Agence France-Presse - Table of Contents 'English'

2002

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

December

Iran-AIDS: Iranian doctors ordered not to turn away AIDS patients: Agence France-Presse - December 30, 2002; TEHRAN, Dec 30 (AFP) - Doctors in Iran have received a government order not to turn away patients infected with HIV or AIDS as part of a new effort to control the spread of the disease, medical workers said Monday.
Africa-famine: Southern Africa still faces threat of famine in new year: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - December 30, 2002; HARARE, Dec 30 (AFP) - A severe food crisis that has dogged southern Africa throughout 2002 is expected to continue, largely due to slow food imports, erratic rainfall and shortages of seeds and fertilisers.
US-AIDS-UN: AIDS has a "woman's face" in Africa, UN chief says: Agence France-Presse - December 29, 2002; NEW YORK, Dec 29 (AFP) - Famine and AIDS threaten the women who keep African societies going and make up the economic foundation of rural communities, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan wrote in Sunday's New York Times.
China-health-AIDS: Cheap AIDS drugs to combat China's spiralling crisis: Agence France-Presse - December 27, 2002; BEIJING, Dec 27 (AFP) - In a fresh sign that Chinese government attitudes are becoming more open, locally-produced drugs to treat AIDS patients will be on the market in January, official media said Friday.
Bangladesh-AIDS-sex: Bangladeshi schools to have sex education from 2004: Agence France-Presse - December 25, 2002; DHAKA, Dec 25 (AFP) - Bangladesh will introduce sex education in its schools from 2004 in an effort to stem the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, a top official was quoted saying Wednesday.
France-WTO-medicines: Chirac urges US to show "generosity" over drugs for poor countries: Agence France-Presse - December 24, 2002; PARIS, Dec 24 (AFP) - French President Jacques Chirac urged "all countries, and in particular the United States" Tuesday to display a spirit of generosity and compromise to ensure that poor nations have access to life-saving drugs.
EU-WTO-medicines: EU says US offer leaves issue of poor country access to medicine unresolved: Agence France-Presse - December 23, 2002; BRUSSELS, Dec 23 (AFP) - The European Union's executive commission said Monday a US proposal in the WTO debate on ways to ensure poor countries have access to life-saving medicines was important but insufficient.
Malawi-Muluzi: Malawi government not taking blood from villagers: Muluzi: Agence France-Presse - December 23, 2002; BLANTYRE, Dec 23 (AFP) - Malawi President Bakili Muluzi has dismissed allegations that his government is collaborating with international aid organisations to take blood from famished villagers in exchange for food.
Ethics-Nestle-Ethiopia: Nestle says part of compensation from Ethiopia to go to famine relief: Agence France-Presse - December 23, 2002; VEVEY, Switzerland, Dec 23 (AFP) - The multinational food giant Nestle said Monday it would use an initial 1.6-million-dollar (1.55-million-euro) compensation payment from the Ethiopian government for famine relief.
US-WTO-medicines: US promises to let drugs go to needy countries: Agence France-Presse - December 23, 2002; WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (AFP) - The United States has promised to let countries export life-saving drugs to needy countries without making any challenge to the World Trade Organization.
France-WTO-ActUp: Rich countries rejected serious talks on medicines for the poor: Act Up: Agence France-Presse - December 23, 2002; PARIS, Dec 23 (AFP) - An anti-AIDS activist group charged Monday that rich countries failed to mount a serious effort at WTO talks last week to reach an agreement ensuring that poor nations have access to affordable medicine.
Health-AIDS: Monkey tests give a boost to hopes for tackling HIV: Agence France-Presse - December 22, 2002; PARIS, Dec 22 (AFP) - A novel treatment, tested on monkeys by a team of Chinese and French scientists, has given a small boost to hopes for dampening the AIDS virus without having to resort to anti-retroviral drugs.
Myanmar-AIDS: Myanmar AIDS sufferers escape sorry plight in their homeland: Son Moe Wai; Agence France-Presse - December 22, 2002; CHIANG MAI, Thailand, Dec 22 (AFP) - Shunned and mistreated by a government which would prefer to pretend they didn't exist, HIV-AIDS sufferers from military-ruled Myanmar who make their way into Thailand say they escaped a sorry plight in their home country.
Italy-prostitution: Italy poised to sweep away street prostitution: Agence France-Presse - December 21, 2002; ROME, Dec 21 (AFP) - Italy's government says it will go ahead with plans to sweep prostitution off the streets with a bill likely to meet strong resistance from the opposition left and the Catholic Church.
Swaziland-drought: Swazis struggle in drought-stricken areas: Fienie Grobler; Agence France-Presse - December 21, 2002; GAMULA, Swaziland, Dec 21 (AFP) - A lone herd of cattle, their ribs framing their skeletal bodies, roam restlessly, seeking a patch of green in the dry, sandy plains of eastern Swaziland.
WTO-medicines: WTO fails to clinch deal on cheap medicine for developing world: Agence France-Presse - December 21, 2002; GENEVA, Dec 21 (AFP) - The World Trade Organisation (WTO) suffered a setback in the small hours of Saturday when the United States failed to rally around a deal aimed at providing poor countries with better access to life-saving medicines.
SAfrica-ANC-poverty: Impoverished South Africans struggle as ANC mulls their future: Fienie Grobler; Agence France-Presse - December 20, 2002; STELLENBOSCH, South Africa, Dec 20 (AFP) - An ageing street trader with slumped shoulders sat on a sidewalk as she watched members of South Africa's ruling party trickle into a hall to talk about helping the poor.
Swaziland: Swazi protesters march as low-key strike enters second day: Agence France-Presse - December 20, 2002; MANZINI, Swaziland, Dec 20 (AFP) - Some 2,000 protesters marched Friday through Swaziland's second town, Manzini, on the second day of a strike called by opposition groups to protest the Swazi king's purchase of a luxury jet.
Ukraine-health: World Bank grants Ukraine 60 million dollars to fight TB and AIDS: Agence France-Presse - December 20, 2002; KIEV, Dec 20 (AFP) - The World Bank said here Friday that it has allocated 60 million dollars (euros) to combatting AIDS and tuberculosis in Ukraine where both diseases are rampant.
Zimbabwe-Mugabe: Mugabe admits serious famine in Zimbabwe, attacks Britain: Agence France-Presse - December 19, 2002; HARARE, Dec 19 (AFP) - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe admitted Thursday that his country was facing serious difficulties related to the famine that has hit the country, but blamed it solely on drought.
Zambia-IMF-AIDS: HIV/AIDS a heavy burden on Zambia's economic recovery: IMF: Agence France-Presse - December 18, 2002; LUSAKA, Dec 18 (AFP) - The HIV/AIDS epidemic and a severe drought have placed a heavy burden on Zambia's efforts to restore economic prosperity, an official from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Wednesday.
WTO-medicines: WTO races against clock to unblock access to medicines deal: Jean-Louis de La Vaissiere; Agence France-Presse - December 18, 2002; GENEVA, Dec 18 (AFP) - The World Trade Organisation has until Friday to reach agreement on how to help poor countries gain access to affordable medicines in the face of US resistance prompted by Washington's concerns for the patent rights of its pharmaceutical industry.
SAfrica-ANC: ANC positions itself ideologically in post-apartheid South Africa: Agence France-Presse - December 18, 2002; STELLENBOSCH, South Africa, Dec 18 (AFP) - The ruling African National Congress (ANC) is positioning itself in post-apartheid South Africa as a social democratic party, committed to the interests of the poor, its policy document states.
Bangladesh-AIDS: 310 Bangladeshi children have HIV: UNICEF: Agence France-Presse - December 18, 2002; DHAKA, Dec 18 (AFP) - At least 310 Bangladeshi children are suffering from HIV, the virus which causes AIDS, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said here Wednesday.
WTO-medicines: US increasingly isolated at WTO talks on cheap medicines: Agence France-Presse - December 17, 2002; GENEVA, Dec 17 (AFP) - The United States appeared increasingly isolated on Tuesday as more countries rallied around a draft WTO accord on ensuring better access for poor countries to cheap medicines, trade sources said.
UN-AIDS-Taiwan: Non UN-member Taiwan makes donation to Global Fund for AIDS: Agence France-Presse - December 17, 2002; GENEVA, Dec 17 (AFP) - Taiwan, a non-member of the United Nations, has donated a million euros (1.03 million dollars) to the UN-initiated Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, Taiwan's cultural and economic delegation has announced here.
Namibia-AIDS-tax: Namibia to institute 'orphan tax': report: Agence France-Presse - December 17, 2002; WINDHOEK, Dec 17 (AFP) - Namibia is set to introduce "orphan tax" to help alleviate the plight of some 82,000 children, more than half of them left parentless because of HIV/AIDS, The Namibian newspaper reported Tuesday.
FAO-food-Africa: UN food agency warns of worsening crisis in Africa: Agence France-Presse - December 17, 2002; ROME, Dec 17 (AFP) - Up to 40 million people face hunger across Africa, in a crisis worsened by high rates of HIV/AIDS, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said in a grim pre-Christmas report released here Tuesday.
UN-population-US: US backs down on hardline stance at UN population conference: Agence France-Presse - December 17, 2002; BANGKOK, Dec 17 (AFP) - The United States backed down Tuesday from its hardline stance which threatened to derail a UN population conference, in the face of united opposition from 43 Asia-Pacific nations.
France-US-WTO: France slams US stand on poor country access to medicines: Agence France-Presse - December 17, 2002; PARIS, Dec 17 (AFP) - A senior French official sharply criticized the US position Tuesday on expanding access for poor countries to life-saving cheap medicines, which he said was holding up a global agreement on the question at the World Trade Organisation.
China-Tibet-doctors: Medecins Sans Frontieres leaving Tibet after 14 years: Agence France-Presse - December 17, 2002; BEIJING, Dec 17 (AFP) - One of the first non-governmental organizations (NGOs) allowed to work in Tibet is to close its two medical assistance projects in the region following years of administrative problems, an official said Tuesday.
Year-Africa-famine: Southern Africa facing unprecedented famine as year ends: Stephane Barbier; Agence France-Presse - December 17, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Dec 17 (AFP) - Southern Africa is facing unprecedented famine, but rich countries are failing to provide enough aid to feed more than 14 million people -- many weakened by AIDS -- threatened with death by starvation, relief agencies say.
WTO-medicines: US holds out at WTO talks on medicines access: Agence France-Presse - December 16, 2002; GENEVA, Dec 16 (AFP) - The United States was still holding out on Monday at crunch WTO talks on the scope of diseases to be covered under a key WTO accord on ensuring poor countries access to life-saving cheap medicines, trade sources said.
SAfrica-ANC-open: Crucial conference for ruling party starts in South Africa: Agence France-Presse - December 16, 2002; STELLENBOSCH, South Africa, Dec 16 (AFP) - South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) started a crucial five-day national conference Monday to devise strategies for the post apartheid struggle against poverty and HIV/AIDS.
Vietnam-UN-survey: Vietnam capital tops UN living standards survey: Agence France-Presse - December 16, 2002; HANOI, Dec 16 (AFP) - Hanoi has the highest standard of living in Vietnam but the southern business capital of Ho Chi Minh City ranks a lowly 14th out of 61 provinces because of the threat of HIV/AIDS, the UN said Monday.
Vietnam-UN-children: Vietnam needs to tackle malnutrition, trafficking, HIV: UNICEF: Agence France-Presse - December 16, 2002; HANOI, Dec 16 (AFP) - Sexual exploitation, malnutrition, inadequate sanitation and HIV transmission are just some of the problems facing children in Vietnam, the United Nations Children's Fund said Monday.
IMF-WBank-Africa: IMF and World Bank plea for aid in Africa food crisis: David Williams; Agence France-Presse - December 13, 2002; WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (AFP) - A spiralling food crisis in Africa threatens to envelop 30 million people next year and there is a massive shortfall in required aid, the IMF and World Bank warned Friday.
Singapore-sex: Singapore to use shock tactics to steer teens away from sex: Agence France-Presse - December 12, 2002; SINGAPORE, Dec 12 (AFP) - Singapore teens are to be bombarded with horror pictures showing body parts disfigured by sexually-transmitted diseases in a government attempt to quell a growing cavalier attitude to casual sex.
RedCross-appeal: Red Cross launches appeal for 2003: Agence France-Presse - December 12, 2002; GENEVA, Dec 12 (AFP) - The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (ICRC) on Thursday appealed for 220 million Swiss francs (149.6 million euros, 150.6 million dollars) for its activities in 2003.
WHO-AIDS: New alliance to help poor countries with AIDS treatments: Agence France-Presse - December 12, 2002; GENEVA, Dec 12 (AFP) - A group of some 50 non-governmental bodies, international agencies and national governments on Thursday announced the creation of a new alliance to help poor countries gain access to costly treatments to halt the spread of AIDS, the United Nations said.
China-sex: China urges safer sex in rural areas and among migrant workers: Agence France-Presse - December 11, 2002; BEIJING, Dec 11 (AFP) - Family planning associations throughout China will be asked to do a better job of teaching the rural and migrant population about safe sex to prevent HIV/AIDS, state media said Wednesday.
Malawi-UN-famine: UN envoy condemns slow reaction to Southern Africa food crisis: Agence France-Presse - December 8, 2002; BLANTYRE, Dec 8 (AFP) - A United Nations special envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa said on Sunday he was disappointed with the world's slow reaction to the food crisis in southern Africa, where people in six countries face starvation.
WTO-medicines: WTO meets to resolve differences over access to cheap drugs: Agence France-Presse - December 8, 2002; GENEVA, Dec 8 (AFP) - World Trade Organisation (WTO) delegates met on Sunday in the hope of resolving differences over access for poor countries to cheap medicines.
China-AIDS: Parents of 10-year-old AIDS victim sue China hospitals: Agence France-Presse - December 8, 2002; BEIJING, Dec 8 (AFP) - The parents of a 10-year-old child who died of AIDS after being infected with HIV in a series of tainted blood transfusions, have filed suit against the hospitals, state media reported Sunday.
Zimbabwe-famine: Spirit of hope cracks among Zimbabwe's starving villagers: Ryan Truscott; Agence France-Presse - December 7, 2002; BIKITA, Zimbabwe, Dec 7 (AFP) - The crop fields are lush green in Bikita. But 1,000 hungry people in this remote southern area of Zimbabwe queue quietly under the midday sun for food aid.
SAfrica-US-Winfrey: Oprah Winfrey, Nelson Mandela lauch AIDS concert: Agence France-Presse - December 6, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Dec 6 (AFP) - US talk-show host Oprah Winfrey and former South African president Nelson Mandela hosted a lavish dinner at Cape Town's botanic Kirstenbosch Gardens Friday to launch a concert to raise funds to fight AIDS which will be held at Robben Island, where Mandela was jailed under apartheid.
Zimbabwe-famine-UN: Zimbabwe worst off among southern Africa's famished countries: UN: Agence France-Presse - December 5, 2002; HARARE, Dec 5 (AFP) - Zimbabwe is worst off among the six southern African countries threatened with famine, which is a crisis rooted in the AIDS epidemic and not just crop failures and hunger, a top UN official said Thursday.
SAfrica-AIDS-race: AIDS in South Africa hits blacks twice as hard as whites: report: Agence France-Presse - December 5, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Dec 5 (AFP) - A report on AIDS in South Africa released Thursday shows that the rate of HIV infection among the black population is twice as high as among whites and coloureds (mixed race).
Zimbabwe-population: Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.2 million during 1990s: census: Agence France-Presse - December 4, 2002; HARARE, Dec 4 (AFP) - Zimbabwe's population grew by about 1.2 million, to 11.6 million, over the last 10 years, according to preliminary results released Wednesday of a census conducted in August.
Vietnam-crime-AIDS: Vietnamese man charged with causing death in HIV needle attack: Agence France-Presse - December 4, 2002; HANOI, Dec 4 (AFP) - Police in Vietnam have charged a drug addict with causing the death of a six-year-old boy by stabbing him with an HIV-infected needle after a neighbourhood dispute, state media said Wednesday.
UN-Africa-WFP: World Food Programme calls for funds to fight hunger and AIDS in Africa: Agence France-Presse - December 3, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, Dec 3 (AFP) - The World Food Programme called Tuesday for "a massive infusion of funds" to save 38 million people from starvation in Africa, saying food aid was also a crucial part of the fight against the AIDS epidemic.
US-AIDS-Powell: Powell challenges foreign envoys to tackle AIDS crisis: Agence France-Presse - December 3, 2002; WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Tuesday challenged foreign diplomats to take a greater role in tackling the global HIV/AIDS crisis.
US-China-Internet: Big part of Internet blocked in China: study: Rob Lever; Agence France-Presse - December 3, 2002; WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (AFP) - As much as one-tenth of the Internet's sites may be blocked by Chinese authorities as part of efforts to prevent access to information on dissidents, Taiwan, Tibet and other subjects, according to a US study released Tuesday.
Bangladesh-AIDS: Bangladesh plans action against dirty needles to stem AIDS: Agence France-Presse - December 3, 2002; DHAKA, Dec 3 (AFP) - Bangladesh, which has so far been relatively untouched by the AIDS scourge, plans to crack down on dirty needles to prevent the disease from making inroads, an official said Tuesday.
UN-population: UN urges investment in women to boost economic growth: Andrew Gully; Agence France-Presse - December 3, 2002; LONDON, Dec 3 (AFP) - Developing countries should invest in women and family planning if they want to seize an opportunity to bolster economic growth by lowering fertility rates, the authors of a new UN report said Tuesday.
UN-population: Falling fertility opens "demographic window" for developing-world growth: UN: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - December 3, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, Dec 3 (AFP) - The United Nations on Tuesday urged developing countries to invest in family planning to cut fertility rates and open a "demographic window" for economic growth.
SAfrica-AIDS-orphans: South African AIDS orphans struggle to survive: Fienie Grobler; Agence France-Presse - December 2, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Dec 2 (AFP) - Naledi Maphoto is a normal 13-year-old, strutting around playfully in her grandmother's white high heels and wearing fake blue jewellery around her neck.
Mideast-AIDS: 700,000 people infected with AIDS in the Middle East: WHO: Agence France-Presse - December 2, 2002; CAIRO, Dec 2 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation said Monday that 700,000 people were suffering from HIV/AIDS in the region lying east of the Mediterranean.
China-AIDS-sex: China to lift ban on condom advertisements: Agence France-Presse - December 2, 2002; BEIJING, Dec 2 (AFP) - China will lift a ban on condom advertisements in an effort to promote safe sex and reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS, state press said Monday.
Botswana-AIDS: Botswana president urges nation to take HIV/AIDS tests: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; GABORONE, Dec 1 (AFP) - Botswanan President Festus Mogae Sunday urged his nation to go for voluntary HIV tests, as the country with the highest infection rate in the world celebrated World AIDS Day.
World-AIDS: World AIDS Day spurs global calls to action: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; PARIS, Dec 1 (AFP) - The world's most powerful leaders and most vulnerable rag-swaddled children were united for World AIDS Day on Sunday in their calls for action to stem the spread of the ravaging epidemic that has struck scores of millions across the globe.
Kenya-AIDS-church: Kenyan church leaders join anti-AIDS campaign: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; NAIROBI, Dec 1 (AFP) - A consortium of Kenyan religious groups took the war against HIV/AIDS to pulpits and academic institutions on World AIDS Day on Sunday in an effort to curtail the spread of the deadly disease.
India-AIDS: India looks at ticking AIDS clock to mark World day: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; NEW DELHI, Dec 1 (AFP) - India, home to the second-largest HIV/AIDS-infected population in the world, took stock of the problem on World AIDS Day Sunday amid renewed pledges to fight the scourge, provide affordable medicines and end discrimination.
SAfrica-AIDS-Mandela: Mandela lends weight in fight against AIDS: Rene Flipo; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Dec 1 (AFP) - Former South African president Nelson Mandela on Sunday lent his weight in the fight against AIDS, but defended the government's policies on research into the safety of anti-retroviral drugs.
Iran-AIDS: Iran wakes up to AIDS as dirty needles spread disease: Siavosh Ghazi; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; With television spots focussed on a young AIDS victim, radio warnings and increasing press coverage, Iran has been steadily waking up to the threat of AIDS and pushing aside taboos associated with the disease.
SAfrica-AIDS: South Africa reaches deal on AIDS treatment: report: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; South Africa's government, labour, business and AIDS activists reached a deal Saturday that could soon broaden the access to anti-retroviral therapy, a news report said Sunday.
France-AIDS: French groups cast spotlight on growing number of women AIDS sufferers: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; Several French groups used World AIDS Day Sunday to call on authorities to draw public attention to the growing number of women afflicted with the disease or its precusor, HIV.
Nepal-AIDS: 2,000 march in Nepal on World AIDS Day: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; Over 2,000 people joined a rally through the streets of Nepal's capital Kathmandu Sunday to mark World AIDS Day, organisers said.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. African orphanage buries babies' ashes on World AIDS Day: Jan Hennop; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Dec 1 (AFP) - South Africa commemorated World AIDS Day on Sunday with a Johannesburg-based orphanage burying the ashes of 17 babies who died of AIDS-related illnesses and hundreds of activists marching through the city's streets.
Thailand-AIDS: Thailand reducing its new HIV cases: ministry: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; Thailand is seeing a decrease in the number of new AIDS cases, the health ministry said Sunday amid hope that the neediest of the country's 600,000 HIV-positive citizens will soon receive less than dollar-a-day treatment for the virus.
Asia-AIDS: World AIDS Day marked across Asia with calls for urgent action: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; The AIDS crisis spreading across Asia was accorded official recognition from China to Afghanistan Sunday as countries marked World AIDS Day.
WTO grapples with defining poor countries in trade rules: Jean-Louis de la Vaissiere; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; Two sets of negotiations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) recently, dealing with sugar and medicines, have highlighted the difficulty of placing all developing countries in the same basket.
Bangladesh-AIDS: 20 people have died of AIDS in Bangladesh: officials: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; A total of 20 Bangladeshis have died from AIDS so far as health workers are working across the country to prevent the spread of the fatal disease, government officials said Sunday.
AIDS-US-Clinton: Ex-US president Clinton calls for greater access to AIDS treatment, testing: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; Former US president Bill Clinton strongly criticized the world's governments for failing to provide widespread testing and effective medical care for those infected with the AIDS virus, in an opinion piece Sunday in the New York Times.
Afghan-AIDS: UN calls for action to prevent AIDS 'catastrophe' in Afghanistan: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; The United Nations Sunday urged swift action by the international community to support Afghanistan's AIDS awareness campaign, warning the incurable disease could reach "catastrophic" levels in the once-isolated country.
Jordan-AIDS: AIDS virus has claimed 313 victims in Jordan since 1986: minister: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; The HIV/AIDS virus has claimed 313 victims in Jordan, including 129 Jordanians, since 1986, Health Minister Walid Maani said in a statement published by the press on Sunday to mark World AIDS Day.
India-AIDS: Northeastern India marks World AIDS day: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; Thousands of people in India's northeast pledged Sunday to prevent AIDS from spiralling out of control in a region where the disease has already assumed epidemic proportions.
China-AIDS: China warned AIDS epidemic could jeopardise economy: Cindy Sui; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; China brought its rapidly spiralling AIDS crisis into the spotlight Sunday on World AIDS Day as experts warned an epidemic of the disease could jeopardise the country's economic growth.
Vietnam-AIDS: Marchers take to streets of Vietnamese capital on World AIDS day: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; More than 2,000 people took to the streets of the Vietnamese capital Sunday to mark World AIDS Day and to call for an end to discrimination against HIV/AIDS sufferers.
Amnesty-AIDS: Basic rights are key to battling AIDS: Amnesty International: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2002; AIDS and human rights are so closely linked that any attempt to stop the spread of the killer virus must also fight against poverty and exclusion, the French chapter of Amnesty International said Sunday to mark World AIDS Day.

