himself up after permission to marry was rejected by her family, it was reported here Friday.
UN-Africa-refugees: Treat all refugees as such, Holbrooke tells bureaucrats: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - January 13, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Jan 13 (AFP) - The UN Security Council drew attention on Thursday to the plight of millions of people who are forced by war to flee their homes but who lack the protection of refugee status.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigerian president vows to continue fight against HIV/AIDS: Agence France-Presse - January 13, 2000; ABUJA, Jan 13 (AFP) - President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday vowed that his administration would soldier on in the fight against HIV/AIDS, which affects 5.4 percent of Nigeria's population.
Thailand-US-AIDS: US urged to improve developing world's access to anti-AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - January 13, 2000; BANGKOK, Jan 13 (AFP) - Nobel peace prize winner Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) on Thursday accused the United States of restricting developing nations' access to life-prolonging anti-AIDS drugs to protect the interests of big business.
Latvia-aids: Latvin reports slowdown in rate of HIV spread: Agence France-Presse - January 12, 2000; RIGA, Jan 12 (AFP) - The number of new HIV infections continued to grow in Latvia in 1999, but the rate of growth slowed, the country's AIDS prevention center reported.
UN-Africa-AIDS: World Bank calls for up to 2.3 billion dollars to fight AIDS in Africa: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - January 10, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Jan 10 (AFP) - US Vice President Al Gore opened the first ever public health debate by the UN Security Council on Monday and pledged an extra 150 million dollars to the fight against AIDS and other infectious diseases.
UN-Africa-AIDS-Council: Security Council debate on AIDS could set a precedent: Holbrooke: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - January 10, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Jan 10 (AFP) - Monday's high-level debate on AIDS and Africa in the UN Security Council could set a precedent for broadening the responsibilities of the council, US ambassador Richard Holbrooke suggested.
Nigeria-health: Nigerian president to supervise national AIDS campaign: Agence France-Presse - January 10, 2000; ABUJA, Jan 10 (AFP) - President Olusegun Obasanjo Monday on Monday took direct control of Nigeria's national effort against AIDS, an official statement said.
UN-Africa-AIDS: US announces extra 100 million dollars to fight AIDS worldwide: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - January 10, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Jan 10 (AFP) - US Vice President Al Gore opened the first ever public health debate by the UN Security Council here Monday and pledged an extra 150 million dollars to the fight against AIDS and other infectious diseases.
UN-US-Africa-Gore: Gore to announce 'significant new resources' for fighting AIDS: Agence France-Presse - January 10, 2000; NEW YORK, Jan 10 (AFP) - US Vice President Al Gore said Monday he would announce "significant new resources" for the fight against AIDS when he presides over an unprecedented UN Security Council meeting on AIDS in Africa.
UN-Africa-AIDS-Gore: Al Gore tells the Security Council to redefine security: Agence France-Presse - January 10, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Jan 10 (AFP) - US Vice President Al Gore called on the UN Security Council on Monday to adopt a new, wider definition of world security to include global environmental and health hazards.
UN-Africa-AIDS-Annan: Stop wars spreading AIDS, Annan tells Security Council: Agence France-Presse - January 10, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Jan 10 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urged the Security Council on Monday to prevent wars from helping to spread AIDS, particularly in Africa.
UN-US-Africa: "Africa matters" - Holbrooke says as UN to focus on AIDS, wars in Africa: Agence France-Presse - January 9, 2000; WASHINGTON, Jan 9 (AFP) - US Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke on Sunday stressed that "Africa matters" for Washington as Vice President Al Gore was to preside over an unprecedented UN Security Council meeting on AIDS in Africa.
Nepal-AIDS: HIV death toll reaches 139 in Nepal: Agence France-Presse - January 9, 2000; KATHAMANDU, Jan 9 (AFP) - HIV/AIDS has claimed 139 lives in Nepal over the last 12 years, an official of the National AIDS and HIV Control Centre said Sunday.
UN-US-Africa: US to announce major anti-AIDS funding for Africa at UN meeting: Michel Leclercq; Agence France-Presse - January 8, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Jan 8 (AFP) - US Vice President Al Gore was to announce a major financial contribution to the fight against AIDS in Africa at a special meeting of the UN Security Council scheduled for Monday.
Uganda-US-AIDS: Senior US official to consult Uganda on AIDS: Agence France-Presse - January 8, 2000; KAMPALA, Jan 8 (AFP) - Senior US official Sandra Thurman arrives here on Sunday to start a three-day visit to Uganda for consultations with AIDS researchers, support groups and officials on efforts to reduce the scourge, the US Information Service said here Saturday.
EU-health: Vast EU research project attacking AIDS, cancer, diabetes, CVD: Allen Nacheman; Agence France-Presse - January 7, 2000; BRUSSELS, Jan 7 (AFP) - The European Union has embarked on a vast medical research program seeking 21st century cures to diseases that account for 71 percent of deaths in the 15 member nations, EU Commissioner for Research Philippe Busquin said Friday.
India-polio: WHO launches push for global polio eradication by end 2000: Giles Hewitt; Agence France-Presse - January 6, 2000; NEW DELHI, Jan 6 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a "final push" for the global eradication of polio by the end of 2000 here Thursday, warning failure may leave no space for future opportunities.
Kenya-education-AIDS: Twenty percent of Kenyan secondary school pupils infected with HIV: Agence France-Presse - January 6, 2000; NAIROBI, Jan 6 (AFP) - About 128,000 or 20 percent of an estimated 640,000 teenagers in Kenya's secondary schools are infected with the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, Thursday's local press reports quoted Education Minister Kalonzo Musyoka as saying.
UN-US-Gore: US Vice President Al Gore to chair UN Security Council: Agence France-Presse - January 5, 2000; UNITED NATIONS, Jan 5 (AFP) - US Vice President Al Gore will chair a session of the UN Security Council on Monday devoted to the impact of AIDS on peace and security in Africa, US representative Richard Holbrooke said Wednesday.

This information is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

Copyright © AFP or Agence France-Presse, 2000. AFP stories and photos shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, that no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP photos or materials. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP stories, photos or graphics. http://www.afp.com/

©1990,2000 - ÆGiS. ÆGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All materials appearing on ÆGIS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of ÆGIS and the Sisters of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, or the party credited as the provider of the content.