November

AIDS-Africa-UN: Africa makes faint, fragile progress on AIDS: UNAIDS: Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, Nov 30 (AFP) - Progress, fragile but real, has been made in sub-Saharan Africa's fight against AIDS, the head of the UN specialist agency UNAIDS said Saturday, ahead of World AIDS Day, warning that the continent was still far from having subdued the ravaging epidemic.
Britain-AIDS: Britons infected with HIV up 25 percent in a year: Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2002; LONDON, Nov 30 (AFP) - The number of people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus HIV has gone up by a "disturbing" 25 percent in a year in Britain, the Public Health Laboratory Service announced Saturday.
India-AIDS: Most Indian AIDS sufferers victims of unsafe sex: health minister: Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2002; NEW DELHI, India, Nov 30 (AFP) - Most of India's HIV-AIDS sufferers contracted the virus through unsafe sex, Health Minister Shatrughan Sinha said Saturday.
SAfrica-AIDS-march: South African men protest violence against women, children: Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 30 (AFP) - More than 2,000 South African men, many of them well-known artists and sport stars, marched in Johannesburg Saturday to protest violence against women and children, and AIDS, organisers said.
SAfrica-AIDS-mines: South African city look at old mines to bury dead: Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 30 (AFP) - South Africa's largest city was looking at burying its dead in disused mineshafts as the death rate here increased due to factors including AIDS, the Johannesburg-based Saturday Star reported.
Africa-AIDS: Some African communities remain in AIDS denial: Philippe Bernes-Lasserre; Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2002; OTJANDJAMUENJO, Namibia, Nov 30 (AFP) - AIDS has been ravaging Africa for 20 years now, with 2.4 million people dying of the disease last year and close to 30 million people infected by its precursor HIV, but some communities maintain it does not affect them.
China-AIDS: China opens groundbreaking self-help group ahead of World AIDS Day: Robert J. Saiget; Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2002; BEIJING, Nov 30 (AFP) - China announced Saturday ahead of World AIDS Day that it was setting up its first officially sanctioned self-help group for HIV carriers, marking a further official move towards facing up to the deadly disease.
Africa-AIDS-Botswana: Thousands to march in Botswanan capital on World AIDS day: Prof Malema; Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2002; GABORONE, Nov 30 (AFP) - Thousands of AIDS activists wearing T-shirts commemorating World AIDS Day are expected to march in Botswana Sunday in a show of solidarity in a country where nearly four out of every ten people have either AIDS or are infected with HIV.
Health-AIDS: World AIDS Day targets stigma, discrimination: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2002; PARIS, Nov 30 (AFP) - Doctors and activists muster on Sunday for World AIDS Day, launching a campaign for easing the burden of stigma suffered by many of the 42 million people with AIDS and HIV.
SAfrica-AIDS: South Africa sees significant changes on AIDS front: Fienie Grobler; Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 30 (AFP) - On World AIDS Day last year, South Africa's official opposition described the government's AIDS policy as a "monstrous failure of leadership".
Bush-AIDS: Bush pledges support and funds before Worlds AIDS Day: Agence France-Presse - November 29, 2002; CRAWFORD, Texas, Nov 29 (AFP) - President George W. Bush on Friday urged people to commemorate Worlds AIDS Day on December 1, and pledged US support and funds to fight the spread of the disease.
Italy-AIDS: AIDS support groups in uproar over Italian govt brochure promoting chastity: Agence France-Presse - November 29, 2002; ROME, Nov 29 (AFP) - Italian AIDS organisations were in uproar Friday over the publication of a government brochure which promotes chastity as "the only true form of protection".
UN-AIDS-discrimination: UN rights chief urges end to discrimination against AIDS victims: Agence France-Presse - November 29, 2002; GENEVA, Nov 29 (AFP) - People suffering from HIV/AIDS are victims of a "human rights emergency" because they are alienated in the societies they live in, top UN human rights officials said on Friday.
Ukraine-AIDS: AIDS epidemic a disaster in Ukraine: government official: Agence France-Presse - November 29, 2002; KIEV, Nov 29 (AFP) - The AIDS epidemic has reached catastrophic proportions in Ukraine, a country with one of the fastest-growing rates of HIV infection in the world, a senior official with the Ukrainian health ministry said Friday.
Namibia-AIDS: Africa begins to turn attention to its millions of AIDS orphans: Philippe Bernes-Lasserre; Agence France-Presse - November 29, 2002; WINDHOEK, Nov 29 (AFP) - The plight of Africa's millions of AIDS orphans, often forgotten by policymakers, is gaining as a regional priority, but 22 nations meeting here still have not produced a strategy that matches the magnitude and urgency of the tragedy.
Namibia-AIDS-women: "Flying mothers" helping AIDS orphans: Agence France-Presse - November 29, 2002; UUTAPI, Namibia, Nov 29 (AFP) - A group of women in northern Namibia have become "flying mothers" for children orphaned by AIDS.
Namibia-AIDS-Africa: Africa's extended family system in crisis: Philippe Bernes-Lasserre; Agence France-Presse - November 29, 2002; UUTAPI, Namibia, Nov 29 (AFP) - The extended family in southern Africa is no longer coping, with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents unable to care for all the orphans produced by 15 years of AIDS.
China-AIDS-prostitution: China's sex workers heading blindly towards AIDS catastrophe: Peter Harmsen; Agence France-Presse - November 29, 2002; BEIJING, Nov 29 (AFP) - Huddled in a thick winter coat, 22-year-old Lily seems more concerned about protecting herself from Beijing's icy wind than from China's looming AIDS crisis.
Canada-health: Canadian government must invest more in crisis-hit health sector: Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2002; OTTAWA, Nov 28 (AFP) - The Canadian government was urged Thursday by a special commissioner to boost spending on the nation's public health system by 6.5 billion dollars (4.1 billion US) per year by 2006.
WTO-drugs-IFPMA: WTO talks on access to cheap drugs must focus on major epidemics: IFPMA: Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2002; GENEVA, Nov 28 (AFP) - Pharmaceutical manufacturers insisted here on Thursday that access to cheap medicines for poor countries must focus on major epidemics and not open the door for cut-price drugs for other widespread ailments.
Yugo-AIDS: AIDS patients face discrimination in Yugoslavia: Alexandra Niksic; Agence France-Presse - November 28, 2002; BELGRADE, Nov 28 (AFP) - When he goes out, Milan wears dark glasses with a baseball cap pulled down to his eyes. He avoids shopping as he fears that his illness has already become the hottest topic in his new Belgrade neighbourhood.
Health-AIDS: Double infection by HIV poses challenge for AIDS fighters: Agence France-Presse - November 27, 2002; PARIS, Nov 27 (AFP) - Scientists combatting the global AIDS epidemic may face yet another major challenge thrown up by the notoriously devious human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
India-AIDS: Indian NGO plans to display massive condom to boost AIDS awareness: Agence France-Presse - November 27, 2002; In a bid to create awareness about AIDS, a non-governmental organisation in this southern Indian city is to display what it claimed would be the world's largest condom banner on December 1, an official of the group said Wednesday.
MSF-AIDS: MSF accuses rich countries of not taking responsibility for AIDS battle: Agence France-Presse - November 27, 2002; The French humanitarian group Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) said Wednesday that the anti-AIDS fight was being held back by a lack of funds from donors who, it said, were not taking seriously their responsibilities.
Russia-prisons: Half a million Russian prisoners ill: official: Agence France-Presse - November 27, 2002; More than half of Russia's prison population is ill, many suffering from serious diseases such as AIDS and tuberculosis, a justice official said Wednesday.
Russia-AIDS: Russia must lift taboo on AIDS, say health NGO's: Agence France-Presse - November 27, 2002; International health organizations urged action Wednesday to lift the strong taboo surrounding AIDS in Russia, which has one of the fastest growing HIV contamination rates.
Kenya-AIDS: UNICEF seeks to place AIDS orphans in Kenyan election debate: Agence France-Presse - November 27, 2002; The plight of Kenya's AIDS orphans should be a central issue in the campaign for next month's general elections, an official of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said Wednesday.
Africa-AIDS-famine: AIDS a leading cause of southern Africa's famine: UN envoy: Agence France-Presse - November 27, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 27 (AFP) - AIDS is one of the leading causes of the famine threatening 14 million people in southern Africa, and will compound the effects of the hunger, a UN envoy said Wednesday at the start of a five-nation tour.
Cambodia-AIDS: Impoverished Cambodia wages battle against AIDS epidemic: Luke Hunt; Agence France-Presse - November 27, 2002; PHNOM PENH, Nov 27 (AFP) - With the highest HIV/AIDS infection rate in Asia and probably the worst access to modern anti-retroviral drugs, Cambodia has become a test case in the region's battle against the epidemic.
UN-AIDS: AIDS pandemic threatens world stability: UN official: Agence France-Presse - November 26, 2002; LONDON, Nov 26 (AFP) - The AIDS pandemic, which now claims some 42 million victims, is one of the greatest threats to world stability, Peter Piot, the head of the United Nations agency devoted to the ailment said Tuesday.
UN-AIDS-Africa: AIDS accelerates southern Africa's famine disaster, UN report warns: Agence France-Presse - November 26, 2002; PARIS, Nov 26 (AFP) - AIDS will cruelly amplify the effects of a famine in southern Africa that has more than 14 million people in its grip, a United Nations report warned Tuesday.
UN-AIDS-Asia: Asia's "Big Two" on brink of AIDS nightmare, warns UN: Agence France-Presse - November 26, 2002; PARIS, Nov 26 (AFP) - The United Nations on Tuesday warned China, India and other Asian countries that they had to race to prevent AIDS from leaping out of localised pools of infection and becoming an uncontrollable threat.
Asia-AIDS: One million new AIDS infections in Asia-Pacific in 2002: UN: Agence France-Presse - November 26, 2002; One million people in the Asia Pacific region became infected with HIV this year, while an estimated half a million others died from the disease, the United Nations said Tuesday.
UN-AIDS: Worsening AIDS crisis strikes famine-hit countries, Asia, EEurope: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - November 26, 2002; PARIS, Nov 26 (AFP) - Five million people will have become infected with HIV this year, bringing to a record 42 million the number of individuals living with AIDS or the virus that causes it, the United Nations said Tuesday.
UN-AIDS-figures: Latest facts on global AIDS epidemic: Agence France-Presse - November 26, 2002; PARIS, Nov 26 (AFP) - Following is a factsheet on the global AIDS epidemic in 2002, released Tuesday by the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) ahead of World AIDS Day on Sunday.
Thailand-child: Seven Thai babies abandoned every day: senator: Agence France-Presse - November 26, 2002; BANGKOK, Nov 26 (AFP) - Seven newborn babies are abandoned in Thailand on average every day, many by HIV-positive mothers who suspect they have infected their offspring, child activist Senator Wallop Tangkananurak said Tuesday.
Asia-sex: Asians are slouches in the sack, says Durex survey: Agence France-Presse - November 26, 2002; BANGKOK, Nov 26 (AFP) - Asians are lousy lovers, according to a survey by condom manufacturer Durex which found they have far less amorous encounters than the global average.
China-AIDS: Province in China expects explosion of AIDS cases from blood sales: Agence France-Presse - November 26, 2002; BEIJING, Nov 26 (AFP) - China's central province of Hubei is expecting an explosion of AIDS cases from farmers who became infected after selling blood years ago and now find they carry the HIV virus, state media said Tuesday.
Namibia-AIDS: International response to AIDS in Africa 'shameful': UNICEF: Philippe Bernes-Lasserre; Agence France-Presse - November 25, 2002; WINDHOEK, Nov 25 (AFP) - The international response to AIDS in Africa is "shameful", a UN official declared Monday as officials from 22 countries met to consider the plight of AIDS orphans.
China-health: High rate of unsafe injections in China threatening lives: WHO and UNICEF: Agence France-Presse - November 25, 2002; BEIJING, Nov 25 (AFP) - Thirty percent of medical injections in China are unsafe -- with much higher rates in some rural areas -- causing the spread of deadly diseases such as hepatitis B and AIDS, international health experts said Monday.
Japan-health-HIV: Japanese woman infected with HIV through artificial insemination: Agence France-Presse - November 25, 2002; TOKYO, Nov 25 (AFP) - A Japanese woman who was given incorrect artificial insemination treatment using sperm from her HIV-positive husband has been infected with the AIDS virus, a researcher said Monday.
Namibia-Africa-AIDS: African officials to consider plight of AIDS orphans: Agence France-Presse - November 24, 2002; WINDHOEK, Nov 24 (AFP) - Health officials from 22 countries in eastern and southern Africa are meeting in Windhoek from Monday to consider the plight of the more than 11 million children orphaned by AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
Asia-RedCross: AIDS seen rising in Asia, terrorism identified as a threat: Red Cross: Jason Gutierrez; Agence France-Presse - November 24, 2002; MANILA, Nov 24 (AFP) - Asia-Pacific governments must act fast to curb rising AIDS figures and also to face the challenge of terrorism, officials of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said here Sunday.
China-AIDS-marriage: China gives first go-ahead for marriage of AIDS patient: Agence France-Presse - November 23, 2002; BEIJING, Nov 23 (AFP) - China has approved the first ever marriage between an AIDS-infected patient and person without the deadly virus, state media said Saturday.
China-AIDS: GlaxoSmithKline to be first foreign firm to make AIDS drug in China: Agence France-Presse - November 23, 2002; BEIJING, Nov 23 (AFP) - British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline is set to become the first foreign company to localize the production of an AIDS drug in China, state media said Saturday.
Kenya-AIDS-Africa: Education key weapon to battle AIDS in Africa: World Bank: Agence France-Presse - November 23, 2002; NAIROBI, Nov 23 (AFP) - The World Bank said on Saturday an umbrella group of UN agencies, relief organisations and Africa countries believed better education for children could rescue Africa from the tragedy of AIDS.
Singapore-AIDS: Singapore travellers to get safe-sex packs: Agence France-Presse - November 23, 2002; SINGAPORE, Nov 23 (AFP) - Singapore men travelling overseas are to be given "safe-sex" packs from next year, in a new initiative to stem the rate of HIV infections.
Malawi-AIDS: Malawi HIV/AIDS policy to stem high infection: Agence France-Presse - November 22, 2002; BLANTYRE, Nov 22 (AFP) - Malawi is developing an HIV/AIDS policy to help it fight an epidemic that has infected 14 percent of the southern African country's 11 million people, a top health official said Friday.
WHO-director: Nine candidates line up for top job at UN health agency: Agence France-Presse - November 22, 2002; GENEVA, Nov 22 (AFP) - Nine candidates, including the current head of the UN's programme against HIV/AIDS, Peter Piot, and Mozambique's prime minister, Pasqual Manuel Mocumbi, are competing to head the World Health Organisation next year, the WHO announced Friday.
Singapore-health-AIDS: HIV/AIDS infection slows in Singapore: Agence France-Presse - November 22, 2002; SINGAPORE, Nov 22 (AFP) - The rate of HIV infection in Singapore appeared to be slowing for the first time in 13 years, according to official figures Friday showing 189 new cases detected in the first 10 months of this year.
SAfrica-AIDS-deaths: AIDS deaths nearly doubled in South Africa over four years: researchers: Agence France-Presse - November 21, 2002; PRETORIA, Nov 21 (AFP) - The number of South Africans dying of HIV and AIDS nearly doubled from 1997 to 2001, with total deaths increasing over the four years by 38 percent, a study by Statistics South Africa showed Thursday.
China-sex: China's largest city to hand out free condoms: Agence France-Presse - November 21, 2002; BEIJING, Nov 21 (AFP) - China's most populous city Chongqing has decided to stock hotels and public places with free condoms to encourage safe sex and curb rising AIDS infections, state media said Thursday.
India-AIDS: Indian AIDS activists slam minister over Bill Gates accusations: Parul Gupta; Agence France-Presse - November 21, 2002; NEW DELHI, India, Nov 21 (AFP) - AIDS activists on Thursday slammed a powerful Indian cabinet minister for accusing Microsoft head Bill Gates of "overdoing it" in releasing a 100-million-dollar grant to India to combat the spread of HIV-AIDS.
China-AIDS: AIDS-wary south China provides clean needles for drug addicts: Agence France-Presse - November 21, 2002; BEIJING, Nov 21 (AFP) - Authorities in south China have started making clean needles available to intravenous drug users in a bid to stall the country's spiraling AIDS epidemic, state media reported Thursday.
Canada-justice-blood: Canada's Red Cross charged over 1980s blood scandal: Stefanie Batcho; Agence France-Presse - November 20, 2002; TORONTO, Nov 20 (AFP) - Canadian authorities on Wednesday laid charges of criminal negligence and common nuisance against the Canadian Red Cross Society, a US pharmaceutical company and four doctors stemming from the 1980s tainted blood scandal.
Honduras-US-bananas: Chiquita subsidiary in Honduras to fire 700 with drug, health problems: Agence France-Presse - November 20, 2002; TEGUCIGALPA, Nov 20 (AFP) - Chiquita Brands' Honduran subsidiary Tela Railroad Company said Wednesday it will fire 700 workers, 400 of whom have drug or alcohol problems and 300 of whom have chronic illnesses such as AIDS.
Health-vaccines: Lack of vaccine funding prompts somber warning for global health: Agence France-Presse - November 20, 2002; GENEVA, Nov 20 (AFP) - The world could see the re-emergence of old diseases if more money is not spent on vaccines, the World Health Organisation (WHO), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Bank warned on Wednesday.
UN-appeal-humanitarian: UN appeals for three billion dollars for humanitarian crises: Catherine Rama; Agence France-Presse - November 19, 2002; BERN, Nov 19 (AFP) - The United Nations launched a three-billion-dollar appeal on Tuesday to help battle humanitarian crises around the world, particularly in southern Africa where nearly 14.5 million people are suffering dire food shortages.
Uganda-Africa-health: Uganda loses billion dollars annually to malaria, HIV/AIDS: Museveni: Agence France-Presse - November 18, 2002; ENTEBBE, Uganda, Nov 18 (AFP) - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said Monday that HIV/AIDS and malaria were costing his country more than a billion dollars annually in terms of lost wealth and direct health costs.
France-AIDS: AIDS scare in France after fears that patient was infected during surgery: Agence France-Presse - November 18, 2002; MASSY, Essonne, Nov 18 (AFP) - A French hospital on Monday urged nearly a thousand former patients to undergo an HIV test after fears that a surgical worker with the AIDS virus may have infected a heart patient.
Ethiopia-AIDS: Ethiopia ready to start Nevirapine trials for AIDS treatment: Agence France-Presse - November 18, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, Nov 18 (AFP) - Ethiopia's government is ready to begin testing the AIDS drug Nevirapine, used for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, the daily Addis Zemen reported.
AIDS-Africa: AIDS pioneers unveil joint vaccine scheme: Agence France-Presse - November 15, 2002; YAOUNDE, Nov 15 (AFP) - Two pioneers in AIDS research who had fallen out bitterly over the discovery of the virus which causes the disease announced here Friday that they had joined forces to devise a trial vaccine.
SAfrica-AIDS: South African mining giant starts treating HIV-positive employees: Agence France-Presse - November 15, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 15 (AFP) - South African mining giant Anglogold has started to administer anti-AIDS therapy to HIV-positive employees, who comprise between 25 and 30 percent of its workforce, the company said Friday.
Australia-WTO-drugs-deal: WTO ministers agree on drugs access for poor countries: Agence France-Presse - November 15, 2002; SYDNEY, Nov 15 (AFP) - Leading trade ministers agreed Friday on a plan to give the world's poorest nations access to affordable medicines, a breakthrough in the drive to combat global health crises like HIV/AIDS, officials said.
Australia-HIV: Australian man who infected teenager with HIV jailed for seven years: Agence France-Presse - November 15, 2002; PERTH, Australia, Nov 15 (AFP) - A 35-year-old married man was jailed for seven years here Friday for knowingly infecting a teenage girl he met via the Internet with the HIV virus.
WTO-Australia: WTO ministers reach breakthrough drugs deal at Sydney talks: Neil Sands; Agence France-Presse - November 15, 2002; SYDNEY, Nov 15 (AFP) - Leading trade ministers agreed on a plan Thursday give the world's poorest nations access to affordable medicines, a breakthrough in the effort to tackle global health crises like HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, officials said.
Nigeria-prostitution: 30 women convicted of prostitution in Lagos: radio: Agence France-Presse - November 14, 2002; LAGOS, Nov 14 (AFP) - Thirty girls and young women, arrested in Nigeria earlier this week for "night crawling" and charged with prostitution, were Thursday given a one-month jail term, a radio report said.
Africa-Pfizer: US pharmaceutical giant expands AIDS programme in Africa: Agence France-Presse - November 14, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 14 (AFP) - US pharmaceutical company Pfizer will expand an AIDS programme treating opportunistic infections to cover Kenya and Zambia in the next few months, its South African manager announced Thursday.
Russia-prisons: Russia's prison population drops 17 percent in two years: Agence France-Presse - November 14, 2002; MOSCOW, Nov 14 (AFP) - Russia's prison population has dropped 17 percent in the last two years to under one million people, Russia's justice minister said on Thursday, but still remains the second highest in the world.
WTO-drugs-Annan: Annan urges WTO to act on AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - November 13, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, Nov 13 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urged the World Trade Organisation on Wednesday to meet its year-end deadline to find a way of giving AIDS sufferers in poor countries access to cheap drugs.
Ethiopia-US-AIDS: US official visits Ethiopia over AIDS: Agence France-Presse - November 13, 2002; ADDIS ABEBA, Nov 13 (AFP) - US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Health and Science Jack Chow paid an AIDS assessment trip on Wednesday to Ethiopia, one of the hardest hit countries in Africa, US diplomats said.
Australia-WTO-drugs: Drugs access to test WTO credibility in poor nations says Australia: Agence France-Presse - November 13, 2002; SYDNEY, Nov 13 (AFP) - Providing poor countries with access to patented medicines is the most crucial issue facing this week's informal meeting of trade ministers in Sydney, according to Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile.
US-India-AIDS: Rising violence against AIDS patients in India: rights group: Agence France-Presse - November 13, 2002; NEW YORK, Nov 13 (AFP) - A US human rights watchdog warned Wednesday that increasing violence against HIV carriers in India was threatening to undermine the generosity of international donors.
India-AIDS: Faced with AIDS crisis, Indian state pushes for mandatory HIV screening: Savitri Choudhury; Agence France-Presse - November 13, 2002; HYDERABAD, India, Nov 13 (AFP) - The southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh seeks tough new laws to make it mandatory for couples wanting to marry to undergo HIV screening, the health minister said Wednesday.
Microcredit-AIDS: UN agencies back microcredit agencies in fight against HIV/AIDS: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - November 12, 2002; NEW YORK, Nov 12 (AFP) - United Nations agencies on Tuesday endorsed a call for microcredit institutions to branch out into adult education so as to help fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
EGuinea-AIDS: AIDS rate doubles in west African state: study: Agence France-Presse - November 12, 2002; MALABO, Nov 12 (AFP) - The prevalence of AIDS in Equatorial Guinea has risen from just over three percent in 1997 to more than seven percent in 2001, said a study carried out by local health authorities.
Nigeria-prostitution: 33 women charged with prostitution in Lagos: radio: Agence France-Presse - November 12, 2002; LAGOS, Nov 12 (AFP) - Thirty-three girls and young women were Tuesday arraigned in a court here on a charge of prostitution, as the Nigerian government launched a crackdown on the illicit trade and a battle against the spread of HIV/AIDS, a radio report said.
India-AIDS-US: Bill Gates pledges 100 million dollars to fight AIDS in India: Uttara Choudhury; Agence France-Presse - November 11, 2002; NEW DELHI, Nov 11 (AFP) - Microsoft head and the world's richest man Bill Gates on Monday announced he would give 100 million dollars to a health care programme to combat the spread of HIV-AIDS in India.
Cambodia-AIDS: AIDS and the Khmer Rouge: a Cambodian woman's nightmare: Karl Malakunas; Agence France-Presse - November 10, 2002; PHNOM PENH, Nov 10 (AFP) - Im Son spends most of her days carefully holding her dying five-year-old grandson in her lap, looking out through the dusty half light of her slum hut and pondering the twin evils that have destroyed her family.
Malaysia-health: HIV-positive Malaysian boy awarded 132 thousands dollars by court: Agence France-Presse - November 9, 2002; KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 (AFP) - A Malaysian court awarded 500,000 ringgit (132 thousand dollars) to an eight-year-old boy who was infected in utero with HIV by his mother after a tainted blood transfusion at a public hospital in 1994, a report said Saturday.
India-AIDS-US: Indian minister says Bill Gates, US 'spreading panic' over AIDS: Agence France-Presse - November 9, 2002; NEW DELHI, Nov 9 (AFP) - India's health minister Saturday accused US software mogul Bill Gates and the US ambassador here of "spreading panic" over HIV and AIDS even as they pledged to help the country combat the deadly disease.
Kenya-China-health: China donates eight million TB tablets to Kenya: Agence France-Presse - November 8, 2002; NAIROBI, Nov 8 (AFP) - China donated eight million anti-tuberculosis (ANTI-TB) drugs to Kenyan health ministry to be used in treating tuberculosis among HIV/AIDS victims, Medical Services Minister Maalim Mohamed said here on Friday.
Health-US-AIDS: US approves new test detecting AIDS virus in 20 minutes: Maxim Kniazkov; Agence France-Presse - November 8, 2002; WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (AFP) - A new diagnostic device allowing to detect the AIDS virus in as little as 20 minutes has received government approval in the United States in what officials described as a major step toward curbing the deadly epidemic.
Australia-trade: Australia hosts trade summit as protesters threaten disruption: Jack Taylor; Agence France-Presse - November 8, 2002; SYDNEY, Nov 8 (AFP) - Australia promised Friday adequate protection for ministers from 25 countries due here next week for a key trade meeting likely to be besieged by thousands of anti-globalisation protesters.
SAfrica-UNAIDS: UN agencies to join forces on southern Africa's AIDS, food crisis: Jan Hennop; Agence France-Presse - November 7, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 7 (AFP) - UN agencies on Thursday here decided to give prority to the fight against AIDS in southern Africa in efforts to alleviate the region's "humanitarian disaster", in which 14 million people face starvation, a senior UN official said.
UN-AIDS-Bangladesh: Bangladesh's 'microcredit' bank chief appointed UNAIDS ambassador: Agence France-Presse - November 7, 2002; GENEVA, Nov 7 (AFP) - A top Bangladeshi economist and chief of the microcredit Grameen Bank, Muhammad Yunus, has been named ambassador for the UN program to help fight the AIDS and HIV epidemic especially among the poor.
SAfrica-UNAIDS: UN conference in S. Africa agrees to major shift in disaster policy: Agence France-Presse - November 7, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 7 (AFP) - A two-day UN conference agreed Thursday on a major shift in disaster policy in southern Africa, saying a current food shortage in the region has become a full-blown humanitarian crisis because of HIV/AIDS.
Vatican-AIDS: Vatican defends opposition to condoms: Agence France-Presse - November 6, 2002; VATICAN CITY, Nov 6 (AFP) - The Vatican on Wednesday defended its opposition to the use of condoms to avoid HIV infections and AIDS, saying chastity remained the most effective way of preventing the disease.
SAfrica-AIDS: Activists give S. African government ultimatum on AIDS plan: Agence France-Presse - November 6, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 6 (AFP) - AIDS activists in South Africa have given the government a four-month ultimatum to implement a treatment plan and provide anti-AIDS drugs or face a civil disobedience campaign, a spokesman said Wednesday.
SAfrica-UNAIDS: UN agencies meet in South Africa to discuss AIDS, food aid: Agence France-Presse - November 6, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 6 (AFP) - Teams from UN agencies began a two-day meeting in Johannesburg on Wednesday to discuss their approach to the HIV/AIDS pandemic and its potential impact on the food crisis in southern Africa.
Sudan-press: Sudan closes newspaper for two days for graphic sexual description: Agence France-Presse - November 5, 2002; KHARTOUM, Nov 5 (AFP) - The Khartoum Monitor, an English-language newspaper, was ordered to close for two days for publishing a column on AIDS considered too graphic about sex, the newspaper said.
Iran-AIDS: Iran identifies 4,200 AIDS cases, estimates total at 20,000: Agence France-Presse - November 5, 2002; TEHRAN, Nov 5 (AFP) - Iran has identified more than 4,200 AIDS cases, almost all men, but estimates the total number of people affected by the disease to be five times higher, a top health ministry official said Tuesday.
Health-France-AIDS: Rape suspects should be tested for AIDS: French medical academy: Agence France-Presse - November 4, 2002; PARIS, Nov 4 (AFP) - France's most prestigious medical authority on Monday said suspects in rape cases should be tested against their will for the AIDS virus in order to provide emergency help for victims.
China-AIDS: China urges international action on its AIDS problem: Agence France-Presse - November 4, 2002; BEIJING, Nov 4 (AFP) - China's health minister, abandoning Beijing's usual reluctance to seek help from abroad, has called for more international cooperation in dealing with the country's potentially devastating AIDS crisis, state media said Monday.
India-AIDS-Microsoft: India could be model for prevention of AIDS: Bill Gates: Agence France-Presse - November 3, 2002; NEW DELHI, Nov 3 (AFP) - India can become a model for preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS because of the interest shown by the government and organisations fighting the disease, US software mogul Bill Gates said Sunday.
Britain-royal-Mandela: Mandela pays tribute to Princess Diana's charity work: Agence France-Presse - November 3, 2002; LONDON, Nov 3 (AFP) - Former South African president Nelson Mandela paid tribute late Saturday to Diana, Princess of Wales, calling on people across the world to "learn from her example and embrace her legacy."
DRCongo-AIDS: Trade unions in two Congos call for AIDS programmes: Agence France-Presse - November 2, 2002; KINSHASA, Nov 2 (AFP) - Trade unionists from Congo-Brazzaville and the Democratic Republic of Congo called Saturday for the establishment of teams to fight AIDS in the workplace, at the end of a conference here.

October

China-AIDS: China's youngsters think mosquitoes spread AIDS: Agence France-Presse - October 31, 2002; BEIJING, Oct 31 (AFP) - China's young people are grossly unaware of how AIDS is spread, with many mistakenly believing people can contract the disease from mosquito bites, according to a survey published Thursday.
Swaziland-king: Swaziland judges defy king's order to drop abduction case: Agence France-Presse - October 31, 2002; MBABANE, Oct 31 (AFP) - Swaziland's chief justice on Thursday said the high court would continue hearing the case of a school girl allegedly abducted to become King Mswati III's wife, despite an order from the monarch to drop the case or resign.
WHO-health: WHO issues "wake-up call" on top 10 risks to human health: Peter Capella; Agence France-Presse - October 30, 2002; GENEVA, Oct 30 (AFP) - Governments worldwide can improve the health of their citizens and significantly raise life expectancy by tackling the top 10 health risks identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in a report released Wednesday.
EU-medicines: Brussels clears plan to ship cheap drugs to world's poor: Agence France-Presse - October 30, 2002; BRUSSELS, Oct 30 (AFP) - Brussels Wednesday gave the green light to plans to export cheap drugs to poor countries provided the pharmaceuticals do not end up back in the European Union.
WHO-health-data: Top 10 risks to human health: Agence France-Presse - October 30, 2002; GENEVA, Oct 30 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday identified the top 10 risks to human health on a worldwide basis, in its annual report.
China-health: China adopts plan to improve rural residents' health: Agence France-Presse - October 30, 2002; BEIJING, Oct 30 (AFP) - China has unveiled a major plan to boost rural health care, including inoculating the vast majority of children and providing care to AIDS sufferers, state press said Wednesday.
SAfrica-budget: South Africa to increase spending on AIDS: Agence France-Presse - October 29, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Oct 29 (AFP) - South Africa will increase spending on AIDS by 100 million dollars a year, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel announced Tuesday as he presented a mid-term budget which acknowledges the country will not meet its inflation targets.
EU-Lesotho: Brussels grants Lesotho 110 million euros: Agence France-Presse - October 29, 2002; BRUSSELS, Oct 29 (AFP) - The European Commission Tuesday approved 110 million euros (dollars) to help development and battle AIDS in Lesotho over the next five years.
India-AIDS: India's shyness towards sexual education fuelling AIDS: activists: Santosh Jha; Agence France-Presse - October 29, 2002; PATNA, India, Oct 29 (AFP) - The Indian government's coyness towards sex education among young people, who are becoming increasingly promiscuous, is fuelling the spread of AIDS, social activists say.
Bhutan-health: Bhutan minister takes on bears, leeches to fund health service: Anjali Kwatra; Agence France-Presse - October 28, 2002; THIMPHU, Bhutan, Oct 28 (AFP) - The health minister of the kingdom of Bhutan this month braved dangerous Himalayan bears, blood-sucking leeches and raging monsoon rains in an attempt to raise millions of dollars to fund the tiny country's struggling health service.
APEC-WTO-drugs: WTO's Supachai sees trade deal on access to drugs by year's end: Agence France-Presse - October 24, 2002; LOS CABOS, Mexico, Oct 24 (AFP) - WTO chief Supachai Panitchpakdi said Thursday the world trade body could agree this year to allow developing countries full access to generic drugs needed to combat epidemics such as AIDS.
Uganda-AIDS-toll: AIDS has claimed nearly a million lives in Uganda: Agence France-Presse - October 24, 2002; KAMPALA, Oct 24 (AFP) - Almost a million Ugandans have died from AIDS related illnesses, since the disease was first diagnosed in the country 20 year ago, an health ministry annual report released here said Thursday.
US-AIDS-march: 25,000 marchers in Tinseltown raise 2.5 million for AIDS fight: Agence France-Presse - October 21, 2002; WEST HOLLYWOOD, California, Oct 21 (AFP) - Around 25,000 walkers on Sunday took to the streets of Los Angeles' bustling gay heartland to raise and estimated 2.5 million dollars for the fight against AIDS, organizers said.
Senegal-Gambia-health: Gambia, Senegal to step up medical surveillance along border: Agence France-Presse - October 20, 2002; DAKAR, Oct 20 (AFP) - Gambian and Senegalese medical authorities have decided to step up medical monitoring along their border, an area susceptible to the spread of AIDS and other diseases due to a large number of travelers, Sengalese national radio RTS said on Sunday.
Kazakhstan-UN-AIDS: UN chief urges Kazakhstan to fight spread of HIV/AIDS: Agence France-Presse - October 18, 2002; ASTANA, Oct 18 (AFP) - United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan warned Kazakhstan Friday to take serious measures to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS.
China-AIDS-rights: Freed China AIDS campaigner succeeds in registering action group: Cindy Sui; Agence France-Presse - October 18, 2002; BEIJING, Oct 18 (AFP) - Recently-released Chinese AIDS campaigner Wan Yanhai has been allowed to register his campaign group legally for the first time, he said, in an apparent relaxation by Beijing.
Uganda-Italy: Italy to finance Ugandan development programmes: Agence France-Presse - October 17, 2002; KAMPALA, Oct 17 (AFP) - Italy is to give Uganda 19 million euros (14.6 million dollars) in the next three years to finance health, agriculture, poverty reduction and HIV/AIDS programmes, following an agreement signed here on Thursday.
UNICEF-Africa-AIDS: UN targets children for AIDS message in southern Africa: Agence France-Presse - October 17, 2002; GENEVA, Oct 17 (AFP) - Children under 12 should be the priority targets for education to combat HIV/AIDS, the main cause of southern Africa's humanitarian crisis, a United Nations official said on Thursday.
IISS-Africa: Sub-Saharan Africa blighted by conflict and AIDS: IISS report: Agence France-Presse - October 17, 2002; LONDON, Oct 17 (AFP) - Local and internal conflicts continue to plague sub-Saharan Africa, while the AIDS epidemic is also a huge problem, the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said in an annual report published Thursday.
China-AIDS: China's farmers offer children for adoption before AIDS orphans them: Cindy Sui; Agence France-Presse - October 17, 2002; BEIJING, Oct 17 (AFP) - Xie Yan's only son is nicknamed Tianci, or "Heaven Bestowed", as like many Chinese farmers Xie and her husband yearned for a boy. This week Xie travelled to Beijing to put the beloved four-year-old up for adoption.
India-AIDS: Indian AIDS patient thrown out of home by wife, shunned by family: Agence France-Presse - October 16, 2002; PATNA, India, Oct 16 (AFP) - An HIV-infected truck driver in the eastern Indian state of Bihar was thrown out of his home by his wife and then shunned by his father at the prodding of paranoid villagers, officials said Wednesday.
China-AIDS: Chinese city passes law to protect rights of AIDS patients: Agence France-Presse - October 16, 2002; SHANGHAI, Oct 16 (AFP) - A city in eastern China has passed the country's first law to protect the rights of people suffering from AIDS, state press reported Wednesday.
SAfrica-AIDS-nevirapine: South Africa to manufacture, export cheaper generic AIDS drug: Agence France-Presse - October 15, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 15 (AFP) - South Africa will soon manufacture its own generic anti-HIV drugs and export the cheaper version to southern African countries hit by the AIDS pandemic, Boehringer Ingelheim SA announced Tuesday.
UN-China-Annan: Annan talks Iraq and AIDS on China visit: Agence France-Presse - October 14, 2002; BEIJING, Oct 14 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Monday discussed the international row over Iraq with China's President Jiang Zemin, emerging from talks with a confident prediction that consensus would be reached soon.
UN-China-Annan: Annan warns of 'explosive' AIDS epidemic at start of China visit: Agence France-Presse - October 14, 2002; BEIJING, Oct 14 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned China on Monday that it "stands on the brink of an explosive AIDS epidemic" and must act immediately to halt the potential catastrophe.
China-AIDS: Second Chinese drug maker to produce cheap versions of AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - October 13, 2002; BEIJING, Oct 13 (AFP) - A second Chinese drug company has received approval to make cheap, local versions of patented foreign AIDS drugs, bringing hope to a million sufferers in China, state media said Sunday.
Iraq-US-books-Achebe: Fight poverty, not Iraq: Nigerian author urges Bush: Agence France-Presse - October 12, 2002; FRANKFURT, Germany, Oct 12 (AFP) - Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, set to receive the German book trade's prestigious peace prize, Saturday urged US President George W. Bush to fight wars against poverty, AIDS and illiteracy rather than against Iraq.
UN-China-Annan: Human rights group urges Annan to raise rights issues with China: Agence France-Presse - October 12, 2002; BEIJING, Oct 12 (AFP) - International rights campaigner Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to ask China to allow activists freedom in fighting AIDS and to open its ethnically-tense Xinjiang region to unrestricted monitoring.
China-AIDS: China plans to drop customs duties on AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - October 11, 2002; BEIJING, Oct 11 (AFP) - China plans to remove import duties on foreign drugs used to treat people with AIDS, state press said Friday, the latest in a series of measures designed to help the country's spiralling numbers of AIDS patients.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. Africa launch AIDS guide for civil service, take stock of disease: Agence France-Presse - October 10, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 10 (AFP) - South Africa launched a guide for its civil servants to deal with HIV/AIDS Thursday, with its government saying it was looking at ways to lower the costs of anti-retroviral treatment.
Poland-AIDS: Poland concerned about AIDS explosion in eastern neighbours: Agence France-Presse - October 10, 2002; WARSAW, Oct 10 (AFP) - Poland is worried about the explosium of cases of AIDS in neighbouring Russia and Ukraine, officials at the government AIDS prevention office said on Thursday.
Lifestyle-China-posters: From slinky ladies to AIDS -- 80 years of Chinese poster art: Claire Rosemberg; Agence France-Presse - October 10, 2002; PARIS, Oct 10 (AFP) - Who remembers "Prosperity" and "Rejuvenation" cigarettes? A Chinese bathing beauty advertising the first brand on a 1938 poster, and an elderly man posing in 1930 for Rejuvenation, a cigarette said to be good for smokers of any age.
Australia-lemons-HIV: Australian researcher claims lemons can put the squeeze on HIV: Agence France-Presse - October 10, 2002; SYDNEY, Oct 10 (AFP) - An Australian scientist claimed Thursday that lemons provided a cheap and easy-to-use method of preventing AIDS and unwanted pregnancies in developing countries.
SAfrica-justice-sex: Prostitution, brothels still illegal, S. Africa's highest court rules: Agence France-Presse - October 9, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 9 (AFP) - South Africa's highest court Wednesday ruled that owning a brothel, or being a prostitute was illegal, overturning a lower court ruling which decriminalised prostitution.
Ethiopia-AIDS: Almost a million AIDS orphans in Ethiopia: govt: Agence France-Presse - October 9, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, Oct 9 (AFP) - Almost a million children in Ethiopia have lost one or both parents to AIDS, according to government figures released here Wednesday by UNICEF.
Thailand-AIDS: Thai activists lodge case against Bristol-Myers AIDS drug patent: Agence France-Presse - October 9, 2002; BANGKOK, Oct 9 (AFP) - Thai AIDS activists said Wednesday they had lodged a case against pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) calling for the withdrawal of its patent on an anti-AIDS drug.
Kenya-AIDS-music: Kool and the Gang rocks against AIDS in Kenya: Agence France-Presse - October 8, 2002; NAIROBI, Oct 8 (AFP) - Tens of thousands of people turned out in Nairobi on Tuesday to hear veteran US funksters Kool and the Gang perform in a free concert aimed at raising awareness about HIV and AIDS.
Ethiopia-politics: Drought and AIDS crisis top agenda for Ethiopian parliament: Agence France-Presse - October 7, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, Oct 7 (AFP) - The fight against drought and the AIDS pandemic should be Ethiopia's top priorities, President Girma Wolde-Giorgis told deputies on Monday in a keynote speech as parliament resumed in the east African nation.
Uganda-AIDS-drugs: Uganda's AIDS programme in trouble as donated drugs are sold: Agence France-Presse - October 7, 2002; KAMPALA, Oct 7 (AFP) - A programme to supply Ugandans with free AIDS treatment has ran into trouble after drugs donated to the country were diverted and sold on the open market here, the health ministry admitted Monday.
ILO-mining: Mining jobs worldwide dwindling, ILO says: Agence France-Presse - October 7, 2002; GENEVA, Oct 7 (AFP) - The number of workers in the global mining industry has steadily fallen since the early 1990s although production is on the rise, the International Labour Office said Monday.
Asia-WEF-AIDS: UN warns Asia of HIV/AIDS threat to economic growth: Eileen Ng; Agence France-Presse - October 7, 2002; KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (AFP) - The United Nations warned Monday that HIV/AIDS could hamper economic growth in Asia with "tens of millions" infected over the next decade if the region failed to move fast to curb the epidemic.
Asia-AIDS-Vietnam: HIV/AIDS could erode Vietnam's economic development: UN: Agence France-Presse - October 7, 2002; HANOI, Oct 7 (AFP) - HIV/AIDS could severely erode Vietnam's economic development and its poverty reduction plans unless the government adjusts its mindset to dealing with the killer virus, international experts said Monday.
Kenya-AIDS-music: US pop group urges more anti-AIDS partnerships for Africa: Agence France-Presse - October 6, 2002; NAIROBI, Oct 6 (AFP) - US pop group Kool and the Gang Sunday urged African countries to step up the fight against AIDS and seek help from the rest of the world to stem the spread of the disease.
SAfrica-AIDS: South Africa on AIDS orphan time bomb says researcher: Agence France-Presse - October 6, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 6 (AFP) - Up to three million children will be orphaned by HIV/AIDS within the next 10 years, creating a potential timebomb of crime and civil unrest, a senior researcher said Sunday.
China-AIDS: AIDS virus could infect 10 million Chinese soon: UN: Agence France-Presse - October 6, 2002; KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 (AFP) - Ten million Chinese could be infected with the AIDS virus within 10 years, UN AIDS chief Peter Piot said Sunday.
Asia-AIDS: Experts to discuss escalating HIV infection among Asia's drug addicts: Ben Rowse; Agence France-Presse - October 6, 2002; HANOI, Oct 6 (AFP) - Policy-makers from four Asian countries will meet with non-governmental organizations and international experts in the Vietnamese capital from Monday to address escalating HIV infection rates among drug addicts.
Russia-military: One in three Russian conscripts unfit for service: official: Agence France-Presse - October 4, 2002; MOSCOW, Oct 4 (AFP) - One in three Russian conscripts is unfit for military service on health grounds, a senior defence ministry official in charge of the autumn call-up said on Friday.
Zimbabwe-AIDS: Fears of social backlash hampers Zimbabwe's fight against AIDS baby deaths: Ish Mafundikwa; Agence France-Presse - October 3, 2002; HARARE, Oct 3 (AFP) - Efforts to reduce the infant mortality rate in Zimbabwe are threatened because many pregnant women who are tested for HIV are too frightened to call back at the clinic for the results, a health ministry official has told AFP.
EU-drugs: Drug use on the rise in EU prisons: report: Jean-Francois Buglet; Agence France-Presse - October 3, 2002; BRUSSELS, Oct 3 (AFP) - Drug use in European prisons has become a major public health problem as up to two-thirds of prisoners engage in high risk intravenous drug taking that can spread AIDS and other diseases, an EU report warned Thursday.
Australia-AIDS: Australian father faces long jail term after HIV infection conviction: Agence France-Presse - October 3, 2002; PERTH, Australia, Oct 3 (AFP) - An Australian father of three is facing a long jail term after being found guilty here Thursday of infecting a teenage girl with HIV after meeting her on the Internet.
Angola-summit: Southern African leaders open summit in Angola: Griffin Shea; Agence France-Presse - October 2, 2002; LUANDA, Oct 2 (AFP) - Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos opened a two-day summit of southern African leaders Wednesday with a call to bolster regional peace efforts, but famine and AIDS could dominate the talks.
Australia-sex: Australian man accused of giving HIV to teenage girl: Agence France-Presse - October 2, 2002; PERTH, Australia, Oct 2 (AFP) - A teenage girl became infected with HIV after she had unprotected sex with a married man she met via an Internet chat room, a court here was told Wednesday.
Thailand-AIDS: Thai activists to challenge Bristol-Myers AIDS drug patent: Agence France-Presse - October 2, 2002; BANGKOK, Oct 2 (AFP) - Thai AIDS activists Wednesday said they hope to force pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) to withdraw the patent on one of its anti-AIDS drugs after a landmark court decision against the firm.
US-intelligence-AIDS: AIDS epidemic to hit up to 110 million by 2010: US: Maxim Kniazkov; Agence France-Presse - October 2, 2002; WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (AFP) - The AIDS epidemic, fueled by risky behavior and inadequate health care, will affect up to 110 million people in Africa, Russia, India and China by 2010, straining the world's financial resources and heightening tensions, the US intelligence community has concluded.
Cambodia-AIDS: AIDS, road accidents more deadly than Cambodian civil war: Hun Sen: Agence France-Presse - October 1, 2002; PHNOM PENH, Oct 1 (AFP) - Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday said AIDS and road accidents together were killing more people in Cambodia than the country's 19-year civil war.
UN-Millennium-goals: Children the focus of Millennium Summit goals: Agence France-Presse - October 1, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, Oct 1 (AFP) - The eight development goals adopted at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000 aimed at eradicating poverty, hunger and disease, largely through action to improve the lot of children.
WHO-Timor: Timor-Leste faces shortage of doctors: Agence France-Presse - October 1, 2002; GENEVA, Oct 1 (AFP) - Newly-independent Timor-Leste, formerly East Timor, has just 47 doctors for its 850,000 citizens because of large-scale emigration, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday.
Cambodia-AIDS: Cambodian AIDS victims demand rights and free medicine: Agence France-Presse - October 1, 2002; PHNOM PENH, Oct 1 (AFP) - More than 500 HIV-positive Cambodians marched through Phnom Penh Tuesday demanding equal rights and access to free antiretroviral (ARV) medication in the AIDS-ravaged nation.
SADC-summit: Famine, AIDS to overshadow southern Africa summit, despite hope for peace: Griffin Shea; Agence France-Presse - October 1, 2002; LUANDA, Oct 1 (AFP) - The 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) opens a two-day annual summit Wednesday in Angola, as the region faces a growing threat from famine and AIDS but also new hopes for peace as the host nation emerges from a 27-year war.

September

Thailand-AIDS: Thai province's population shrinking as AIDS deaths mount: Agence France-Presse - September 30, 2002; BANGKOK, Sept 30 (AFP) - Mortality rates in the northern Thai province of Phayao are out-stripping births due to AIDS-related deaths, Deputy Health Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said Monday.
Money-developing: World Bank says confident on funding for debt relief: Agence France-Presse - September 28, 2002; WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (AFP) - World Bank president James Wolfensohn expressed confidence Saturday that donors would bridge a one billion-dollar shortfall in financing for debt relief to the poorest countries.
SAfrica-AIDS-Clinton: Take responsibility and turn tide against HIV: Clinton: Agence France-Presse - September 28, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 28 (AFP) - Former US president Bill Clinton on Saturday urged young South Africans to take responsibility themselves and turn the tide against AIDS in the country.
Mexico-US-health: US businessman offers health insurance to undocumented Mexicans in US: Agence France-Presse - September 27, 2002; MEXICO CITY, Sept 27 (AFP) - A US businessman Friday launched a nonprofit family health care plan for the estimated 3.5 million undocumented Mexicans living in the United States.
SAfrica-Clinton: Clinton urges debt relief, aid and trade: Agence France-Presse - September 27, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Sept 27 (AFP) - Former US president Bill Clinton Friday called for accelerated debt relief and increased development aid to Africa to help fight the spread of AIDS, including grants to countries like South Africa.
Canada-drug-Viagra: Viagra-ecstasy cocktail a raver's delight, but authorities concerned: Stephanie Pertuiset; Agence France-Presse - September 27, 2002; MONTREAL, Sept 27 (AFP) - The combination of Viagra and ecstasy, known as "sextasy," that allows revelers to indulge in their heightened sensuality has become one of the most popular cocktails at rave parties across North America, according to authorities.
Health-sex: Widely used spermicide actually increases HIV risk: study confirms: Agence France-Presse - September 27, 2002; PARIS, Sept 27 (AFP) - An over-the-counter spermicide gel that has been proposed as a means of preventing HIV may in fact boost the risk of catching the AIDS virus, a study says.
US-health-AIDS: Researchers isolate natural immunity to AIDS: Francis Temman; Agence France-Presse - September 26, 2002; WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (AFP) - US researchers announced Thursday they have detected a group of proteins that naturally block HIV from developing into AIDS, a discovery that promises to revolutionize treatment for the deadly disease.
Mozambique-US: Clinton Foundation to help combat AIDS in Mozambique: official: Agence France-Presse - September 26, 2002; MAPUTO, 26 Sept (AFP) - Former US president Bill Clinton's foundation has agreed in principle to help fund Mozambique's efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, the country's health minister announced Thursday.
Pacific-health: AIDS cases emerge for first time in Marshalls and Vanuatu: Agence France-Presse - September 26, 2002; MAJURO, Sept 26 (AFP) - Two Pacific nations, the Marshall Islands and Vanuatu, that had long claimed to be AIDS free have now officially been tainted with the disease, political leaders and doctors said Thursday.
Russia-crime: Putin tells Russian government to get serious about drugs: Agence France-Presse - September 25, 2002; MOSCOW, Sept 25 (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the creation of a new state drugs enforcement agency to fight a surge in drug abuse seen as the main cause of a disastrous AIDS epidemic, Kremlin officials announced Wednesday.
Rwanda-US-Clinton: Former US president Bill Clinton arrives in Rwanda: Agence France-Presse - September 25, 2002; KIGALI, Sept 25 (AFP) - Former US president Bill Clinton arrived in the Rwandan capital early Wednesday for a one-day visit aimed mainly at focusing attention on the fight against AIDS, an official source said.
Russia-crime: Putin signs decree creating anti-drugs unit: Kremlin: Agence France-Presse - September 25, 2002; Moscow, Sept 25 (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree creating a special anti-drugs unit to combat the sharp rise in drug abuse which officials see as one of the main factors in the spread of AIDS, the Kremlin said in a statement early Wednesday.
Egypt-justice-AIDS: Egyptian doctors, nurses jailed for infecting patients with AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 24, 2002; CAIRO, Sept 24 (AFP) - The former director of a central Cairo hospital and 28 doctors and nurses were sentenced Tuesday to a year in jail for negligence after kidney dialysis patients were infected with AIDS, judicial sources said.
China-AIDS: Freed Chinese AIDS vows to fight government policy on epidemic: Robert J. Saiget; Agence France-Presse - September 21, 2002; BEIJING, Sept 21 (AFP) - Newly released activist Wan Yanhai Saturday vowed to fight government policy on a growing AIDS epidemic in China, despite uncertainty over his recent detention by state security police.
Canada-China-AIDS: Human rights award winner Wan Yanhai invited to Montreal: Agence France-Presse - September 20, 2002; MONTREAL, Sept 20 (AFP) - A Canadian human rights organization announced Friday that it intends to invite Chinese AIDS activist Wan Yanhai here, after Chinese authorities released him from three weeks' detention.
Lithuania-AIDS: AIDS calls for social action, not only drugs: European experts: Agence France-Presse - September 20, 2002; VILNIUS, Sept 20 (AFP) - Participants at a European AIDS conference on Friday said social measures and not only medical treatment were needed to fight the deadly disease.
China-AIDS: Chinese AIDS activist freed after confessing to 'leaking secrets': Agence France-Presse - September 20, 2002; BEIJING, Sept 20 (AFP) - Detained Chinese AIDS activist Wan Yanhai was released on Friday after confessing to "illegally leaking state secrets", his wife and China's official media said.
US-Iraq-bioweapons: Iraq could use human germ carriers against West: defector: Maxim Kniazkov; Agence France-Presse - September 20, 2002; WASHINGTON, Sept 20 (AFP) - Iraq could unleash a biological attack on the West by using unsuspecting people traveling abroad as carriers of deadly germs, a prominent Iraqi defector warned late Thursday.
US-China-AIDS: Protest in New York against detention of Chinese AIDS activist: Agence France-Presse - September 19, 2002; NEW YORK, Sept 19 (AFP) - Human rights groups joined up with AIDS lobbyists and gay activists in a demonstration Thursday outside the Chinese consulate in New York to demand the release of one of China's most prominent AIDS activists.
SAfrica-AIDS: AIDS lobbyists tackle drug giants in South Africa: Fienie Grobler; Agence France-Presse - September 19, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 19 (AFP) - AIDS activists in South Africa lodged complaints against two pharmaceutical giants on Thursday, accusing them of over-pricing their medicines and causing thousands of deaths.
Kenya-UNICEF-AIDS: UNICEF wants children affairs included in Kenya's poll agenda: Agence France-Presse - September 19, 2002; NAIROBI, Sept 19 (AFP) - An official of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Thursday urged Kenyan politicians to include the problems facing children whose parents have died of AIDS in their poll programmes ahead of general elections expected in December.
UN-Aids-EEurope: UN warns of soaring HIV/AIDS among young in eastern Europe: Agence France-Presse - September 18, 2002; GENEVA, Sept 18 (AFP) - Young people in eastern Europe and the former Soviet states are poorly educated about the risks of HIV/AIDS, helping the disease to spread at faster rates than anywhere else in the world, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned on Wednesday.
WHO-AIDS-Asia: East Asia must improve prevention of HIV infections: WHO: Agence France-Presse - September 18, 2002; TOKYO, Sept 18 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation said Wednesday East Asia "urgently" needs to improve prevention programs for HIV infections among sex workers and drug users.
Africa-SADC-summit: Southern African leaders to discuss poverty, AIDS at annual summit: Agence France-Presse - September 18, 2002; GABORONE, Sept 18 (AFP) - Poverty and the AIDS epidemic will take center stage early next month in Luanda, when regional leaders gather for the annual meeting of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Money-protests: Activists promise mass protest for IMF-World Bank meeting: David Williams; Agence France-Presse - September 17, 2002; WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (AFP) - Anti-globalization activists vowed Tuesday to return to the mass protests not seen since September 11 when IMF-World Bank meetings are held here this month.
SAfrica-AIDS-Muppets: South Africa to introduce HIV-positive Muppet: Agence France-Presse - September 17, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Sept 17 (AFP) - South Africa is to introduce an HIV-positive Muppet when the popular children's series resumes on state television at the end of September.
Swaziland-famine: Almost quarter of Swazis face starvation: task force: Agence France-Presse - September 17, 2002; MBABANE, Sept 17 (AFP) - Almost a quarter of Swaziland's one million people will be at risk of starvation by the end of the year, figures released by the country's disaster task force showed Tuesday.
Finland-EU-Russia: Nordic states seek to combat spread of diseases from Russia: Agence France-Presse - September 16, 2002; HELSINKI, Sept 16 (AFP) - Envoys from the European Union, Finland, Norway and Russia met in Finland on Monday to discuss ways of preventing contagious diseases spreading from Russia to its Nordic neighbours.
Health-WHO-Europe: WHO focuses on poverty-health link at Europe meeting: Agence France-Presse - September 16, 2002; COPENHAGEN, Sept 16 (AFP) - Hundreds of health officials from across Europe gathered Monday at a World Health Organization meeting here to discuss the link between poverty and health and to debate ways to confront the spread of communicable diseases on the continent.
Germany-crime: Berlin police capture robber armed with syringe: Agence France-Presse - September 16, 2002; BERLIN, Sept 16 (AFP) - Berlin police arrested a man Monday who robbed 13 of the German capital's stores armed with a syringe he claimed was full of blood contaminated with the virus that causes AIDS.
UN-Africa-Annan: Annan opens special UN Assembly session on African development: Agence France-Presse - September 16, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, Sept 16 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan opened a special session of the United Nations General Assembly on African development Monday amid warnings that the food crisis in southern Africa is worsening.
SAfrica-famine-Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe counts for half of southern Africa's famine: UN envoy: Griffin Shea; Agence France-Presse - September 16, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 16 (AFP) - About half the people threatened by famine in southern Africa are in Zimbabwe, a UN envoy said Monday, blaming their plight on a potentially deadly combination of extreme weather, government policy and AIDS.
Canada-China-AIDS: Wife of Chinese AIDS campaigner without news of her husband: Agence France-Presse - September 14, 2002; MONTREAL, Sept 14 (AFP) - The wife of a Chinese AIDS activist has had no news of her husband since she believes he was detained three weeks ago, she said at a press conference here Friday.
Canada-China-AIDS: AIDS-fighting prize awarded to doctor imprisoned in China: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 2002; MONTREAL, Sept 12 (AFP) - A Chinese doctor imprisoned for exposing his government's efforts to cover up an AIDS infection scandal was on Thursday awarded the first-ever International Prize for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights.
Tanzania-health-AIDS: USAID to gives Tanzania 6.8 million condoms: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 2002; DAR ES SALAAM, Sept 12 (AFP) - The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is to provide Tanzania with 6.8 million condoms worth 337,000 dollars to alleviate a shortage of the contraceptive, the organisation said Thursday.
Britain-sex: 30 years on, readers still thrill to The Joy of Sex: Frederique Pris; Agence France-Presse - September 12, 2002; LONDON, Sept 12 (AFP) - The Joy of Sex, the world's most beloved bible of intimacy after the ancient Indian treatise, the Kama Sutra, has hit its second wind.
Ethiopia-NewYear: Ethiopia quietly celebrates its New Year: Agence France-Presse - September 11, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, Sept 11 (AFP) - Ethiopia, which abides by an old calendar, celebrated its New Year on Wednesday with President Girma Wolde-Giorgis calling for national unity to fight drought and AIDS.
UN-Assembly: UN admits Switzerland, General Assembly says combating terror a priority: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - September 10, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, Sept 10 (AFP) - The United Nations General Assembly opened its 57th annual session Tuesday against the sombre background of international terrorism and the threat of a US-led war on Iraq.
SAfrica-Africa-AIDS: Action urged on AIDS orphans: Agence France-Presse - September 10, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 10 (AFP) - An international AIDS leadership group meeting in Johannesburg called Tuesday for action on orphans, with a warning that in another eight years, 30 percent of South African children could be without parents.
Vietnam-AIDS-condoms: Vietnam unveils condom plan to stem HIV infection among young: Agence France-Presse - September 10, 2002; HANOI, Sept 10 (AFP) - Vietnam has unveiled a plan to boost condom usage among its sexually active younger population to stem escalating HIV infection rates, an official said Tuesday.
Guyana-US-health: US Centers for Disease Control to set up office in Guyana: Agence France-Presse - September 9, 2002; GEORGETOWN, Sept 9 (AFP) - The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is to set up office in Guyana to help counter high incidence of HIV/AIDS in the South American population, a US diplomat said Monday.
Vietnam-US-AIDS: US to give 15-20 million dollars to stem Vietnam's HIV epidemic: Agence France-Presse - September 9, 2002; HANOI, Sept 9 (AFP) - The United States pledged Monday between 15 and 20 million dollars in assistance over the next five years to help stem Vietnam's burgeoning HIV infection rate.
Africa-AIDS-AfBD: AfDB to finance AIDS program in central Africa: Agence France-Presse - September 8, 2002; BRAZZAVILLE, Sept 8 (AFP) - The African Development Bank (AfDB) will fund a five million dollar (euro) program aimed at preventing the spread of AIDS in central Africa, notably along the region's principal rivers, Congolese state radio announced Sunday.
Africa-AIDS: 14 African nations agree on AIDS plan: Agence France-Presse - September 7, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, Sept 7 (AFP) - Representatives of 14 countries in central and eastern Africa have agreed to come up with new national action plans to tackle HIV/AIDS and boost regional contacts, conference organisers said Saturday.
Russia-health-Putina: Russia's First Lady heads fundraising for HIV-infected: Agence France-Presse - September 6, 2002; KALININGRAD, Russia, Sept 6 (AFP) - Russia's First Lady Lyudmila Putina added her personal plea Friday to the fund-raising campaign for a new hospital and kindergarten for HIV patients in Russia's Kaliningrad enclave.
SAfrica-Tutu: Tutu tells S.Africans to question government policy: Agence France-Presse - September 6, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 6 (AFP) - Former archbishop Desmond Tutu on Friday called on South Africans to question government policy on arms, AIDS and Zimbabwe, SABC public television reported.
WFP-Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe's children malnourished as famine ups death rate: Agence France-Presse - September 6, 2002; BINDURA, Zimbabwe, Sept 6 (AFP) - Frail children in Zimbabwe are facing a new menace, malnutrition, as the food crisis pushes up the death rate in the southern African country, health workers said Friday.
SAfrica-Mandela-Diana: Mandela pays tribute to Diana for her work on AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 6, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 6 (AFP) - South African former President Nelson Mandela on Friday paid tribute to Princess Diana on the fifth anniversary of her funeral, saying she was the first celebrity to help destigmatise AIDS.
Kenya-WTO-Supachai: WTO boss accepts some blame for social problems caused by trade: Agence France-Presse - September 6, 2002; NAIROBI, Sept 6 (AFP) - The new head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Supachai Panitchpakdi, on Friday admitted that the powerful global body was partly to blame for some of the world's social ills.
Vietnam-prostitution: State officials in Vietnam to be punished if caught with pants down: Agence France-Presse - September 6, 2002; HANOI, Sept 6 (AFP) - Government officials in Vietnam have drafted a bill to punish all state officials, including members of the military and police force, caught having sex with prostitutes, state media said Friday.
China-AIDS-patents: China may break AIDS drug patents if talks with foreign firms fail: Agence France-Presse - September 6, 2002; BEIJING, Sept 6 (AFP) - China may break patents on western AIDS drugs if talks with foreign pharmaceutical companies over cutting prices do not succeed by early next year, a top health official said Friday.
China-AIDS: China has around one million HIV positive people: government: Peter Harmsen; Agence France-Presse - September 6, 2002; BEIJING, Sept 6 (AFP) - China currently has around a million people infected with the HIV virus, a figure that could increase ten-fold by the end of the decade, a top government health official warned Friday.
China-AIDS-rights: China AIDS activist detained for 'revealing state secrets': wife: Peter Walker; Agence France-Presse - September 6, 2002; BEIJING, Sept 6 (AFP) - One of China's most prominent AIDS activists Wan Yanhai has been arrested for allegedly revealing state secrets, his wife said Friday as human rights groups called for his immediate release.
Ireland-blood: Irish blood scandal probe slams health service: Agence France-Presse - September 5, 2002; DUBLIN, Sept 5 (AFP) - An Irish judge investigating a scandal over the administration to haemophiliacs of blood tainted with the HIV and hepatitis C viruses issued a report on Thursday bitterly criticising the health service.
Canada-AIDS: Tainted blood victims fail to get compensation: Agence France-Presse - September 5, 2002; OTTAWA, Sept 5 (AFP) - Families of Canadian haemophiliacs have failed in their bid to sue the Canadian Red Cross for treating patients with HIV-infected blood.
Mideast-US-aid: Bush asks for new aid for Israel, Palestinians: Maxim Kniazkov; Agence France-Presse - September 5, 2002; WASHINGTON, Sept 5 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush asked Congress Wednesday for an additional 250 million dollars in aid for Israel and the Palestinians as part of his effort to combat terror and alleviate suffering in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
UN-Earth-declaration: Earth Summit political declaration: extracts: Agence France-Presse - September 4, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 4 (AFP) - Following are extracts from the political declaration approved by world leaders at the Earth Summit on Wednesday:
UN-Earth-Mandela: Mandela calls for action on poverty, disease as Earth Summit winds down: Agence France-Presse - September 4, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 4 (AFP) - Former South African President Nelson Mandela on Wednesday made an impassioned plea to the world to fight poverty and prevent disease, as the UN Earth Summit drew to a close here.
EAfrica-AIDS: East African countries launch joint AIDS awareness campaign: Agence France-Presse - September 4, 2002; NAIROBI, Sept 4 (AFP) - Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania on Wednesday launched a joint AIDS awareness campaign aimed at stemming the spread of the disease which has affected more than 5.3 million people in the three countries, officials said.
WHO-Asia: Healthcare reforms, growth-stifling diseases in Asia to top WHO talks: P. Parameswaran; Agence France-Presse - September 4, 2002; MANILA, Sept 4 (AFP) - Healthcare reforms and new strategies to combat poverty-linked diseases stifling economic growth in East Asia and the Pacific are among key issues to be discussed at an upcoming annual World Health Organisation (WHO) regional meeting.
India-AIDS: Lack of AIDS medicines kills hundreds in India's northeast: Agence France-Presse - September 4, 2002; IMPHAL, India, Sept 4 (AFP) - Lack of medicines and proper health care facilities are leading to the deaths of hundreds of HIV-infected people in Indias northeastern region, experts and patients said Wednesday.
Pacific-health: "Long line" rapes revealed in worsening Solomon Island war: Matelita Ragogo; Agence France-Presse - September 4, 2002; NADI, Fiji, Sept 4 (AFP) - Graphic descriptions of "long line" or gang rape in ethnically war torn Solomon Islands have been unveiled at a Pacific AIDS conference here.
Africa-AIDS: African AIDS conference opens in Ethiopia: Agence France-Presse - September 3, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, Sept 3 (AFP) - Representatives of 14 African nations on Tuesday began talks in the Ethiopian capital on drafting swift action plans to tackle AIDS in the centre and east of the continent.
Fiji-health: Pacific churches join battle against growing AIDS trend in Pacific: Matelita Ragogo; Agence France-Presse - September 3, 2002; NADI, Fiji, Sept 3 (AFP) - A move to teach priests and preachers about the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS has been hailed at a regional congress here as a huge step toward beating the virus.
Fiji-health: Social death part of AIDS tragedy, says HIV-positive advocate: Matelita Ragogo; Agence France-Presse - September 2, 2002; NADI, Fiji, Sept 2 (AFP) - One of the worst aspects of living with AIDS is the social death that comes with it, an HIV-positive French Polynesian advocate told a Pacific youth conference here Sunday.
UN-Earth-children: "Global Child" likely to be Asian, risks poverty, ill-health: Agence France-Presse - September 1, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 1 (AFP) - The child of the new millennium is likely to be Asian and faces a major risk of starting life without proper nutrition, sanitation or vaccination against disease, the UN Children Fund UNICEF said here Sunday.

August

China-AIDS-rights: Rights groups worried at disappearance of China AIDS activist: Robert J. Saiget; Agence France-Presse - August 30, 2002; BEIJING, Aug 30 (AFP) - Three prominent rights groups expressed concern Friday at the disappearance of Wan Yanhai, one of China's most prominent AIDS activists, amid growing concern he has been arrested.
UN-Earth-fashion: Models in outfits of garbage, 'penguin' share stage at summit village: Claire Keeton; Agence France-Presse - August 29, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Aug 29 (AFP) - Models strutting along the slopes of an artifical Table Mountain decked in high-fashion garments made of recycled plastic, tin and feathers drew a big crowd at the Earth Summit's cultural hub Thursday.
UN-Earth-EU: EU to provide 200 million euros to fight AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis: Agence France-Presse - August 29, 2002; BRUSSELS, Aug 29 (AFP) - The European Commission proposed Thursday to provide 200 million euros (dollars) to fight the major killer diseases of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
Mozambique-UN-Annan: UN chief calls for "investment-friendly" Africa: Agence France-Presse - August 29, 2002; MAPUTO, Aug 29 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Thursday urged African countries to make the continent more attractive to foreign investors by ending armed conflicts.
UN-Earth-AIDS: Bring AIDS under control, or forget sustainable development: UNAIDS: Agence France-Presse - August 29, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, August 29 (AFP) - AIDS will claim another 68 million lives by 2020 and make sustainable development a pipe-dream unless the epidemic is curbed, the United Nations said in a report released Thursday on the sidelines of the Earth Summit.
Ethiopia-UN-AIDS: Ethiopian capital to host regional AIDS conference: Agence France-Presse - August 29, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, Aug 29 (AFP) - A regional conference on AIDS will gather representatives from 14 central and east African countries in the Ethiopian capital next week, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said Thursday.
China-AIDS-rights: Outspoken AIDS activist in China missing and feared detained: Cindy Sui; Agence France-Presse - August 28, 2002; BEIJING, Aug 28 (AFP) - An outspoken Chinese AIDS activist who publicised the plight of large numbers of farmers infected after selling blood is missing and feared detained by Chinese police, his wife and a rights group said Wednesday.
Botswana-UN-AIDS: Annan pledges UN support to help Botswana combat AIDS: Agence France-Presse - August 27, 2002; GABORONE, Aug 27 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Tuesday vowed that the United Nations would help Botswana to fight the highest incidence of HIV in the world after visiting AIDS patients in hospital here.
Africa-famine: Southern African nations meet with WHO to discuss famine: Agence France-Presse - August 26, 2002; HARARE, Aug 26 (AFP) - An estimated 14 million people in southern Africa face serious health problems because of food shortages across the region, officials were told Monday at a regional meeting to discuss the crisis.
Bulgaria-Libya-AIDS: Bulgarians accused of spreading AIDS in Libya must stand trial: Agence France-Presse - August 26, 2002; SOFIA, Aug 26 (AFP) - A Libyan court ruled on Monday that six Bulgarian medical workers accused of spreading AIDS in Libya must face a criminal trial, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passi announced.
UN-Earth-health: Developing world needs to double healthcare spending to 60 billion dollars: UN: Eileen Ng; Agence France-Presse - August 26, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Aug 26 (AFP) - The United Nations on Monday called for health spending in developing countries to double to 60 billion dollars a year by 2010, designating it a locomotive to help haul these nations out of poverty.
Zimbabwe-rape: Hundreds of women and girls gang-raped by Mugabe brigades: report: Agence France-Presse - August 25, 2002; LONDON, Aug 25 (AFP) - Hundreds of women and girls are being raped in rural Zimbabwe by President Robert Mugabe's youth brigades, a British newspaper reported on Sunday.
SAfrica-AIDS-Mandela: Mandela says he lost three family members to AIDS: Agence France-Presse - August 25, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Aug 25 (AFP) - Former South African president Nelson Mandela has disclosed that three of his relatives have died of AIDS, a Sunday newspaper reported.
Nigeria-Islam-MissWorld; Islamic group opposes holding Miss World "abomination" in Nigeria: Agence France-Presse - August 24, 2002; KANO, Nigeria, Aug 24 (AFP) - A Nigerian Islamic group on Saturday branded the Miss World beauty contest, which this year is to be held in Nigeria, an "abomination" and called for its cancellation.
UN-Earth-sex: "Good time girls" open for business at Earth Summit: Jan Hennop; Agence France-Presse - August 23, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Aug 23 (AFP) - Johannesburg's "good time girls" are open for business -- even flying in help from overseas -- as foreigners flood in for the UN Earth summit.
UN-Earth-township: Tale of two "cities": rich and poor at the Earth Summit: Agence France-Presse - August 22, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Aug 22 (AFP) - Five kilometres (three miles) east of the plush Johannesburg suburb where the UN Earth summit starts next week, Ellen Mahlangu is slaughtering a chicken at her home in rough and tough Alexandra township.
UN-Earth-NGOs: Activists aim to 'shut down' UN Earth Summit: Claire Keeton; Agence France-Presse - August 22, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Aug 22 (AFP) - Militant anti-globalisation groups whose supporters have confronted South African police on three occasions in the past week vowed on Thursday to "shut down" the UN Earth Summit.
Caribbean-health-US: Clinton foundation to provide HIV/AIDS help to Caribbean: Agence France-Presse - August 23, 2002; GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Aug 23 (AFP) - The William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation is working to assist Caribbean countries in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and to treat patients, officials said here.
UN-Earth-AIDS: AIDS activists meet to set up pan-African lobby: Agence France-Presse - August 22, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Aug 22 (AFP) - AIDS activists from 20 African countries began meeting in Cape Town Thursday to set up a pan-African lobby for anti-retroviral treatment for victims of the disease, a Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF - Doctors Without Borders) spokeswoman said.
Mozambique-AIDS: Mozambique warns AIDS crippling southern African economies: Agence France-Presse - August 22, 2002; MAPUTO, Aug 22 (AFP) - Economic prosperity in southern Africa will remain a dream unless urgent and coordinated efforts are made to halt the spread of HIV, Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano said Thursday.
UN-earth-US: US to unveil 4.5 billion dollars in development programs for Africa: Agence France-Presse - August 21, 2002; WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (AFP) - The United States is to unveil about 4.5 billion dollars in programs to help developing nations in Africa promote health and education, clean water, efficient energy and sound forestry practices, senior US officials said Wednesday.
Zimbabwe-famine: Zimbabwe's urban poor, displaced farm workers need food aid: UN: Agence France-Presse - August 21, 2002; HARARE, Aug 21 (AFP) - Zimbabwe's urban poor and workers forced off white-owned farms urgently need food aid, as a drastic shortage of basic foods deepens in the southern African country, a UN report said Wednesday.
Libya-Bulgaria-AIDS: Bulgarians in AIDS charge will get fair trial: Libyan FM: Agence France-Presse - August 21, 2002; SOFIA, Aug 21 (AFP) - Libyan Foreign Minister Abdel Rahman Shalgham said Wednesday that six Bulgarians accused by a Libyan court of spreading AIDS in the country would get a fair trial.
Japan-AIDS: Japanese court trims prison terms for drug firm chiefs in HIV scandal: Miwa Suzuki; Agence France-Presse - August 21, 2002; TOKYO, Aug 21 (AFP) - A Japanese high court Wednesday trimmed prison terms to two former presidents of a drug maker whose HIV-contaminated blood products infected hundreds of people, mainly haemophiliacs, in the 1980s.
Libya-Bulgaria-AIDS: Libyan court to decide this week on new trial in foreign AIDS case: lawyer: Agence France-Presse - August 20, 2002; TRIPOLI, Aug 20 (AFP) - A Libyan court will decide later this week if it will announce a new trial for seven foreign medical workers accused of provoking an AIDS crisis, a lawyer for the defendants said Tuesday.
Zambia-AIDS: Fall in HIV infection among young, pregnant Zambians: minister: Agence France-Presse - August 20, 2002; LUSAKA, Aug 20 (AFP) - The number of young pregnant women infected with HIV in Zambia has dropped sharply, mainly due to awareness campaigns, Health Minister Brian Chituwo said Tuesday.
US-AIDS: Researchers see progress in work on AIDS vaccine: Agence France-Presse - August 19, 2002; WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (AFP) - US researchers have made progress in work on developing an AIDS vaccine that would be effective against a range of strains of HIV, according to an article due out Tuesday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Portugal-AIDS: Infections from rare African strain of HIV rise in Portugal: Agence France-Presse - August 19, 2002; LISBON, Aug 19 (AFP) - Infections from a drug-resistant strain of HIV which had previously been found almost exclusively in Africa are rising sharply in Portugal, a new study showed.
Kenya-US-aid: United States grants Kenya 42.2 million dollars aid: Agence France-Presse - August 19, 2002; NAIROBI, Aug 19 (AFP) - The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has granted Kenya 42.2 million dollars to promote economic growth and democracy, following agreements signed here Monday.
UN-Earth-Botswana: NGOs in Botswana call for Earth summit to link poverty and AIDS: Agence France-Presse - August 18, 2002; GABORONE, Aug 18 (AFP) - Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Botswana, which has the world's highest HIV rate, said Sunday that the upcoming UN Earth summit in Johannesburg must link the issues of poverty and AIDS.
Pacific-Forum: Fiji goes from chaos to control, coup to summits: Matelita Ragogo and Michael Field; Agence France-Presse - August 17, 2002; SUVA, Aug 17 (AFP) - Fiji ended its second international summit in the space of two months here Saturday, completing a remarkable transformation from a chaotic coup two years ago to relative calm.
China-AIDS: Southern Chinese city sees 100 percent rise in HIV cases: Agence France-Presse - August 17, 2002; BEIJING, Aug 17 (AFP) - New HIV cases doubled in 12 months in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, the official China Daily said Saturday.
Zimbabwe-US-AIDS: US grants aid package for Zimbabwe AIDS orphans: Agence France-Presse - August 16, 2002; HARARE, Aug 16 (AFP) - The United States government is to provide 2.5 million dollars (euros) to support more than 50,000 AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe, the US embassy announced in Harare Friday.
Kenya-AIDS-drugs: Kenyan campaigners welcome reversal of AIDS drugs restrictions: Agence France-Presse - August 16, 2002; NAIROBI, Aug 16 (AFP) - AIDS activists in Kenya on Friday welcomed a decision by parliament to lift restrictions on inexpensive versions of drugs used to keep HIV-positive people healthy.
Tanzania-health: TB cases rise sharply in Tanzanian economic capital: Agence France-Presse - August 16, 2002; DAR ES SALAAM, Aug 16 (AFP) - At least 456 people, including 128 children, have died of tuberculosis (TB) in the Tanzanian economic capital of Dar es Salaam in 2000-2001, health authorities said on Friday.
China-AIDS: Cheaper domestic-made AIDS drugs 'available in China next month': Agence France-Presse - August 16, 2002; BEIJING, Aug 16 (AFP) - China's many AIDS patients could get access to a domestically-made variant of the drug AZT as early as next month for about a tenth of the price of imported versions, state media said Friday.
Thailand-smoking: Thailand to ban smoking in most public places by November: Agence France-Presse - August 16, 2002; BANGKOK, Aug 16 (AFP) - Smoking will be banned in most public places in Thailand from November 8, under an order signed by Thailand's Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan, the ministry said Friday.
China-sex: 70 percent of Chinese teenagers get sex education from porn: Agence France-Presse - August 15, 2002; BEIJING, Aug 15 (AFP) - Nearly 70 percent of Chinese teenagers get their information about sex from pornography, prompting experts to worry they may pick up skewed ideas, state media said Thursday.
UN-Earth-SAfrica: Earth summit will highlight South Africa's strengths, fears, and hopes: Philippe Bernes-Lasserre; Agence France-Presse - August 14, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Aug 14 (AFP) - A huge summit on the future of the planet starting in Johannesburg this month will allow South Africa to showcase its infrastructure, its tourist sites, its economy and its position of power in Africa and globally.
Kenya-AIDS-drugs: Patent rights versus patient rights: Kenya's AIDS battleground: Anthony Morland; Agence France-Presse - August 13, 2002; NAIROBI, Aug 13 (AFP) - The availabilty in Kenya of medicines used to keep people infected with the HIV virus in good health was hanging in the balance Tuesday as campaigners rushed to change a controversial law that keeps cheaper drugs off the shelves.
Bangladesh-AIDS: Bangladesh detects 188 AIDS cases, 11 dead: minister: Agence France-Presse - August 13, 2002; DHAKA, Aug 13 (AFP) - Bangladeshi doctors have detected 188 patients suffering from the HIV virus, which leads to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the health minister said Tuesday.
Vietnam-AIDS: More than 51,500 HIV positive in Vietnam: Agence France-Presse - August 13, 2002; HANOI, Aug 13 (AFP) - More than 51,500 people are HIV positive in Vietnam, with more than 5,000 of them under the age of 18, state media said Tuesday.
Zimbabwe-land-farmers: Zimbabwe farming group urges more legal action to stave off land seizures: Agence France-Presse - August 13, 2002; HARARE, Aug 13 (AFP) - A militant farming pressure group in Zimbabwe on Tuesday urged white farmers to prepare more legal battles to safeguard their homes and stave off President Robert Mugabe's government's plans to resettle their land.
SAfrica-AIDS-DeBeers: De Beers to give anti-AIDS treatment to all its workers: Agence France-Presse - August 12, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Aug 12 (AFP) - Diamond mining giant De Beers said Monday it will give anti-AIDS treatment to all its workers, becoming the second major South African company to announce such a plan within a week.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigeria names centers to distribute generic anti-AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - August 12, 2002; LAGOS, Aug 12 (AFP) - Nigeria has chosen three hospitals to begin distributing generic HIV/AIDS drugs which are eighty times cheaper than previous treatments, state radio said Monday.
UN-rights-youth: Robinson urges youth to act for sustainable development: Agence France-Presse - August 12, 2002; GENEVA, Aug 12 (AFP) - In a message to mark International Youth Day, the UN's top human rights official Mary Robinson said Monday that young people play a critical role in contributing to sustainable development.
Thailand-AIDS: Thailand developing two more HIV vaccines: Agence France-Presse - August 12, 2002; BANGKOK, Aug 12 (AFP) - Thailand will develop two more HIV vaccines for human trial in the next two years following last month's announcement it would soon embark on the world's largest HIV vaccine trial, the health minister said in a statement received Monday.
Saudi-AIDS: Saudi Arabia reports 1,285 HIV/AIDS cases: Agence France-Presse - August 10, 2002; RIYADH, Aug 10 (AFP) - Saudi Arabia has recorded 452 cases of AIDS with another 833 testing HIV positive since 1984, when the conservative kingdom began monitoring the disease, a top health ministry official said Saturday.
Thailand-health: Thai health ministry warns against lime as contraceptive: Agence France-Presse - August 10, 2002; BANGKOK, Aug 10 (AFP) - Thai health minister Sudarat Keyuraphan has warned couples to stick with condoms and not switch to using lemon juice to prevent unwanted pregnancies or the spread of HIV, according to Saturday reports.
EU-AIDS: EU offers 22 mln euros to fight AIDS in developing nations: Agence France-Presse - August 9, 2002; BRUSSELS, Aug 9 (AFP) - The European Commission unveiled a 22-million-euro (dollar) anti-AIDS package Friday aimed primarily at providing care and prevention for young people in the developing world.
RedCross-Angola: Red Cross urges more cash to help thousands of needy Angolans: Agence France-Presse - August 9, 2002; GENEVA, Aug 9 (AFP) - The International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC) appealed on Friday for more donor funding to expand its work in regions of Angola that were off-limits to the humanitarian community during nearly three decades of civil war.
India-drugs: NE India calls for tighter Myanmar border to stem drug flow: Agence France-Presse - August 9, 2002; GUWAHATI, India, Aug 9 (AFP) - Officials in India's northeast called Friday for more guards on the porous border with Myanmar to curb the number of addicts in the country's most drug-infested region.
Mozambique-health: Mozambique launches meningitis vaccination campaign amid fears of outbreak: Agence France-Presse - August 8, 2002; MAPUTO, Aug 8 (AFP) - Mozambican health authorities have begun a campaign to vaccinate thousands of people in the capital Maputo against meningitis, fearing a possible outbreak in the city after one case of the disease was reported there.
SAfrica-AIDS: S.African mining giant to give anti-AIDS treatment to all its workers: Agence France-Presse - August 6, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Aug 6 (AFP) - South African mining giant Anglo American will make anti-AIDS treatment available to all its employees, it announced Tuesday.
Vietnam-drugs: Vietnam's commercial hub struggling to cope with drug addicts: Agence France-Presse - August 6, 2002; HANOI, Aug 6 (AFP) - Ho Chi Minh City authorities said Tuesday more detoxification centres in Vietnam's southern metropolis were urgently needed to cope with mass overcrowding and a surge in drug addicts.
Trinidad-Cuba: Trinidad seeking doctors from Cuba: Agence France-Presse - August 5, 2002; PORT-OF-SPAIN, Aug 5 (AFP) - The Trinidad and Tobago Government has entered into exploratory discussions with Cuba and other Caribbean states to try to fill staff shortages in the health sector, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said on Monday.
Libya-Bulgaria-AIDS: Libya court again delays decision in foreign AIDS case: source: Agence France-Presse - August 5, 2002; TRIPOLI, Aug 5 (AFP) - A Libyan court postponed Monday for the second time in less than a month a decision on whether to order a new trial in the cases of seven foreign medical workers accused of provoking an AIDS crisis in Libya, a judicial source said.
Africa-WHO-famine: Southern Africa famine may trigger 300,000 more deaths in six months: WHO: Agence France-Presse - August 5, 2002; GENEVA, Aug 5 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation said on Monday that it feared the food crisis affecting southern Africa would lead to 300,000 additional deaths in the region within the next six months.
SAfrica-AIDS-music: AIDS activists target Mbeki through music CD: Agence France-Presse - August 3, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Aug 3 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki, whose government has been accused of dragging its heels on providing AIDS drugs, is targetted by activists in a newly released music CD, a news report said Saturday.
UNICEF-Angola: Actress Mia Farrow reaches out to children of Angola: Agence France-Presse - August 2, 2002; GENEVA, Aug 2 (AFP) - US actress and UNICEF goodwill ambassador Mia Farrow is to begin a tour of Angola next week to highlight the plight of women and children after nearly three decades of war.
Cameroon-AIDS: Cameroon lowers anti-AIDS drug prices: Agence France-Presse - August 1, 2002; YAOUNDE, Aug 1 (AFP) - The government of the west African nation Cameroon on Thursday announced cuts of around 30 percent in the price of anti-AIDS drugs.
ASEAN-AIDS: Time running out in Asia's battle against AIDS: UN: Agence France-Presse - August 1, 2002; BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Aug 1 (AFP) - Time is running out for Asia in its battle to contain an emerging AIDS epidemic, a United Nations health expert warned here Thursday.
Asia-UN-youth: UNICEF inaugurates Asian Youth Day: Agence France-Presse - August 1, 2002; BANGKOK, Aug 1 (AFP) - Youths from 26 Asian countries launched a plan of action here Thursday aimed at strengthening the role and influence of young people as they and UNICEF marked the inaugural Asian Youth Day.

July

Africa-investment: Africa needs to enable investment: British official: Agence France-Presse - July 31, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, July 31 (AFP) - African governments need to create an environment to raise investment from its current levels of 18 percent to between 25 to 30 percent, a British official said here Wednesday.
DRCongo-Rwanda: DRCongo-Rwanda peace pact poses military problems for S. Africa: Jan Hennop; Agence France-Presse - July 31, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, July 31 (AFP) - A peace pact between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda is seen as a diplomatic victory for South Africa, but Pretoria's proposed military role poses huge logistical problems, analysts said Wednesday.
Kenya-AIDS-church: Kenya's protestant churches to use liturgy to fight AIDS: Agence France-Presse - July 31, 2002; NAIROBI, July 31 (AFP) - Kenyan protestant churches have resolved to step up efforts, including use of the liturgy, to combat AIDS, which has killed at least 1.5 million people in the country, an official said on Wednesday.
Myanmar-Japan-grant: Japan signs five million dollar health grant for Myanmar: Agence France-Presse - July 31, 2002; YANGON, July 31 (AFP) - Japan on Wednesday inked a five million dollar grant towards improving Myanmar's maternal and child health care services and called for "enhanced cooperation" between the ruling junta and UNICEF.
Lesotho-Botswana-AIDS: HIV rate hits 31 percent in Lesotho, 40 percent women in Botswana: reports: Agence France-Presse - July 30, 2002; MASERU, July 30 (AFP) - Almost a third of Lesotho's population has been infected with HIV, while in Botswana 40 percent of all pregnant women are HIV positive, two reports released in the southern African countries said Tuesday.
Vietnam-prostitution: Prostitute numbers rise in Vietnam: Agence France-Presse - July 30, 2002; HANOI, July 30 (AFP) - The number of prostitutes in Vietnam has risen slightly in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2001, state media said Tuesday.
Thailand-AIDS: Thai hospital therapy cuts mother-to-baby HIV transmission: Agence France-Presse - July 30, 2002; BANGKOK, July 30 (AFP) - Doctors at a major Thai hospital have slashed HIV transmission rates between infected mothers and babies by using an affordable combination of anti-retroviral drugs, reports said Tuesday.
Vietnam-drugs: 12 percent of Vietnam's drug addicts are state workers: official media: Agence France-Presse - July 30, 2002; HANOI, July 30 (AFP) - Vietnam has nearly 120,000 drug addicts, 12 percent of whom are state workers, official media said Tuesday.
Niger-AIDS: Niger man breaks taboo on AIDS with "outing" on television: Agence France-Presse - July 29, 2002; NIAMEY, July 29 (AFP) - A sociologist in the west African country of Niger, which has largely ignored the existence of AIDS within its territory, has in a pathbreaking step announced on state-run television that he is seropositive.
SAfrica-AIDS: Mandela requests AIDS meeting with Mbeki: Agence France-Presse - July 29, 2002; CAPE TOWN, July 29 (AFP) - South African former president Nelson Mandela has formally requested a meeting with President Thabo Mbeki to discuss the plight of the country's AIDS victims in need of anti-retroviral treatment, his spokeswoman said Monday.
Mideast-unrest-health: Bones of suicide bombers could spread hepatitis B: Israeli study: Agence France-Presse - July 27, 2002; PARIS, July 27 (AFP) - Fragments of bone from Palestinian suicide bombers can transmit hepatitis B to anyone nearby who survives the blast, the British magazine New Scientist reported Saturday.
Zimbabwe-economy: Zimbabwe slaps luxuries with nearly 500 percent duty: Agence France-Presse - July 26, 2002; HARARE, July 26 (AFP) - Zimbabwe has increased duty on imported luxury items by nearly 500 percent to help finance land reform, drought relief and civil servants' wages, Finance Minister Simba Makoni has announced.
Russia-AIDS-fund: AIDS official attacks Moscow for giving more to UN than at home: Agence France-Presse - July 25, 2002; MOSCOW, July 25 (AFP) - Russia's top AIDS official criticized the government on Thursday for promising more than three times the amount of money it has allocated to fighting the disease at home to a UN global fund.
Russia-health-children: More than half of Russian children have health problems: Agence France-Presse - July 25, 2002; MOSCOW, July 25 (AFP) - More than half of Russia's children suffer from health problems, Deputy Health Minister Olga Sharapova said on Thursday presenting preliminary findings of a national medical survey of under 18-year-olds.
UNDP-Africa: Africans stand to gain most from democratization: UNDP: Gina Doggett; Agence France-Presse - July 24, 2002; PARIS, July 24 (AFP) - The people of Africa, the world's poorest and most conflict-ridden continent, stand to gain the most from democracy-building, which the United Nations says is a key to improving their day-to-day lives.
Kenya-tourism-AIDS: AIDS threatens tourism in Kenya: Agence France-Presse - July 24, 2002; MOMBASA, Kenya, July 24 (AFP) - The AIDS scourge is posing a serious threat to Kenya's tourism industry due to a large number of visitors coming into the country without screening, an official said here Wednesday.
Britain-Archbishop-Aus: Australian Anglicans welcome new Archbishop of Canterbury: Agence France-Presse - July 24, 2002; SYDNEY, July 24 (AFP) - Australia's Anglican leaders on Wednesday applauded the appointment of the Archbishop of Wales Rowan Williams as head of the worldwide Anglican church, describing him as a bold speaker and a deep thinker.
SAfrica-AIDS: Anti-AIDS television message withdrawn for crude language: Agence France-Presse - July 22, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, July 22 (AFP) - Crude language in an AIDS awareness message, withdrawn by the public South African broadcasting Corporation after a recent complaint, reflects the way young people speak and act, said the head of the organisation driving it.
SAfrica-RedCross: Red Cross seeks 62 mln dollars for food relief in southern Africa: ATTENTION - CONTAINS OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE: Agence France-Presse - July 22, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, July 22 (AFP) - The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Monday appealed for 61.9 million dollars to help relieve a severe food crisis in southern Africa.
Health-AIDS-Britain: Britain may test new nurses and doctors for AIDS: press: Agence France-Presse - July 22, 2002; LONDON, July 22 (AFP) - New nurses and doctors in England may be subject to HIV tests amid fears that more than 700 infected nursing staff were recruited to the country last year, a British daily said Monday.
Health-AIDS: Gene clue to putting the brakes on AIDS: Agence France-Presse - July 21, 2002; PARIS, July 21 (AFP) - People infected with HIV who have key variations in two genes take longer to develop full-blown AIDS, according to a study published on-line Sunday by the specialist journal Nature Genetics.
SAfrica-AIDS-fund: S.African health minister criticises Global Fund for AIDS: Agence France-Presse - July 20, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, July 20 (AFP) - South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang on Saturday accused the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria of acting in bad faith.
SAfrica-Mandela: Mandela celebrates birthday with disabled children: Agence France-Presse - July 20, 2002; CAPE TOWN, July 20 (AFP) - Former South African president Nelson Mandela, who turned 84 on July 18, celebrated his birthday with hundreds of mentally disabled children on Saturday.
US-AIDS: Two Florida residents contract HIV virus from blood transfusions: Agence France-Presse - July 19, 2002; TAMPA, Florida Aug 19 (AFP) - Two Florida residents have contracted the HIV virus from blood transfusions, the second such incident since US authorities imposed stricter rules on testing of blood samples in 1999, a spokesman for the blood bank said Friday.
US-AIDS: Bush appoints AIDS policy director: Agence France-Presse - July 19, 2002; WASHINGTON, July 19 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Friday appointed Joseph O'Neill, a doctor who has treated AIDS patients since the early 1980s, to head the government's Office of National AIDS Policy.
Lesotho-UNICEF: Lesotho faces loss of one fifth of population to famine: UNICEF: Agence France-Presse - July 19, 2002; GENEVA, July 19 (AFP) - About 440,000 people in Lesotho, or one fifth of the population, are at risk of starvation, an official of the UN Children's Fund warned.
UN-Africa: UN seeks 611 million dollars for six African countries: Agence France-Presse - July 18, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, July 18 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan made an urgent appeal to the international community Thursday for 611 million dollars in relief for six African nations.
UN-AIDS-Africa: African first ladies mobilise against AIDS: Agence France-Presse - July 18, 2002; GENEVA, July 18 (AFP) - Eighteen African first ladies said Thursday they had joined forces against AIDS in Africa, and were setting up an organisation to focus on cooperation and communication to combat the pandemic.
Sudan-AIDS: Sudan to hold anti-AIDS week: Agence France-Presse - July 18, 2002; KHARTOUM, July 18 (AFP) - A week-long campaign will be launched Friday in the Sudanese capital Khartoum and at least nine states to educate the general public on how to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS, the anti-AIDS programme chief was quoted as saying Thursday.
SAfrica-AIDS-church: Mbeki defends minister from prelate's attack over AIDS: Agence France-Presse - July 17, 2002; CAPE TOWN, July 17 (AFP) - The Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town suggested Wednesday that South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang step down over AIDS policies, but a spokesman for President Thabo Mbeki said she retained his confidence.
SAfrica-AIDS-church: Archbishop lambasts South African AIDS programme: Agence France-Presse - July 17, 2002; CAPE TOWN, July 17 (AFP) - The Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town lambasted the South African government's implementation of its AIDS policies on Wednesday, and suggested that Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang step down.
Tanzania-Africa-WBank: World Bank chief urges Africans to end conflicts and fight AIDS: Agence France-Presse - July 17, 2002; DAR ES SALAAM, July 17 (AFP)- World Bank chief James Wolfensohn Wednesday urged Africans to increase efforts to restore peace and curb a further spread of HIV/AIDS in the continent, without which there could be progress.
Vietnam-WBank-AIDS: Vietnam approves World Bank-funded blood centres: Agence France-Presse - July 17, 2002; HANOI, July 17 (AFP) - A World Bank-funded plan to ensure blood transfusions in Vietnam are free from the risk of HIV and other infections has been given the green light, officials said Wednesday.
SAfrica-AIDS-army: HIV/AIDS rate 23 percent among S. African troops: Agence France-Presse - July 16, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, July 16 (AFP) - The HIV/AIDS infection rate in South Africa's defence forces is "not more than 23 percent", Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said Tuesday.
SAfrica-AIDS: South Africa accepts UN AIDS grant, but sets own terms: Agence France-Presse - July 16, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, July 16 (AFP) - South Africa on Tuesday accepted a 60-million-dollar grant awarded by the UN global AIDS fund to the eastern province of Kwazulu-Natal, but said it would be used to benefit all nine provinces.
UN-AIDS-Africa: African first ladies to launch anti-AIDS group: Agence France-Presse - July 16, 2002; GENEVA, July 16 (AFP) - The first ladies of 18 African countries will launch a campaign group against HIV/AIDS this week, the UN agency coordinating the global fight against the disease, UNAIDS, said on Tuesday.
Libya-Bulgaria-AIDS: Libya court delays decision in foreign AIDS case: source: Agence France-Presse - July 15, 2002; TRIPOLI, July 15 (AFP) - A Libyan court has delayed until next month a decision on whether to order a new trial in the cases of seven foreign medical workers accused of provoking an AIDS crisis in Libya, a judicial source said Monday.
Botswana-AIDS: Tackling the world's worst AIDS crisis: Roman Rollnick; Agence France-Presse - July 15, 2002; GABORONE, July 15 (AFP) - An AIDS epidemic that afflicts more than a third of the population of this southern African country is threatening to undermine one of the continent's most democratic and best educated countries.
Health-AIDS: Human gene combats HIV, says study: Agence France-Presse - July 15, 2002; PARIS, July 15 (AFP) - Scientists in Britain and the United States say they have found a unique gene in humans that defends the body from AIDS virus, a discovery that could open up a new front to fight the disease.
AIDS: Painfully, the world moves forward on AIDS crisis: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 14, 2002; PARIS, July 14 (AFP) - Little by little, but probably too slowly to save millions of people, the world seems to be getting its act together for confronting the AIDS peril.
Cuba-AIDS: Cuban has survived 24 years with AIDS: press: Agence France-Presse - July 13, 2002; HAVANA, July 13 (AFP) - Eduardo is a Cuban man who contracted AIDS 24 years ago and has lived to tell about it, a Cuban newspaper reported Saturday.
US-rumors: US government site probes flesh-eating bananas and asbestos-lined tampons: Patrick Moser; Agence France-Presse - July 13, 2002; MIAMI, July 13 (AFP) - At a time when Americans worry about the possibility of further anthrax attacks or other forms of bioterrorism, authorities have some good news: rumors about killer bananas, poisoned perfume samples and asbestos-lined tampons are false.
AIDS-leaders: Clinton, Mandela set up "World Leaders' AIDS Action Network": Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 12 (AFP) - Present and former government leaders will be asked to join a group to help drum up funds and resources to fight the AIDS pandemic, former US president Bill Clinton said here Friday.
AIDS: Don't give up the fight, Clinton and Mandela urge AIDS campaign: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 12 (AFP) - Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela on Friday urged campaigners never to lose heart in their war against AIDS, even if the news from the battlefront was almost relentlessly bad.
US-Congress-AIDS: US Senate adopts 4.5 billion dollar AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis bill: Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2002; WASHINGTON, July 12 (AFP) - The US Senate on Friday adopted a bill that over two years will provide 4.5 billion dollars to the fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
China-AIDS: Chinese intellectuals voice support for AIDS group in trouble: Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2002; BEIJING, July 12 (AFP) - A growing number of Chinese intellectuals are writing to the country's leaders and officials in support of a pioneering AIDS awareness group that is finding it ever harder to continue its work, a Hong Kong-based rights group said Friday.
AIDS-Germany: Germany adds 50 million dollars to Global Fund for AIDS: Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 12 (AFP) - Germany has added another 50 million dollars to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, bringing its pledges so far to 200 million dollars, the fund announced here Friday.
AIDS-highlights: AIDS crisis: the state of play: Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 12 (AFP) - Following is a summary of the state of the world AIDS crisis, drawn from speeches and workshops at the 14th International AIDS Conference here...
AIDS-Clinton: AIDS crisis a threat to global stability, says Clinton: Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 12 (AFP) - Former US president Bill Clinton on Friday branded the world's worsening AIDS crisis a security threat, capable of driving fragile states into turmoil and terrorism.
AIDS: Mood grim as AIDS conference winds up: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 12, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 12 (AFP) - A conference on the global AIDS crisis was winding up here Friday after a marathon, often gloomy assessment of an epidemic that has already claimed more lives than a world war.
India-arrests: Two arrested in India for selling cow urine as cure for AIDS, cancer: Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2002; CALCUTTA, July 11 (AFP) - Police in the east Indian state of West Bengal Thursday arrested two people for selling cow urine and dung as medicines to cure AIDS and cancer.
AIDS-people-Clinton: Swoosh, it's the Nike condom, says Clinton: Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 11 (AFP) - Former US president Bill Clinton stole the show at the world AIDS conference on Friday, laughingly conjuring up the idea of Nike's swoosh logo in the form of a condom.
AIDS-Africa: African healers challenge western medicine at AIDS forum: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, June 11 (AFP) - Traditional African healers threw down the gauntlet to western medicine here Thursday, saying they had a herbal treatment for the HIV virus that a preliminary scientific study showed was as effective as antiretroviral drugs yet costs just a fraction of them.
Kenya-Africa-AIDS: Over 80 percent of world's HIV/AIDS infected women are from Africa: Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2002; NAIROBI,July 11 (AFP) - More than 80 percent of the world's HIV/AIDS infected women are from sub-Saharan Africa, the Forum for African Women Educationalist (FAWE) said in a report released here Thursday.
Kenya-UN-economy: Low trade, poor harvests, drought and AIDS slow Kenyan economy: UNDP: Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2002; NAIROBI, July 11 (AFP) - Declining farm production and a slump in external trade have worsened problems already caused by drought, and are mainly to blame for Kenya's economic decline, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a report released Thursday.
AIDS-US: Bush under fire at world AIDS conference: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 11 (AFP) - President George W. Bush was given a roasting Thursday at the International AIDS Conference here, where his approach to the global AIDS epidemic was attacked as timid and penny-pinching.
Vietnam-AIDS: Vietnam needs to step up youth education on HIV/AIDS: UN: Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2002; HANOI, July 11 (AFP) - Vietnam needs to tackle widespread ignorance about HIV/AIDS among its youth in order to stem the country's alarming infection rate, UN officials said Thursday.
AIDS-EEurope: Needle programmes vital to stem EEurope AIDS crisis: experts: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 11 (AFP) - Needle exchanges for intravenous drug users, law reform and erasing the stigma of drug addiction are vital for preventing Eastern Europe from becoming the next region to be wrecked by AIDS.
Russia-prisons: Russian "model" jail struggles with disease, lack of funds: Viktoria Loginova; Agence France-Presse - July 11, 2002; MOZHAISK, Russia, July 11 (AFP) - Squeezing 20 inmates into a 15 square meter (160 square foot) cell may appear to make for unbearably cramped conditions, but by Russian standards it's a better deal than you could expect elsewhere.
AIDS-aid: 50 million dollars pledged for HIV mothers, children: Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 10 (AFP) - A new US anti-AIDS programme backed by Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates pledged 50 million dollars Wednesday to help HIV-infected mothers and their children in eight countries in Africa and Asia.
AIDS-law: Jail for transmitting HIV helps fuel epidemic: UN agency: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 10 (AFP) - Laws to jail individuals who transmit HIV through sexual intercourse, donating infected blood or sharing drug needles may in fact exacerbate the AIDS epidemic, a UN agency said Wednesday.
AIDS-orphans: AIDS orphans set to double by 2010, world conference told: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 10 (AFP) - The number of AIDS orphans will nearly double to 25 million by 2010, widening a deep pool of human misery, economic problems and social turbulence, the world AIDS conference heard Wednesday.
AIDS-Internet: "Super Shag Land" website for safe sex is a smash hit: Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 10 (AFP) - A website that combines online gaming and mock pornography with safe-sex propaganda is proving to be a roaring success with youngsters, according to a British youth education charity behind the invention.
Burundi-AIDS: Despite price cut, generic AIDS drugs too expensive for most Burundians: Esdras Ndigumana; Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2002; BUJUMBURA, July 10 (AFP) - Only a few hundred out of nearly 400,000 AIDS sufferers in the impoverished, war-ravaged central African nation of Burundi can afford anti-retroviral treatment, even though costs have been slashed with the introduction of generic drugs, a health official told AFP on Wednesday.
AIDS-demo: Protests mark AIDS conference for third day running: Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 10 (AFP) - Protestors disrupted the International AIDS Conference here Wednesday for the third day running, seizing an exhibition booth operated by the European Commission and occupying a stand run by a pharmaceutical company.
AIDS-Catholics: Catholics launch campaign to end Vatican's condom ban: Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 10 (AFP) - Roman Catholics in North and South America unveiled a campaign at the International AIDS Conference aimed at overturning the Vatican's ban on the use of condoms.
AIDS-cost: Cost of treating patient with AIDS double that of one with HIV: study: Agence France-Presse - July 10, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 10 (AFP) - Treatment costs more than double when a patient infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) progresses to full-blown AIDS, the International AIDS Conference was told Wednesday.
AIDS-aid: AIDS crisis: human life worth just two dollars a day: Agence France-Presse - July 9, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 9 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) said Tuesday that the AIDS crisis was so grim, and the response to it so inadequate, that a human life in poor countries was statistically worth under two dollars a day.
AIDS-demo: Rowdy protests ripple across world AIDS conference: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 9, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 9 (AFP) - Seeking to hike pressure on political leaders, protestors jeered the US and French health ministers at the world AIDS forum here Tuesday and seized an exhibition stand operated by a pharmaceutical company.
AIDS-US: Hostile reception as US health secretary spells out AIDS help: Agence France-Presse - July 9, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 9 (AFP) - Security guards formed a wall around US Secretary of Health Tommy Thompson here Tuesday as boos, jeers and whistles drowned out a speech he made to extol Washington's role in fighting the global AIDS crisis.
AIDS-vaccine: Vaccine knights set quest for "Holy Grail": Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 9, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 9 (AFP) - Leading researchers backed by an arsenal of hundreds of millions of dollars unveiled Tuesday a quest for the "Holy Grail" -- a preventive HIV vaccine that would work as dramatically as Jonas Salk's famous shield against polio.
AIDS-activism: Taboos get smashed in propaganda war on AIDS: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 8, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 8 (AFP) - In the agonising absence of a cure for AIDS and a vaccine for HIV, activists fighting the global pandemic are using a treatment of last resort -- shock therapy.
AIDS-Africa-drugs: AIDS super-fund to boost African access to HIV drugs: Agence France-Presse - July 8, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 8 (AFP) - The number of Africans with access to anti-HIV drugs will increase sixfold as a result of grants recently pledged by the newest AIDS fund, that organisation said Monday.
France-justice-blood: Prosecutors appeal dismissal of French HIV-tainted blood case: Agence France-Presse - July 8, 2002; LONDON, July 8 (AFP) - French prosecutors will appeal the shock dismissal of a case against 30 doctors and officials implicated in the distribution of HIV-tainted blood products in the mid-1980s, Justice Minister Dominique Perben announced here Monday.
AIDS-Asia: Asia's Big Three tread road to AIDS disaster: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 8, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 8 (AFP) - Denial, stigma and discrimination are three horsemen driving China, Indonesia and India towards a potential AIDS apocalypse, the world AIDS conference here was told on Monday.
AIDS-vaccine: Major trial of AIDS vaccine is set, no news yet on other test: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 8, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 8 (AFP) - The world's biggest trial of a vaccine aimed at preventing HIV infection was announced here Monday, but AIDS campaigners remained in the dark about the outcome of another desperately-awaited vaccine in the test pipe.
Malaysia-AIDS-condom: Watchdog warns lower standards for plastic condoms may set back AIDS fight: Agence France-Presse - July 8, 2002; KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (AFP) - An international consumer watchdog warned Monday that proposals to lower standards for plastic condoms could set back the global fight against AIDS.
AIDS-drug: Dramatic results seen for new class of HIV drug: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 8, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 8 (AFP) - The first in a brand-new class of drug has yielded excellent results in suppressing HIV among patients with a chronic history of fighting the AIDS virus, doctors said on Monday.
AIDS-terrorism: Could AIDS create the next bin Laden?: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 8, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 8 (AFP) - Policymakers at the International AIDS Conference here say the disease's relentless march is posing a major challenge to the nation-state system.
AIDS: Kick out politicians who fail AIDS pledges, conference told: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 7, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 7 (AFP) - The biggest AIDS conference in history began Sunday in Spain to a call from a top UN official to boot out politicians who fail to honour their pledges to fight the world's worsening health crisis.
Caricom-AIDS: Caricom countries reach deal with firms for discounted HIV/AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - July 7, 2002; GEORGETOWN, July 7 (AFP) - Six of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies are to provide deeply-discounted anti-AIDS retrovirals to the Caribbean, the world's second most badly-infected region, leaders of CARICOM said.
AIDS-US: HIV infection rate in US seems stable, but worries about gays: Agence France-Presse - July 7, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 7 (AFP) - The number of new HIV infections in the United States appears to be stable, but worryingly high incidence of the AIDS virus is occurring among African-Americans and homosexuals, studies released here Sunday said.
AIDS: AIDS epidemic ravages survival chances of worst-hit countries: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 7, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 7 (AFP) - The world's biggest AIDS conference was getting under way here Sunday amid evidence that some African states are being so ravaged by the disease that they face an uphill battle to survive.
AIDS-SAfrica: S. African govt will implement court ruling on HIV drugs: health minister: Agence France-Presse - July 7, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 7 (AFP) - South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said here Sunday that her government would uphold a court ruling requiring it to make anti-HIV drugs available to all pregnant women to prevent the AIDS virus from infecting their babies.
AIDS-funds: 10 billion dollars needed annually to fight AIDS, says UN: Agence France-Presse - July 7, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 7 (AFP) - Funding to help poor and middle-income countries combat the worsening AIDS crisis needs to at least triple, to 10 billion dollars a year, the United Nations said Sunday.
AIDS: AIDS experts muster in Barcelona to take stock of pandemic: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 7, 2002; BARCELONA, Spain, July 7 (AFP) - Doctors, medical researchers and grass-roots campaigners gathered here Sunday for a six-day assessment of the global AIDS pandemic, now spreading fast into Eastern Europe and Asia as it enters its third decade.
Iran-AIDS: Rise in AIDS cases in Iran: radio: Agence France-Presse - July 7, 2002; TEHRAN, July 7 (AFP) - AIDS is on the rise in Iran with a total of 20,650 cases recorded, an official from the health ministry was quoted as saying Sunday by state radio.
AIDS-US: AIDS research pioneer soldiers on against HIV: Matt Beer; Agence France-Presse - July 6, 2002; SAN FRANCISCO, July 6 (AFP) - From his small, nondescript office on the University of San Francisco Medical Center campus, one of the pioneers in AIDS research wages war against the enigmatic disease that continues to ravage populations worldwide.
Kenya-AIDS-UN: New African soap opera to help war against AIDS: Bogonko Bosire; Agence France-Presse - July 6, 2002; NAIROBI, July 6 (AFP) - Africa's airwaves are a new battleground in the war against AIDS, with Kenyan television stars and a supporting cast of numerous UN agencies, as well as other international backers, integrating forces in a new soap opera for the continent.
AIDS-SAfrica: Barcelona absentee: a campaigner for AIDS drugs who refuses to take them: Philippe Bernes-Lasserre; Agence France-Presse - July 6, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, July 6 (AFP) - The AIDS conference in Barcelona, Spain, will have a notable absentee: South Africa's leading campaigner for universal access to antiretroviral drugs, who refuses to buy them for himself, and who is now bedridden with suspected tuberculosis.
SAfrica-AIDS-justice: S. Africa's highest court denies govt appeal on AIDS drug ruling: Agence France-Presse - July 5, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, July 5 (AFP) - South Africa's highest court on Friday denied the government leave to appeal against a High Court ruling forcing it to give anti-AIDS drugs to all HIV-positive pregnant women.
AIDS-Honduras: Impoverished Honduras at the center of Latin America's AIDS epidemic: Agence France-Presse - July 5, 2002; TEGUCIGALPA, July 5 (AFP) - With 65,000 people infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus out of a population of 6.5 million, Honduras is at the epicenter of Latin America's AIDS epidemic, according to the United Nations.
UN-AIDS-Timor: East Timor sliding towards AIDS disaster: minister: Agence France-Presse - July 5, 2002; GENEVA, July 5 (AFP) - East Timor's Health Minister, Rui Maria de Araujo, warned Friday that his newly-independent country was in danger of an AIDS epidemic, saying its low official figures were "just the tip of the iceberg".
France-justice-blood: Victims demand justice after French HIV-tainted blood case thrown out: Susan Stumme; Agence France-Presse - July 5, 2002; PARIS, July 5 (AFP) - Victims' rights groups urged state prosecutors on Friday to appeal a surprise dismissal of the case against 30 doctors and government officials implicated in the use of HIV-tainted blood products in France in the mid-1980s.
AIDS-SAfrica: The AIDS infirm trudge, or are pushed in wheelbarrows: Ajith Bridgraj; Agence France-Presse - July 5, 2002; HLABISA, South Africa, July 5 (AFP) - Hunched over walking sticks, the infirm trudge agonisingly to the surgery deep in the heart of South Africa's Zululand for treatment for their AIDS-related diseases.
UN-AIDS: 29 million new adult HIV infections could be avoided by 2010: UN: Agence France-Presse - July 4, 2002; GENEVA, July 4 (AFP) - An immediate and massive global response based on 12 key treatment and prevention measures could stop 29 million new adult HIV infections by 2010, WHO and UN experts said.
Mozambique-US-AIDS: US funds anti-HIV/AIDS campaign in Mozambique: Agence France-Presse - July 4, 2002; MAPUTO, June 4 (AFP) - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is to provide 11 million US dollars to a 13.5 million dollar anti-AIDS campaign in southern Mozambique, an official said Thursday.
AIDS-Africa-FAO: Seven million African farm laborers killed by AIDS: UN food agency: Agence France-Presse - July 4, 2002; ROME, July 4 (AFP) - Some seven million farm labourers have died from AIDS since 1985 in the 25 most seriously affected African countries, and the disease could claim a further 16 million victims by 2020, the UN food agency said Thursday.
Thailand-AIDS-trial: Thailand announces world's biggest HIV vaccine trial: Anusak Konglang; Agence France-Presse - July 4, 2002; BANGKOK, July 4 (AFP) - Thailand announced Thursday it will hold the world's biggest HIV vaccine trial, lasting five years and involving 16,000 participants from two eastern provinces.
AIDS-Russia: Russia's top AIDS official pleads for money to combat catastrophe: Agence France-Presse - July 4, 2002; MOSCOW, July 4 (AFP) - Russia must allocate more funds to prevent and treat the virus that causes AIDS, which is growing at a catastrophic rate, the country's top AIDS official warned on Thursday.
Zimbabwe-AIDS: Zimbabwe's year-old anti-AIDS law hard to apply, good deterrent: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - July 4, 2002; HARARE, July 4 (AFP) - Zimbabwe is one of a handful of countries that criminalise the wilful transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, but in the 11 months since the Sexual Offences Law came into effect, it has proved practically impossible to apply, lawmakers and civic groups have said.
AIDS: AIDS conference to take stock of widening plague: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 4, 2002; PARIS, July 4 (AFP) - The world's top AIDS specialists muster in Barcelona from Sunday for a fresh appraisal of the monster whose hydra heads are ravaging southern Africa and eastern Europe and are now ripping into Asia.
Thailand-AIDS: Thailand works to export anti-AIDS drug know-how to Africa: Samantha Brown; Agence France-Presse - July 4, 2002; BANGKOK, July 4 (AFP) - At less than a dollar a day, Thailand produces the world's cheapest anti-AIDS drugs, but one woman is determined to give impoverished African countries the know-how to produce them even cheaper.
China-AIDS: China AIDS patients die in 'ignorance and silence' as leaders dawdle: Cindy Sui; Agence France-Presse - July 4, 2002; BEIJING, July 4 (AFP) - China's highly vulnerable AIDS patients are getting minimal government help, experts warn, with officials still reluctant to face the problem openly despite UN warnings the country faces a disaster of "unimaginable proportions".
US-India-HRW-AIDS: Police abuse threatens AIDS prevention in India: HRW: Agence France-Presse - July 3, 2002; NEW YORK, July 3 (AFP) - Police harassment of AIDS workers in India is undermining efforts to contain one of the worst epidemics in the world, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.
Pakistan-Canada: Canada pledges 10 million US dollars in assistance to Pakistan: Agence France-Presse - July 3, 2002; ISLAMABAD, July 3 (AFP) - Canada Wednesday announced 15 million Canadian dollars (10 million US) in aid for Pakistan for health care, fighting HIV/AIDS, improving the status of women and educating Afghan refugee children.
Cambodia-AIDS: UN sees up to 200,000 more Cambodians infected with AIDS by 2012: Agence France-Presse - July 3, 2002; PHNOM PENH, July 3 (AFP) - The United Nations forecast Wednesday that another 200,000 Cambodians could become infected by the HIV/AIDS virus within five to 10 years.
China-AIDS: Chinese NGO that probed village AIDS deaths evicted: Cindy Sui; Agence France-Presse - July 3, 2002; BEIJING, July 3 (AFP) - A pioneering Chinese group that publicised the large numbers of farmers in remote villages dying of AIDS after contracting the disease from selling blood has been evicted from its office, its founder said Wednesday.
Vietnam-AIDS: More than 50,000 HIV cases in Vietnam: official figures: Agence France-Presse - July 3, 2002; HANOI, July 3 (AFP) - More than 50,000 Vietnamese people have the HIV virus while another 7400 have AIDS, official government figures released Wednesday said.
AIDS-vaccine: At last, the AIDS vaccine "pipeline" gets larger: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 3, 2002; PARIS, July 3 (AFP) - After years of frustration and under-funding, scientists are at last widening the number of potential vaccines against the AIDS virus, but a successful formula still seems a long way off.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigerian president orders free, voluntary AIDS tests for 500,000: Agence France-Presse - July 3, 2002; ABUJA, July 3 (AFP) - Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo Wednesday told health authorities to carry out free HIV/AIDS tests for more than 500,000 volunteers as part of a campaign against the disease.
UN-AIDS-globalisation: AIDS the epidemic of globalisation, UNAIDS director says: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - July 2, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, July 2 (AFP) - The AIDS epidemic that has killed 25 million people is the disease of globalisation, the joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Peter Piot, said Tuesday.
WBank-development: Donors replenish World Bank fund for poorest countries: Agence France-Presse - July 2, 2002; WASHINGTON, June 2 (AFP) - Donor nations agreed Tuesday to replenish a World Bank fund for the poorest countries, unlocking 23 billion dollars over three years, the bank said.
US-sex-education: US spends 27 million dollars promoting abstinence until marriage: Agence France-Presse - July 2, 2002; WASHINGTON, July 2 (AFP) - The US government Tuesday awarded grants totaling 27.7 million dollars to promote sexual abstinence prior to marriage, health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced.
UN-AIDS-Africa: Huge impact of AIDS in Africa is set to grow for generations: UN: Agence France-Presse - July 2, 2002; PARIS, July 2 (AFP) - About 55 million Africans will die prematurely because of AIDS by 2020, as the disease grows in Africa in the absence of any form of mass treatment, UNAIDS said on Tuesday in its report for 2002.
UN-AIDS-Asia-explode: Asia-Pacific faces "explosive" AIDS epidemic rivalling Africa: UN: Agence France-Presse - July 2, 2002; BANGKOK, July 2 (AFP) - The Asian region is facing an "explosive epidemic" of HIV-AIDS that could rival the devastation wreaked in Africa, United Nations officials said Tuesday as they urged governments to tackle the problem.
UN-Aids: UN warns AIDS epidemic just beginning: Brigitte Castelnau; Agence France-Presse - July 2, 2002; PARIS, July 2 (AFP) - The AIDS epidemic which has already killed more than 20 million people in 20 years is still in an early phase, a new UN report on HIV/AIDS for 2002 said on Tuesday.
UN-AIDS-figures: AIDS epidemic: UNAIDS figures: Agence France-Presse - July 2, 2002; PARIS, July 2 (AFP) - Following are global and regional estimates of the state of the AIDS epidemic at the end of 2001, released Tuesday by the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) ahead of the 14th International AIDS Conference opening Sunday in Barcelona, Spain.
Mozambique-malaria: Mozambique tests a possible malaria vaccine: Agence France-Presse - July 2, 2002; MAPUTO, July 2 (AFP) - Health authorities in Mozambique are testing a drug which could be developed into a vaccine against malaria, a health official said Tuesday.
UN-AIDS-bushmeat: Revenge of the ape: Is "bushmeat" a looming AIDS peril?: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - July 2, 2002; PARIS, July 2 (AFP) - Destruction of tropical African forests and poaching of primates could be a significant new threat in the war against the AIDS pandemic, some scientists believe.
US-health-Glaxo: AIDS group sues GlaxoSmithKline for antitrust violations: Agence France-Presse - July 1, 2002; LOS ANGELES, July 1 (AFP) - A leading US AIDS organization, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, said Monday it had filed suit against British-owned GlaxoSmithKline for alleged antitrust violations.
Pacific-sex: Love in the South Seas more than hot nights and dusky maidens: Michael Field; Agence France-Presse - July 1, 2002; AUCKLAND, July 1 (AFP) - Nights are warm and the bodies dusky and hunky, but South Seas sex and love, thanks to Christian missionaries and misguided anthropologists is more than a little confused.

June

SAfrica-AIDS-Africa: NEPAD must provide for HIV/AIDS treatment, demand activists: Agence France-Presse - June 30, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, June 30 (AFP) - Africa's homespun recovery plan NEPAD must provide for HIV/AIDS treatment as well as prevention to be effective, South Africa's Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) resolved at the weekend.
G8-Africa: G8 leaders launch new plan for Africa, activists angry: Agence France-Presse - June 27, 2002; KANANASKIS, Canada, June 27 (AFP) - Group of Eight leaders launched their long-awaited action plan for Africa Thursday, promising a new dawn for the continent, but aid activists said the promises amounted to peanuts.
G8-Africa-agree: G8 leaders agree new plan for Africa: Agence France-Presse - June 27, 2002; KANANASKIS, Canada, June 27 (AFP) - Leaders of the Group of Eight major powers issued Thursday a joint action plan for Africa, offering to funnel at least six billion dollars of recent new aid commitments to the continent.
OPEC-AIDS: Oil producers pledge funds to fight AIDS in Africa: Agence France-Presse - June 27, 2002; GENEVA, June 27 (AFP) - OPEC's international development fund as joined the World Health Organisation in its fight against HIV/AIDS in 12 nations in sub-Saharan Africa, the WHO said Thursday.
Kenya-UN-drugs: UN pledges to help African states fight drugs menace: Agence France-Presse - June 27, 2002; NAIROBI, June 27 (AFP) - The UN will help Africa, the world's largest transit point for drugs to combat the global menace of drugs that is posing a new challenge for regional security, the UN Development Progamme (UNDP) said in Kenya Thursday.
CentrAsia-drugs: Drug abuse soaring in Central Asia: UN: Agence France-Presse - June 27, 2002; TASHKENT, June 27 (AFP) - Drug abuse in Central Asia is taking on menacing proportions, particularly the intravenous use of heroin, a report released Thursday by the regional office of a United Nations drug agency has found.
China-AIDS-UN: UN says China must adopt broad approach or risk AIDS 'catastrophe': Peter Harmsen; Agence France-Presse - June 27, 2002; BEIJING, June 27 (AFP) - China risks an "AIDS catastrophe" and must treat the issue as a broad social problem rather than just a narrow medical issue, the United Nations warned Thursday.
G8-summit-protests: Protesters stage "die-in" for AIDS victims, Genoa activist: Agence France-Presse - June 26, 2002; CALGARY, Canada, June 26 (AFP) - A few hundred demonstrators, some painted with Grim Reaper faces, held a "die-in" here Wednesday to commemorate the victims of AIDS and a protester who was shot dead at last year's Group of Eight summit in Genoa, Italy.
Health-AIDS: "Gene silencing" hits polio virus, HIV in lab: Agence France-Presse - June 26, 2002; PARIS, June 26 (AFP) - Two new studies have lent weight to a revolutionary technique aimed at denying a home to HIV and other viruses by destroying the protein template that enables them to hole up in cells and replicate.
UN-G8-Africa: 35 African countries off target for global development goals, warns UN: Agence France-Presse - June 26, 2002; GENEVA, June 26 (AFP) - Only 10 of the 45 sub-saharan African countries are on target to achieve eight development goals endorsed by world leaders two years ago, including halving poverty and hunger, a new UN report said on Wednesday.
EU-drugs-HIV: Injecting drug use continues to fuel HIV infection rates in EU: agency: Agence France-Presse - June 26, 2002; LISBON, June 26 (AFP) - Intravenous drug use continues to fuel the spread of HIV infection in the EU despite public education campaigns, an EU drugs agency said Wednesday.
Ethiopia-AIDS: Ethiopians know about AIDS, but don't think they'll catch it: study: Agence France-Presse - June 26, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, June 26 (AFP) - Almost 98 percent of Ethiopians know about AIDS and HIV, but most people tend to think that their personal risk of infection is very low, the east African country's first behavioural study showed Wednesday.
Cambodia-drugs: Cambodians march against rising drugs use: Agence France-Presse - June 26, 2002; PHNOM PENH, June 26 (AFP) - Several hundred Cambodians on Wednesday marched through the capital Phnom Penh to mark the world day against drugs while appealing for an end to growing drug use.
Indonesia-drugs: Indonesia's Megawati urges death for drug traffickers: Agence France-Presse - June 26, 2002; JAKARTA, June 26 (AFP) - Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri on Wednesday declared war against drugs and called for the death sentence for traffickers.
UN-AIDS-G8: HIV/AIDS devastating African economy, UN warns G8: Agence France-Presse - June 25, 2002; GENEVA, June 25 (AFP) - AIDS and HIV infection are wreaking havoc on Africa's fragile economy, stifling growth and halving labour productivity in some countries, the UN agency dealing with the AIDS pandemic (UNAIDS) said on Tuesday.
Afghan-drugs: Afghanistan remains largest source of heroin in Europe: UN: Mohammad Bashir; Agence France-Presse - June 25, 2002; KABUL, June 25 (AFP) - Afghanistan is still the top supplier of heroin to Europe and produces almost the entire bulk of opiates consumed in central Asia, a top United Nations narcotics official said Tuesday.
Kenya-Russia-AIDS: Miss Universe ends Kenya tour with new anti-AIDS commitment: Agence France-Presse - June 25, 2002; NAIROBI, June 25 (AFP) - Russian-born Miss Universe, Oxana Fedorona, ended a tour of Kenya on Tuesday, saying she had a renewed zeal to continue her campaign against AIDS.
US-trade-drugs: US to submit WTO plan giving poor nations more access to generic drugs: Agence France-Presse - June 24, 2002; WASHINGTON, June 24 (AFP) - The United States is to present a new proposal to the World Trade Organization intended to allow poor countries full access to generic drugs to combat epidemics such as AIDS, officials said Monday.
US-AIDS: Top US officials call for multinational firms to join crusade against AIDS: Agence France-Presse - June 24, 2002; WASHINGTON, June 24 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Colin Powell and other top officials appealed on Monday for US multinational businesses to join a global campaign against HIV/AIDS, urging them to institute programs to educate workers about the deadly virus and care for infected employees.
Uganda-health: Poor health statistics cloud Uganda's rosy economic success: Vincent Mayanja; Agence France-Presse - June 24, 2002; KAMPALA, June 24 (AFP) - Uganda's economic strides, registered over the years, are clouded by continued poor health statistics exacerbated by high levels of poverty and civil unrest in some parts of the country, the health ministry said in statistics released here Saturday.
AIDS-UN: Third World ignorance of AIDS still widespread: UN: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - June 23, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, June 23 (AFP) - Twenty years into the pandemic that has killed about 24 million people, ignorance about the causes and effect of AIDS and the virus that causes it remains high in some developing countries, the United Nations said Sunday.
Kenya-Russia-AIDS: Miss Universe boosts Kenya's AIDS kitty: Agence France-Presse - June 21, 2002; NAIROBI, June 21 (AFP) - The reigning Miss Universe, Russia's Oxana Fedorona, Friday donated 250,000 dollars to Kenya's AIDS drive as part of her global charity campaign to eliminate the deadly disease from the world.
DRCongo-rights: Sexual violence at war crimes level in DR Congo, says human rights group: Agence France-Presse - June 21, 2002; KAMPALA, June 21 (AFP) - International rights watchdog, Human Rights Watch (HRW), Friday accused forces involved in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) war of committing war crimes against women and girls in the east of the sprawling central African nation.
Cambodia-aid: Cambodia reaps 635 million dollars amid donor warnings: Luke Hunt; Agence France-Presse - June 21, 2002; PHNOM PENH, June 21 (AFP) - International donors surpassed expectations on Friday and pledged Cambodia 635 million dollars for the next fiscal year but warned such funding was not sustainable without urgent reforms.
Asia-AIDS: Asian countries facing surge in AIDS, warns special UN envoy: Agence France-Presse - June 21, 2002; MANILA, June 21 (AFP) - Asian countries like China, India, Indonesia and the Philippines could face major epidemics of AIDS in the near future despite the relatively low incidence of the disease in the region at present, the special UN envoy on AIDS in Asia said here Friday.
Iran-AIDS: Iran official warns against AIDS epidemic: Agence France-Presse - June 20, 2002; TEHRAN, June 20 (AFP) - An Iranian official has warned against treating HIV-infected patients in a "discriminatory manner," saying it could lead to a "hidden epidemic" in the Islamic state, the official IRNA news agency said Thursday.
Health-EU-AIDS: New EU guidelines to cut mother-to-child HIV transmission: Agence France-Presse - June 20, 2002; BRUSSELS, June 20 (AFP) - Precautions along with anti-retroviral therapy can reduce the risk of a mother transmitting the HIV virus to her child to less than two percent, the European Commission said Thursday.
Kenya-Russia-AIDS: New Miss Universe takes HIV test to highlight disease: Agence France-Presse - June 20, 2002; NAIROBI, June 20 (AFP) - Russian-born Miss Universe Oxana Fedorona, in Kenya for a visit to spotlight the impact of AIDS, Thursday took an HIV test to publicise the importance of testing in fighting the killer pandemic.
UN-refugees-day: Role of women praised during World Refugee Day: Agence France-Presse - June 20, 2002; GENEVA, June 20 (AFP) - The "life-sustaining" role of women refugees dominated the United Nation's World Refugee Day in events organised on Thursday.
US-Africa-Bush: Bush to travel to Africa in 2003: Agence France-Presse - June 20, 2002; WASHINGTON, June 20 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush late Thursday will unveil plans to visit Africa in early 2003 and call for increasing US monies for education there by 100 million dollars over five years, officials said.
SAfrica-AIDS-workplace: South African company exposes AIDS stigmatisation: Claire Keeton; Agence France-Presse - June 20, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, June 20 (AFP) - Only one of an estimated 3,800 HIV-positive employees has disclosed his status at South African chemical and mining giant Sasol where stigmatisation, a national problem, hampers effective responses, according to a study presented Thursday.
US-Myanmar: US has immense skepticism over Myanmar government: senior official: Stephen Collinson; Agence France-Presse - June 19, 2002; WASHINGTON, June 19 (AFP) - The United States still harbors huge skepticism towards Myanmar's military regime, but will respond with positive gestures should Yangon make genuine efforts to promote political reform, a senior US official said Wednesday.
G8-summit-Annan: Annan urges G8 to act decisively on Third World poverty, debt and trade: Agence France-Presse - June 19, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, June 19 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has called on leaders of the Group of Eight to take decisive action at their summit next week to fight poverty and trade inequalities and cut Third World debt.
Kenya-Russia-AIDS: Russian Miss Universe tours Kenya to help fight AIDS: Agence France-Presse - June 19, 2002; NAIROBI, June 19 (AFP) - Russian-born Miss Universe Oxana Fedorona arrived here Wednesday for a six-day charity tour aimed at throwing the spotlight on the effects of AIDS in Kenya.
US-AIDS-Bush: Bush pledges half-billion dollars in anti-AIDS funding: Olivier Knox; Agence France-Presse - June 19, 2002; WASHINGTON, June 19 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Wednesday pledged a half-billion dollars to battle HIV/AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean, focusing on slashing transmission of the deadly virus from mothers to their children.
Lithuania-prison: Lithuanian prisoners end hunger strike: Agence France-Presse - June 18, 2002; VILNIUS, June 18 (AFP) - Lithuanian prisoners demanding better living conditions and treatment for HIV infected inmates on Tuesday ended a hunger strike after eight days of refusing food, a justice ministry spokesman said.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigeria urges Catholic Church to help curb HIV/AIDS: Agence France-Presse - June 18, 2002; ABUJA, June 18 (AFP) - Nigeria, where some 3.6 million people are believed to suffer from HIV-AIDS, on Tuesday urged the Roman Catholic Church to help combat the deadly disease.
Health-AIDS: HIV infection linked to heart problems in newborns: Agence France-Presse - June 18, 2002; PARIS, June 18 (AFP) - Children born to women with the AIDS virus run a risk of heart problems in early life, according to a study published online Tuesday by the British medical publication The Lancet.
Japan-Botswana: Japan's trade minister apologizes over Botswana-AIDS remarks: Agence France-Presse - June 17, 2002; TOKYO, June 17 (AFP) - Japan's trade minister apologized on Monday for his remarks questioning why Japan's debt rating is lower than that of Botswana, where half the people are AIDS patients.
Germany-AIDS: AIDS group blasts German hotel for refusing patients as guests: Agence France-Presse - June 17, 2002; FRIEDRICHSRODA, Germany, June 17 (AFP) - A German hotel drew protests Monday for refusing to accept a group of AIDS patients as guests because it feared its other patrons would feel uncomfortable.
Mozambique-children: UNICEF raises alarm over child abuse in Africa: Agence France-Presse - June 16, 2002; MAPUTO, June 16 (AFP) - The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Sunday urged African governments and civil societies to break the wall of silence surrounding child abuse on the continent.
G7-text-highlights: Text of G7 statement: Agence France-Presse - June 15, 2002; HALIFAX, Canada, June 15 (AFP) - Following are highlights from the text of a statement released Saturday by the Group of Seven finance ministers after a meeting in the Canadian port town of Halifax:
G7-text: Text of G7 statement: Agence France-Presse - June 15, 2002; HALIFAX, Canada, June 15 (AFP) - Following is the text of a statement released Saturday by the Group of Seven finance ministers after a meeting in the Canadian port town of Halifax:
G7-WBank-aid: G7 finance chiefs resolve aid row: Agence France-Presse - June 15, 2002; HALIFAX, Canada, June 15 (AFP) - Group of Seven finance ministers announced Saturday they had resolved a deep split by agreeing to give 18-21 percent of World Bank assistance to impoverished nations in the form of grants instead of loans.
Bangladesh-AIDS: Bangladesh detects 22 new AIDS cases: Agence France-Presse - June 15, 2002; DHAKA, June 15 (AFP) - Doctors in Bangladesh have detected 22 new patients suffering from the HIV virus in the past six months, the Independent newspaper reported Saturday.
SAfrica-AIDS: S.Africa school ordered to consider enrolling HIV-positive child: Agence France-Presse - June 14, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, June 14 (AFP) - A Montessori nursery school in Johannesburg must allow an HIV-positive child to go through the normal pre-enrolment assessment process, the Johannesburg High Court ruled Friday.
PNG-vote: South Pacific nation faces anarchy: Agence France-Presse - June 14, 2002; PORT MORESBY, June 14 (AFP) - Papua New Guinea, on the brink of economic and social chaos, heads to the polls from Saturday in its most crucial election since Australia granted it independence in 1975.
Cambodia-AIDS: Cambodia adopts first laws to combat AIDS/HIV: Agence France-Presse - June 14, 2002; PHNOM PENH, June 14 (AFP) - Cambodia's parliament adopted its first laws to combat HIV/AIDS on Friday amid fears the virus could prove to be as deadly as the country's Khmer Rouge killing fields.
US-health-AIDS: Senate panel passes bill to boost US funding to combat AIDS worldwide: Agence France-Presse - June 13, 2002; WASHINGTON, June 13 (AFP) - The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday unanimously passed a bill that would double US funding to combat AIDS around the world, particularly in Africa.
SAfrica-AIDS: Some 5.7 mln children in South Africa could be AIDS orphans by 2015: report: Agence France-Presse - June 13, 2002; DURBAN, South Africa, June 13 (AFP) - At least 5.7 million children in South Africa, roughly a third of those under 18, would have lost one or both parents from AIDS by 2015 unless there were major interventions, the Medical Research Council (MRC) warned Thursday.
WFP-hunger-schools: UN seeks expansion of school meals to help world's poorest children: Catherine Rama; Agence France-Presse - June 13, 2002; GENEVA, June 13 (AFP) - A 40-year campaign to feed millions of children in developing countries while they are at school is thriving and should be expanded to tackle an estimated 300 million hungry children, according to the UN food agency.
France-crime-AIDS: AIDS-infected Frenchman jailed for 15 years for killing girlfriend: Agence France-Presse - June 13, 2002; PARIS, June 13 (AFP) - A French repairman who killed his girlfriend after discovering she had given him AIDS was given a 15-year jail sentence Thursday by a court in the southern city of Toulon.
RedCross-AIDS: International Red Cross seeks corporate help to fight HIV/AIDS: Agence France-Presse - June 13, 2002; GENEVA, June 13 (AFP) - The international Red Cross called Thursday for more corporate support for health programmes in Africa as it received two million euros (about 1.8 million dollars) from Swiss-based food multinational Nestle to help fight HIV/AIDS.
Lithuania-prison-AIDS: Hunger strike spreads in Lithuanian prisons as inmates fear HIV outbreak: Arturas Racas; Agence France-Presse - June 13, 2002; VILNIUS, June 13 (AFP) - More inmates joined a hunger strike in Lithuanian prisons on Thursday to demand better conditions and treatment for HIV-positive detainees, who have contracted the virus through drug use inside jails.
Mozambique-politics: Mozambique's ruling party congress opens key congress: Agence France-Presse - June 13, 2002; MAPUTO, June 13 (AFP) - Mozambique's ruling party, FRELIMO, Thursday begun a congress aimed at reforming the party and confirming veteran politician Armando Guebuza as its presidential candidate in elections due in 2004.
US-health-AIDS: Pregnancy and AIDS: the advantages of drugs outweigh the risks: Agence France-Presse - June 12, 2002; WASHINGTON, June 12 (AFP) - Cocktails of anti-AIDS drugs given to HIV-positive pregnant women have proved effective in preventing the transmission of the disease without increasing the chance of complications such as premature birth or sudden infant death syndrome, according to a report to be published Thursday.
Libya-Bulgaria-AIDS: Bulgarian, Palestinian medics get new court date in AIDS case: lawyer: Agence France-Presse - June 12, 2002; TRIPOLI, June 12 (AFP) - Six Bulgarians and a Palestinian accused of provoking an AIDS epidemic in Libya by allegedly administering tainted blood products in a hospital will have their next court hearing on July 15, their lawyer said Wednesday.
Africa-AIDS-religion: Religious leaders in Africa vow to fight the spread of AIDS: John Nyaga; Agence France-Presse - June 12, 2002; NAIROBI, June 12 (AFP) - Religious leaders from across Africa vowed Wednesday to work to stem the spread of AIDS, to protect children affected by the epidemic and to denounce the stigma associated with the disease.
France-crime-AIDS: AIDS-infected Frenchman charged with killing girlfriend appears in court: Agence France-Presse - June 12, 2002; PARIS, June 12 (AFP) - A repairman charged with killing his girlfriend after discovering she had given him AIDS appeared in court in the southern French city of Toulon Wednesday, France-Soir newspaper reported.
Lithuania-prison: Lithuanian prisoners go on hunger strike to protest HIV outbreak: Agence France-Presse - June 11, 2002; VILNIUS, June 11 (AFP) - Nearly half of Lithuania's inmates went on a hunger strike Tuesday to demand better living conditions and treatment for those infected with HIV after an outbreak of the virus hit one facility.
SAfrica-AIDS: HIV rate stabilises in South Africa, but 'battle not over': minister: Agence France-Presse - June 10, 2002; PRETORIA, June 10 (AFP) - South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang released figures Monday which she said showed that the HIV rate was stabilising, but warned that "the battle is far from over".
Africa-children-AIDS: UN appeals to religious leaders to lead Africa's battle against AIDS: Agence France-Presse - June 10, 2002; NAIROBI, June 10 (AFP) - The United Nations on Monday appealed to Africa's religious leaders to rally both Africa and the world in the battle against HIV/AIDS that is ravaging the continent more than any other disease before it.
Afghan-AIDS: WHO warns of rapid spread of AIDS in Afghanistan: Agence France-Presse - June 9, 2002; KABUL, June 9 (AFP) - High levels of intravenous drug use and unsafe blood transfusions in Afghanistan could lead to a rapid spread of the HIV virus which causes AIDS, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned Sunday.
Nepal-AIDS: Drug use aggravating AIDS epidemic in Nepal: study: Agence France-Presse - June 9, 2002; KATHMANDU, June 9 (AFP) - HIV is expanding rapidly in Nepal, with more than two-thirds of Kathmandu men who use intravenous drugs infected by the virus that leads to AIDS, a government report said Sunday.
Food-summit-Africa: Aid workers fighting to feed millions starving in southern Africa: Hugh Nevill; Agence France-Presse - June 9, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, June 9 (AFP) - Aid workers are fanning out across southern Africa as they scramble to raise funds and overcome shaky logistics to feed millions of people in danger of starving to death.
Africa-famine: 13 million hungry in southern Africa, AIDS making crisis worse: UN: Agence France-Presse - June 7, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, June 7 (AFP) - Almost 13 million people are at risk of "mass starvation" in southern Africa, and rampant HIV/AIDS infection rates in the region are aggravating the crisis, UN agencies warned on Friday.
Food-summit-issues: Key issues at World Food Summit: Denis Barnett; Agence France-Presse - June 7, 2002; ROME, June 7 (AFP) - AIDS, soil salination and the challenges of feeding an increasingly urban world are among a range of issues before next week's World Food Summit as it plans to cut world hunger by half before 2015.
Uganda-AIDS-agriculture: AIDS scourge takes its toll on Uganda's agriculture: Vincent Mayanja; Agence France-Presse - June 6, 2002; KAMPALA, June 6 (AFP) - The AIDS scourge has taken a heavy toll on Uganda's agriculture, as most healthy rural peasants have died from the disease, a report commissioned by the ministry og agriculture, animal industry and fisheries released here Thursday said.
EEurope-AIDS Eastern Europe sounds alarm bell over AIDS explosion: Mihaela Rodina; Agence France-Presse - June 6, 2002; BUCHAREST, June 6 (AFP) - Eastern Europe sounded the alarm bell over AIDS Thursday as new figures showed a record surge in the number of people with the HIV virus, leading to fears that economic and social gains could be threatened.
Forum-SAfrica: Preventing AIDS, rebuilding infrastructure among Africa's major challenges: Jan Hennop; Agence France-Presse - June 6, 2002; DURBAN, South Africa, June 6 (AFP) - Preventing the spread of AIDS in Africa is one of the greatest challenges to public health systems, which need rebuilding in most countries, a senior scientist told a World Economic Forum conference here Thursday.
WHO-Ethiopia: WHO director to pay two-day visit to Ethiopia from June 12 to 14: Agence France-Presse - June 6, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, June 6 (AFP) - The director general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Gro Harlem Brundtland, will begin a two-day official visit to Ethiopia on June 12, a spokesman for the UN agency said on Thursday.
China-AIDS-UN: China faces "AIDS disaster of unimaginable proportion": UN report: Agence France-Presse - June 6, 2002; BEIJING, June 6 (AFP) - China is facing an HIV/AIDS disaster of "unimaginable proportion" and could soon have more HIV cases than any other country in the world, warns an alarming UN report obtained by AFP Thursday.
SKorea-AIDS: Thousands at risk from AIDS infected South Korean prostitute: Agence France-Presse - June 6, 2002; SEOUL, June 6 (AFP) - A 28-year-old South Korean prostitute has been arrested for having sex with thousands of clients without telling them she was HIV-infected, police said Thursday.
Forum-SAfrica: Africa responding to health challenges at WEF meeting: Jan Hennop; Agence France-Presse - June 6, 2002; DURBAN, South Africa, June 6 (AFP) - A three-day meeting on Africa's rescue plan enters its second day Thursday with delegates from around the world looking at responses to AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and the inauguration of high-speed fiber-optic cables.
US-trafficking: Up to four million trapped in global slave trade : US report: Stephen Collinson; Agence France-Presse - June 5, 2002; WASHINGTON, June 5 (AFP) - The United States said Wednesday that up to four million people had been bought and sold in the 21st century slave trade in the last year, and accused 19 countries of doing to little to stamp it out.
Russia-UN-AIDS: UN chief calls on Russian society to fight child homelessness, AIDS: Agence France-Presse - June 5, 2002; MOSCOW, June 5 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Wednesday urged Russian society as a whole to mobilise to overcome the country's devastating child homelessness and AIDS problems.
US-Africa-ONeill: O'Neill says development progress in Africa insufficient: Agence France-Presse - June 5, 2002; WASHINGTON, June 5 (AFP) - US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, back from a tour of Africa with rock star Bono, said Wednesday development so far was insufficient but he offered no immediate answers.
Mozambique-UN-aid: UNICEF pledges 86 mln dollars to fight poverty in Mozambique: Agence France-Presse - June 5, 2002; MAPUTO, June 5 (AFP) - The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has pledged 86 million dollars (91.8 million euros) for a four-year poverty alleviation programme in Mozambique, a spokesman for the fund said on Wednesday.
Africa-famine: Agencies, donors, governments to discuss famine in southern Africa: Agence France-Presse - June 5, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, June 5 (AFP) - Aid agencies, donors and government representatives will meet in Johannesburg Thursday and Friday to discuss what the United Nations describes as a "massive food crisis" in southern Africa.
COMESA-AU-Ethiopia: COMESA must play decisive role in creating African Union: Ethiopia: Agence France-Presse - June 5, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, June 5 (AFP) - Ethiopia, which will this year assume the presidency of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), on Wednesday vowed to strengthen the trading bloc's role within the new African Union, to be launched in July.
WBank-Africa: World Bank chief chides G8 to support Africa: Agence France-Presse - June 4, 2002; WASHINGTON, June 4 (AFP) - World Bank president James Wolfensohn urged Group of Eight powers Tuesday to direct the bulk of newly-pledged aid to supporting Africa's development in the midst of an AIDS/HIV pandemic.
Cambodia-AIDS: AIDS debate upsets Cambodia's women politicians: Agence France-Presse - June 4, 2002; PHNOM PENH, June 4 (AFP) - Cambodia's female politicians turned on their male counterparts Tuesday arguing a legal focus on AIDS and women was ignoring promiscuous men who were largely responsible for spreading the deadly virus.
China-India-TB: India, China make rapid progress in fight against tuberculosis: WHO: Agence France-Presse - June 3, 2002; WASHINGTON, June 3 (AFP) - India and China, which together represent more than one-third of the world's cases of tuberculosis, have made rapid progress in their fight against the disease, the World Health Organization said Monday.
SAfrica-AIDS: AIDS vaccine in seven to 10 years realistic, conference told: Agence France-Presse - June 3, 2002; SOMERSET WEST, South Africa, June 3 (AFP) - Expectations of an AIDS vaccine within seven to 10 years are realistic, South African Medical Research Council chairman Malegapuru Makgoba told an African conference Monday.
Mozambique-Norway: Norwegian royal couple in Mozambique: Agence France-Presse - June 3, 2002; MAPUTO, June 3 (AFP) - Norwegian crown prince Haakon Magnus and Princess Mette-Marif arrived in Maputo late Monday for an official visit to Mozambique at the invitation of the local office of Norway's agency for international development (NORAD).
Swaziland-king-offbeat: Swazi king marries two women within a week: Agence France-Presse - June 3, 2002; MBABANE, Swaziland, June 3 (AFP) - Southern Africas last absolute monarch, Swaziland's King Mswati III, now has nine wives after marrying two women in one week, one of whom is officially banned from sex under a rule he imposed on teenage girls.
Health-AIDS: Sniper's gun may stop HIV in its tracks: Agence France-Presse - June 2, 2002; PARIS, June 2 (AFP) - Scientists led by an American Nobel prizewinner believe they may have found a sniper's gun to silence the protein machinery that helps the AIDS virus infect the body's cells and replicate.
Bulgaria-Libya-AIDS: Libyan court to define new charges against AIDS case Bulgarians: Agence France-Presse - June 2, 2002; SOFIA, June 2 (AFP) - A Libyan court is to define new charges against six Bulgarian medical staff and a Palestinian accused of provoking an AIDS epidemic through tainted blood products, the Bulgarian foreign ministry said on Sunday.
Ukraine-UN: UN chief to discuss AIDS, Chernobyl in Ukraine: Agence France-Presse - June 2, 2002; KIEV, June 2 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan arrived in Ukraine Sunday for a two-day visit during which he will discuss the fight against AIDS and the continuing health consequences of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
Nigeria-AIDS: Nigeria establishes 25 HIV/AIDS treatment centres: Agence France-Presse - June 1, 2002; LAGOS, June 1 (AFP) - Nigeria, where around 3.5 million people are believe to suffer from HIV-AIDS, has set up 25 centres for the treatment of the disease, an official statement said Saturday.
Iran-society-youth: Young Iranian runaways hit dead end of prostitution and drug abuse: Sohrab Morovati; Agence France-Presse - June 1, 2002; TEHRAN, June 1 (AFP) - A growing number of Iranian young people are running away from home, with many falling into prostitution, newspapers here said Saturday.

May

Zimbabwe-AIDS: MSF 'fully supports' Zimbabwe's emergency anti-AIDS plan: Agence France-Presse - May 31, 2002; HARARE, May 31 (AFP) - The humanitarian group Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF - Doctors without Borders) "fully supports" the emergency plan to fight AIDS announced this week by Zimbabwe's government, the group said in a statement received Friday in Harare.
Health-AIDS-Europe: HIV infection through sex rising in Europe, says study: Agence France-Presse - May 31, 2002; PARIS, May 31 (AFP) - Europeans are becoming complacent about AIDS, researchers warn in a study which estimates that new cases of sexually-transmitted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Western Europe rose by a fifth over five years.
China-health-hepatitis: China to launch massive hepatitis B immunization program for the poor: Agence France-Presse - May 31, 2002; BEIJING, May 31 (AFP) - China announced Friday plans to launch a massive 75-million-dollar immunization program against hepatitis B, vaccinating 35 million babies over the next five years.
Tanzania-childsex: More Zanzibar minors join childsex ring: ILO report: Agence France-Presse - May 31, 2002; DAR ES SALAAM, May 31 (AFP) - An increasing number of children between ages of 12 and 14 years in Tanzania's Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar are joining prostitution rings, state-owned Tanzania reported Friday, quoting a report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Health-Lithuania-AIDS: Number of HIV positive detainees in Lithuanian prison jumps to 207: Agence France-Presse - May 30, 2002; VILNIUS, May 30 (AFP) - A Lithuanian AIDS center announced Thursday that another 45 out of 503 tested prisoners in Alytus prison were HIV positive, raising the total number of newly registered HIV cases in the prison to 207.
Africa-AIDS-WHO: UN calls for major investment into AIDS vaccine for Africa: Agence France-Presse - May 30, 2002; GENEVA, May 30 (AFP) - United Nations health agencies on Thursday called for 233 million dollars (247 million euros) to be invested into the development of a vaccine for HIV/AIDS which is targeted at Africa, ahead of an international meeting on the issue.
FAO-Africa: Ten million on brink of starvation in southern Africa: UN: Agence France-Presse - May 29, 2002; ROME, May 29 (AFP) - The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) warned Wednesday that at least 10 million people in four southern African countries are on the "brink of starvation".
AfDB-Bono: Cut debt, increase aid to Africa, Bono urges in impassioned speech: Agence France-Presse - May 29, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, May 29 (AFP) - Aid champion and rock star Bono on Thursday renewed his call for debt relief and "billions" more development cash for Africa in an impassioned speech to delegates at the 37th African Development Bank (AfDB) annual meeting in the Ethiopian capital.
Rights-Amnesty: World leaders accused of exploiting war on terror: Amnesty: Agence France-Presse - May 28, 2002; LONDON, May 28 (AFP) - Governments across the world, including many in the West, exploited the horror of the September 11 attacks to curb human rights in the name of security, Amnesty International's annual report said Tuesday.
Uganda-US: Bono, O'Neill end visit to Uganda: Agence France-Presse - May 28, 2002; ENTEBBE, Uganda, May 28 (AFP) - Irish rock star Bono said on leaving Uganda Tuesday that it would take a while before his current African tour with US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill could be assessed as a success or a failure.
Zimbabwe-AIDS: Zimbabwe adopts emergency plan to combat HIV/AIDS: Agence France-Presse - May 28, 2002; HARARE, May 28 (AFP) - The government in Zimbabwe has declared the next six months an emergency period to combat HIV/AIDS, allowing the importation and manufacture of anti-AIDS generic drugs, according to a government notice.
Uganda-US: Washington to campaign for fewer loans, but more grants to Africa: Agence France-Presse - May 28, 2002; KAMPALA, May 28 (AFP) - Visiting US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said in Uganda on Tuesday that Washington would campaign for the increase of grants to African countries, instead of loans that would make them more indebted.
Lesotho-vote: Lesotho's ruling party sweeps back into power after peaceful poll: Claire Keeton; Agence France-Presse - May 28, 2002; MASERU, May 28 (AFP) - The ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy swept back to power on Tuesday after the southern African kingdom's peaceful weekend poll, with provisional election results giving the LCD a majority in the 120-seat parliament.
Ethiopia-US-Bono: Spirit of Live Aid lives on as Bono visits Ethiopia: Agence France-Presse - May 27, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, May 27 (AFP) - Seventeen years after a scruffy Irish singer brought Africa's desperate needs to the world's attention, an equally unkempt Irish crooner is hoping to do the same, albeit in a radically different way.
Zambia-US-AIDS: US company to provide Zambia with cheap AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - May 27, 2002; LUSAKA, May 27 (AFP) - The Zambian government has clinched a deal with a US-based company to supply anti-retroviral drugs for HIV-sufferers at an affordable cost, the state-run Zambia Daily Mail reported Monday.
Uganda-US: Rock star Bono, US finance chief on AIDS mission to Uganda: Agence France-Presse - May 26, 2002; KAMPALA, May 26 (AFP) - Irish rock star Bono and US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill arrived here Sunday to see for themselves how the battle against AIDS is going in Uganda to establish criteria for future US aid disbursement under a new initiative by President W. George Bush.
China-AIDS: China shoots AIDS TV drama in bid to raise awareness: Agence France-Presse - May 26, 2002; BEIJING, May 26 (AFP) - China has wrapped up shooting a 30-episode AIDS-awareness drama series as the government battles to address soaring infection rates, the Xinhua news agency said Sunday.
Zambia-AIDS: Zambian leader calls for cheap AIDS drugs in Africa: Agence France-Presse - May 25, 2002; LUSAKA, May 25 (AFP) - Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa appealed Saturday to developed countries to help Africa get cheap anti-retroviral drugs to combat HIV/AIDS, in a speech marking Africa Freedom Day holiday here.
SAfrica-Mandela-Bono: Bono and Mandela talk about Africa: Jan Hennop; Agence France-Presse - May 25, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, May 25 (AFP) - Irish rock star Bono met former South African President Nelson Mandela here on Saturday, saying afterwards the two men had shared a joke and discussed the future of Africa.
Lesotho-vote: Voting starts peacefully in impoverished Lesotho: Claire Keeton; Agence France-Presse - May 25, 2002; MASERU, May 25 (AFP) - Parliamentary elections in Lesotho, plagued by famine and AIDS, began peacefully across the small southern African mountain kingdom on Saturday at 7:00 am (0500 GMT), a polling official said.
US-politics-sex: Washington hot and bothered over sex education: Magan Crane; Agence France-Presse - May 25, 2002; WASHINGTON, May 25 (AFP) - The message from Washington these days: Don't have sex unless you are married. Everyone else should just say no.
UN-AIDS-Asia: Annan appoints Nafis Sadik special envoy on HIV/AIDS in Asia: Agence France-Presse - May 24, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, May 24 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Friday appointed Nafis Sadik, the Pakistani former director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), as his special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Asia.
SAfrica-US: Bono, US Treasury Secretary demand more AIDS drugs for Africa: Jan Hennop; Agence France-Presse - May 24, 2002; SOWETO, South Africa, May 24 (AFP) - Irish rock star Bono lashed out Friday at governments for denying anti-retroviral treatment to HIV/AIDS victims and babies at risk of contracting the disease from their mothers.
Latvia-religion-gays: Latvian Lutheran pastor defrocked for promoting homosexuality: Agence France-Presse - May 24, 2002; RIGA, May 24 (AFP) - Latvia's Lutheran Church has defrocked a pastor known for ministering to AIDS patients due to his promotion of a tolerant attitude to homosexuality, a church official said Friday.
Lesotho-vote: Lesotho goes back to the polls Saturday after 1998 election fiasco: Agence France-Presse - May 24, 2002; MASERU, May 24 (AFP) - Voters in the tiny African mountain kingdom of Lesotho return to the polls on Saturday to elect a new parliament after the disputed outcome of the last elections in 1998 gave rise to bloodshed.
Zambia-Health: Tuberculosis cases on the rise in Zambia: officials: Agence France-Presse - May 24, 2002; LUSAKA, May 24 (AFP) - The number of cases of tuberculosis (TB) in Zambia has increased since 1998, and more than three-quarters of adult sufferers are also HIV positive, an official statement said Friday.
Lesotho-famine: Starvation threatens people of Lesotho: Claire Keeton; Agence France-Presse - May 24, 2002; MAFETENG, Lesotho, May 24 (AFP) - Withered crops, a gaunt pensioner and a bony donkey in southwest Lesotho tell of the starvation threatening 80 percent of the tiny kingdom as voters on Saturday go to the polls after the government failed to act on famine warnings.
Cannes-film-people: Celebrity bash at Cannes raises 1.7 million euros for AIDS charity: Agence France-Presse - May 24, 2002; CANNES, France, May 24 (AFP) - Prince Albert of Monaco and Calvin Klein got into a bidding war over a private tennis lesson with Pete Sampras at a charity bash here that raised a total of 1.7 million euros (1.5 million dollars) for a US AIDS charity.
Malawi-SAfrica-Mandela: Mandela says his prostrate cancer is 'gone': Agence France-Presse - May 23, 2002; BLANTYRE, May 23 (AFP) - The former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela on Thursday said doctors have given him a clean bill of health after his bout with prostate cancer a few years ago.
Zambia-US-grant: US gives Zambia 13.7-million-dollar development grant: Agence France-Presse - May 23, 2002; LUSAKA, May 23 (AFP) - The United States has given Zambia a 13.7-million-dollar grant to help the development of the southern African country, local newspapers said on Thursday.
Lithuania-AIDS-prison: HIV outbreak hits Lithuanian prisons: Agence France-Presse - May 23, 2002; VILNIUS, May 23 (AFP) - Lithuania's interior ministry set up a special commission Thursday to respond to an HIV outbreak in the country's prisons that initial tests show may have hit about one third of prisoners.
China-SEAsia-drugs: UN, China and SE Asia vow to work together to combat drug crisis: Agence France-Presse - May 22, 2002; BEIJING, May 22 (AFP) - Drug-control officials from China, five Southeast Asian countries and the UN pledged on Wednesday to step up efforts to combat a massive regional boom in amphetamine use as part a joint fight against narcotics.
Lesotho-vote-facts: Factfile on Lesotho: Agence France-Presse - May 22, 2002; MASERU, May 22 (AFP) - The kingdom of Lesotho, where a general election takes place on Saturday, is a landlocked mountainous enclave in South Africa.
Ghana-US-Bono: Bono: enduring rock icon, passionate social activist: Agence France-Presse - May 21, 2002; DUBLIN, May 21 (AFP) - From icon to humanitarian activist, U2 singer Bono, who has embarked on a four-nation African tour with US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, belies the image of rockers without a conscience.
Cambodia-EU-aid: EU hands Cambodia 63.2 mln dlrs for three years: Agence France-Presse - May 21, 2002; PHNOM PENH, May 21 (AFP) - The European Union said Tuesday it was granting Cambodia 63.2 million dollars in cash for the next three years for spending on rural development, trade and HIV/AIDS.
Health-AIDS-Nigeria: AIDS drugs trials win mixed reception as Nigeria fears epidemic: Ade Obisesan; Agence France-Presse - May 21, 2002; LAGOS, May 21 (AFP) - More than 20 people are gathered in the corridor outside Dr Remi Kalejaiye's clinic in a Lagos military hospital, waiting to take part in Africa's first serious attempt to head off an AIDS/HIV epidemic.
SAfrica-AIDS-prisons: 60 percent of S.Africa's prisoners HIV-positive: judge: Agence France-Presse - May 21, 2002; CAPE TOWN, May 21 (AFP) - Sixty percent of the prisoners released from South African jails are infected with HIV, the inspecting judge for prisons told a parliamentary committee Tuesday.
US-Ghana-ONeill: US Treasury Secretary O'Neill, Bono set for Africa tour: Agence France-Presse - May 20, 2002; ACCRA, May 20 (AFP) - US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Bono, lead singer of Irish rock band U2, are due to arrive in Ghana Tuesday on a four-nation Africa tour aimed at reversing poor performance in development aid, officials said.
Cambodia-Malaysia-crime: Cambodian polygamist arrested for trading Vietnamese virgins: Agence France-Presse - May 20, 2002; PHNOM PENH, May 20 (AFP) - A Cambodian polygamist and his two wives appeared in court Monday for trading Vietnamese virgins in a scam that indicates a new trafficking route has emerged across three Asian countries.
China-SEAsia-drugs: Spread of amphetamines a 'new drug problem for China, SE Asia': Agence France-Presse - May 20, 2002; BEIJING, May 20 (AFP) - The massive spread of amphetamine-based drugs such as "ice" through China and parts of Southeast Asia is undermining the region's battle against the narcotics trade, drug officials meeting in Beijing said Monday.
Vietnam-vote-facts: Factfile on Vietnam: Agence France-Presse - May 19, 2002; HANOI, May 19 (AFP) - More than 49 million Vietnamese were eligible to vote in five-yearly elections to one of the world's last communist-dominated parliaments Sunday. It was the 11th such election in the regime's half-century history. Here is a factfile on Vietnam.
Zimbabwe-famine: In Zimbabwe, famine hits even at harvest time: Griffin Shea; Agence France-Presse - May 19, 2002; LUKOSI, Zimbabwe, May 19 (AFP) - May is normally a month of plenty in Zimbabwe, as farmers harvest their crops ahead of the austral winter.
Myanmar-US: US to watch and wait before changing Myanmar policy: Agence France-Presse - May 18, 2002; WASHINGTON, May 18 (AFP) - The United States will watch and wait before changing its hardline stance towards Myanmar, refusing to lift sanctions, and to shed its repugnance of the ruling military without clear steps towards civilian rule.
Africa-famine: UN officials fear twin tragedy of famine, AIDS in southern Africa: Griffin Shea; Agence France-Presse - May 18, 2002; VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe, May 18 (AFP) - The AIDS crisis in southern Africa, which has suffered more from the disease than anywhere else in the world, could take a dramatic toll as the region slips toward famine, UN officials said Saturday.
Iran-AIDS: Iran tackles AIDS taboo, launches awareness campaign: Jean-Michel Cadiot; Agence France-Presse - May 18, 2002; TEHRAN, May 18 (AFP) - Faced with a sharp rise of its HIV-positive population, the Islamic republic of Iran has broken one of its taboos and launched a wide campaign to fight against AIDS.
US-Africa-ONeill: O'Neill says Africa trip with Bono designed to energize development: Agence France-Presse - May 17, 2002; WASHINGTON, May 17 (AFP) - US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, preparing for a 12-day Africa trip with U2 lead singer Bono, says he hopes the mission will help start reversing 50 years of poor performance in development aid.
US-Myanmar-UN: US to offer anti-AIDS help to Myanmar: Agence France-Presse - May 15, 2002; WASHINGTON, May 15 (AFP) - The United States said Wednesday it was preparing an aid package to help tackle Myanmar's accelerating HIV/AIDS crisis, and told the Yangon junta that political reform would spur a "positive response."
Health-AIDS: Stop-start anti-HIV treatment reaps benefits, say doctors: Agence France-Presse - May 15, 2002; PARIS, May 15 (AFP) - French doctors said Friday that experiments in which HIV patients temporarily stopped taking their cocktail of anti-retrovirals to avoid some of their side-effects and then resumed taking the drugs were showing dramatic promise.
US-health-AIDS: Senators introduce bill to boost US efforts in AIDS fight: Agence France-Presse - May 15, 2002; WASHINGTON, May 15 (AFP) - US Senators introduced a bill Wednesday that would increase US funding in the fight against AIDS, claiming that the United States, as a superpower.
Cuba-US-Carter: Carter to address Cubans on live TV, tours AIDS treatment center, farm co-op: Michael Langan; Agence France-Presse - May 14, 2002; HAVANA, May 14 (AFP) - Visiting former US president Jimmy Carter, the first US president in or out of office to visit communist-ruled Cuba, was due to deliver an unprecedented address to the Cuban nation live on state television and radio Tuesday.
China-AIDS: Chinese AIDS sufferer wins damages for blood transfusion: Agence France-Presse - May 14, 2002; BEIJING, May 14 (AFP) - A Chinese woman who got AIDS after receiving an unsafe blood transfusion in central China has won a lawsuit against the hospital responsible, state media reported Tuesday.
Australia-PNG-Aids: AIDS epidemic threatens Papua New Guinea say researchers: Agence France-Presse - May 14, 2002; SYDNEY, May 14 (AFP) - Papua New Guinea is on the brink of an HIV/AIDS epidemic that could cut its potential workforce by nearly 40 percent over the next 18 years, researchers warned Tuesday.
WHO-assembly: WHO delegates tackle drugs, bioterrorism, killer diseases: Agence France-Presse - May 13, 2002; GENEVA, May 13 (AFP) - Ministers and officials of the World Health Organisation began a week-long meeting here Monday, set to include talks on bioterrorism and access to drugs for poor countries.
Myanmar-UNICEF-aid: UNICEF ups planned budget on HIV/AIDS prevention in Myanmar: Agence France-Presse - May 12, 2002; YANGON, May 12 (AFP) - The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reportedly plans to spend 2.5 million dollars on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention programs in Myanmar this year, a one-million-dollar increase on its earlier proposed budget.
Africa-famine: Famine in southern Africa worsening: experts: Agence France-Presse - May 12, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, May 12 (AFP) - A famine in southern Africa is worsening, experts say, with the United Nations warning that more than five million people will need emergency food aid, and the Red Cross adding that AIDS is exacerbating its effect.
Myanmar-politics: After Aung San Suu Kyi's release, what now for Myanmar?: Agence France-Presse - May 12, 2002; YANGON, May 12 (AFP) - Aung San Suu Kyi's release from house arrest sent hopes for democratic reforms in Myanmar soaring, but analysts warn a daunting series of hurdles must be crossed before the military dictatorship could be dismantled.
India-AIDS: Battling AIDS an "urgent national task": Indian premier: Pratap Chakravarty; Agence France-Presse - May 11, 2002; NEW DELHI, May 11 (AFP) - Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Saturday said the battle against AIDS was an "urgent national task" and warned the disease had already reached alarming proportions in Africa and Asia.
UN-children-points: Main points of UN plan of action for children: Agence France-Presse - May 11, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, May 11 (AFP) - UN member states unanimously adopted a 21-point plan of action Friday night to help free children from the threats of poverty, hunger, disease and war over the coming decade.
India-AIDS: India looks to South Africa, China in developing anti-AIDS vaccine: Agence France-Presse - May 10, 2002; NEW DELHI, May 10 (AFP) - India will look towards South Africa and China for research collaboration and partnerships in developing its own India-specific anti-AIDS vaccine, health officials said Friday.
Zambia-AIDS: Chinese doctor in Zambia makes a fortune with AIDS cure: Dickson Jere; Agence France-Presse - May 10, 2002; LUSAKA, May 10 (AFP) - A Zambian-based Chinese doctor, who claims to have a cure for AIDS, is making a fortune here as ailing Zambians flock to his little hospital to seek the remedy.
ADB-AIDS: China and India face tough battle to defuse AIDS time bomb: experts: Rachel Morarjee; Agence France-Presse - May 9, 2002; SHANGHAI, May 9 (AFP) - China, India and other Asian countries must break the "conspiracy of silence" surrounding the spread of the AIDS virus if infection is not to spiral to African levels over the next 10 years, experts warned Thursday.
UN-children-US-sex: US government and NGO at odds over sex at UN summit: Agence France-Presse - May 8, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, May 8 (AFP) - The US government drew fire Wednesday after using a United Nations conference to advocate abstinence as the best way of avoiding sexually transmitted disease.
UN-children: Girl speakers tell UN summit to build a world fit for children: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - May 8, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, May 8 (AFP) - For the first time in history, two teenage girls addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, outlining a vision to free children from poverty, war and disease.
Myanmar-UNICEF-aid: UNICEF raises alarm on looming humanitarian crisis in Myanmar: Agence France-Presse - May 8, 2002; BANGKOK, May 8 (AFP) - Myanmar's children face some of the worst health and education conditions in the world, and donors must increase aid to the country to avert a looming humanitarian crisis, the UN Children's Fund said Wednesday.
Cambodia-WBank: Cambodian farmers march on World Bank as children face 'staggering problems': Agence France-Presse - May 8, 2002; PHNOM PENH, May 8 (AFP) - Cambodian farmers staged a rowdy protest outside World Bank offices here Wednesday as a leading foreign aid organisation painted a bleak picture for this country's impoverished children.
UN-children: UNSC is urged to use tougher means to stop war for children's sake: Agence France-Presse - May 7, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, May 7 (AFP) - On the eve of a UN conference to assess a decade of progress on children's rights, the Security Council was told Tuesday that it should use tougher means to protect children from the threat of war.
WBank-AIDS: HIV/AIDS deals huge blow to education, World Bank warns: Agence France-Presse - May 7, 2002; WASHINGTON, May 7 (AFP) - The HIV/AIDS epidemic is killing teachers and dealing a heavy blow to efforts to provide all children with primary school education, a World Bank report warned Tuesday.
Zimbabwe-economy: Zimbabwe's economy shrank by 7.3 percent last year: minister: Agence France-Presse - May 7, 2002; HARARE, May 7 (AFP) - Zimbabwe's economy shrank by 7.3 percent last year, Finance Minister Simba Makoni told parliament Tuesday, in a speech that appealed for government to end the political violence wracking the nation.
Zambia-AIDS: World Bank pledges 42 million US dollars to Zambia's AIDS programmes: Agence France-Presse - May 6, 2002; LUSAKA, May 6 (AFP) - The World Bank has pledged 42 million US dollars (46 million euros) to help Zambia fight its HIV/AIDS epidemic, a ministry of health spokesman said Monday.
Asia-AIDS-UN: HIV/AIDS reaching epidemic proportions in parts of Asia Pacific: UN: Agence France-Presse - May 6, 2002; BANGKOK, May 6 (AFP) - HIV and AIDS are reaching epidemic proportions in parts of Asia and the Pacific, and urgent attention must be focussed on combatting the problem, a new UN study said Monday.
Bulgaria-Libya-AIDS: Bulgarian foreign minister meets Kadhafi on AIDS scandal: Agence France-Presse - May 5, 2002; SOFIA, May 5 (AFP) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passi met Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi on Sunday to discuss the trial of six Bulgarians accused of deliberately injecting Libyan children with HIV contaminated blood products, Bulgarian radio reported.
Myanmar-SuuKyi-US: Aung San Suu Kyi to be freed Monday : Yangon's US-based PR firm: Stephen Collinson; Agence France-Presse - May 5, 2002; WASHINGTON, May 5 (AFP) - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is free to resume all political activities, Yangon's ambassador to the United States said Sunday, signalling the end of the Nobel laureate's 19 months of house arrest.
UN-Burundi-economy: Top UN team makes grim reacquaintance with Burundi woes: Esdras Ndikumana; Agence France-Presse - May 5, 2002; BUJUMBURA, May 5 (AFP) - UN envoys who arrived Sunday in Burundi will make a grim reacquaintance during their stay with the woes of a country plagued by economic failure, deepening health crisis, and a fragile peace process.
Myanmar-Thailand-labour: Thousands of Myanmar illegal workers repatriated from Thailand: Agence France-Presse - May 5, 2002; YANGON, May 5 (AFP) - More than 2,000 Myanmar nationals working illegally in Thailand were repatriated to their military-ruled homeland during February and April, the official press said Sunday.
Algeria-justice-prison: Magistrate condemns "alarming" situation in Algerian prisons: Agence France-Presse - May 5, 2002; ALGIERS, May 5 (AFP) - The situation in Algeria's prisons, where more than 40 inmates have died in fires in recent weeks, is "alarming", a magistrate heading an overhaul of the country's justice system said in an interview published Sunday.
Bulgaria-Libya-AIDS: Bulgarian minister faces families of Libya AIDS victims: Agence France-Presse - May 4, 2002; SOFIA, May 4 (AFP) - Families of a group of Libyan children allegedly infected with the AIDS virus by Bulgarian medics staged a protest Saturday during a visit by Bulgaria's foreign minister, local radio reported.
UN-children-statistics: UN reports strides in children's well-being, but many goals unmet: Agence France-Presse - May 4, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, May 4 (AFP) - Many of the goals set by the United Nations in 1990 for children at the start of the 21st century remain unmet, despite strides in reducing infant mortality and some diseases.
Russia-prisons-health: Almost half of Russian prisoners have illnesses: deputy minister: Agence France-Presse - May 4, 2002; MOSCOW, May 4 (AFP) - Almost half of prisoners in Russia's overcrowded jails suffer from various illnesses, most of them mental, Deputy Justice Minister Yury Kalinin said on Saturday.
UN-children: UN summit to tackle "unfinished business" of child poverty: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - May 4, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, May 4 (AFP) - The plight of millions of children, threatened by poverty, disease and war, is the focus of a three-day conference of world leaders starting May 8.
Bulgaria-Libya-AIDS: Bulgaria calls for quick resolution to Libyan AIDS case: Agence France-Presse - May 3, 2002; SOFIA, May 3 (AFP) - Bulgaria's Minister of Foreign Affairs Solomon Passi expressed hope Friday that the Libyan AIDS trial against six compatriots would reach a swift resolution before the year's end.
Australia-Britain: Father ordered to take HIV positive child back to Britain for help: Agence France-Presse - May 3, 2002; SYDNEY, May 3 (AFP) - An Australian court Friday ordered a man who fled to Australia to prevent his HIV-positive baby daughter from being given powerful drug treatment to return home to Britain.
SAfrica-AIDS-justice: S.African govt appeals order forcing it to provide AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - May 2, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, May 2 (AFP) - South Africa's highest court Thursday began hearing an appeal by the government against a court order forcing it to provide anti-AIDS drugs to HIV-positive pregnant women.
Africa-famine-RedCross: Red Cross issues appeal for southern Africa food crisis: Agence France-Presse - May 2, 2002; GENEVA, May 2 (AFP) - The international Red Cross on Thursday launched an appeal for 6.8 million Swiss francs (4.2 million dollars, 4.6 million euros) to provide support for about 450,000 AIDS sufferers threatened by southern Africa's worsening food crisis.
India-Kashmir-AIDS: Kashmir battles AIDS scourge with message of Islam: Izhar Wani; Agence France-Presse - May 1, 2002; SRINAGAR, India, May 1 (AFP) - Hoping to prevent AIDS from adding to Kashmir's woes, doctors in the insurgency-wracked Indian state are turning to Islam as the strongest weapon in their arsenal to battle the disease.

April

Bulgaria-Libya-AIDS: Bulgarian minister to visit Libyan children in AIDS case: Agence France-Presse - April 30, 2002; SOFIA, April 30 (AFP) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passi will travel to Libya this week to see children infected with the AIDS virus, allegedly victims of an epidemic sparked by Bulgarian health workers, he said Tuesday.
US-Powell-science: Powell plugs science as foreign policy tool, confesses personal ineptitude: Agence France-Presse - April 30, 2002; WASHINGTON, April 30 (AFP) - Secretary of State Colin Powell on Tuesday urged the American scientific community to play a broader role in shaping US foreign policy but jokingly confessed a personal ineptitude in the field.
Myanmar-Thailand-labour: 2,400 illegal Myanmar labourers returned from Thailand, HIV-tested: Agence France-Presse - April 28, 2002; YANGON, April 28 (AFP) - Some 2,400 illegal Myanmar labourers have been repatriated from Thailand and screened for HIV upon their return, according to news reports seen Sunday.
China-crime-AIDS: Two sentenced in Beijing for AIDS syringe attack scare: Agence France-Presse - April 28, 2002; BEIJING, April 28 (AFP) - Two men were convicted separately by Beijing courts Sunday for a series of syringe attacks earlier this year, state press said.
Myanmar-China-drugs: Myanmar and China drugs control cooperation yields results: report: Agence France-Presse - April 26, 2002; YANGON, April 26 (AFP) - Stepped up cooperation on drugs suppression between China and Myanmar has led to a significant heroin seizure and 12 arrests, state media reported Friday.
Zimbabwe-Zambia: Zambia president opens trade fair with call to boost regional security: Agence France-Presse - April 26, 2002; HARARE, April 26 (AFP) - Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa said Friday southern Africa must boost regional security to promote investment, as he officially opened the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in the second city of Bulawayo.
AIDS-Fund-grant: Global AIDS Fund announces first grants, totaling 378 m: Agence France-Presse - April 25, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (AFP) - The Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria announced its first round of grants Thursday, awarding a total 378 million dollars over two years to 40 programs in 31 countries.
Nigeria-vote: Nigeria's Obasanjo kicks off campaign for a second term: Ola Awoniyi; Agence France-Presse - April 25, 2002; ABUJA, April 25 (AFP) - President Olusegun Obasanjo announced Thursday he would seek reelection in the first presidential vote to be held since he returned Nigeria to civilian rule in 1999.
China-crime-AIDS: Two Chinese robbers jailed for wielding 'HIV-contaminated' syringe: Agence France-Presse - April 25, 2002; BEIJING, April 25 (AFP) - A court in north China has handed out steep jail terms to two robbers who threatened their victim with a syringe they said was filled with HIV contaminated blood, local media reported Thursday.
Centram-AIDS: Central American HIV/AIDS rate rooted social problem: research: Oscar Nunez Olivas; Agence France-Presse - April 25, 2002; SAN JOSE, April 25 (AFP) - Spotty use of condoms by sex workers in Central America is a factor contributing to the high risk of infection with the AIDS virus, according to a study released here.
Angola-AIDS: High rate of HIV found among pregnant women in Luanda: official: Agence France-Presse - April 25, 2002; LUANDA, April 25 (AFP) - Some 8.6 percent of pregnant women in Luanda carry HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, according to a study of 500 women in the Angolan capital, UNAIDS expert Alberto Stella told a medical conference Thursday.
Angola-AIDS: Angola wants to provide anti-retrovirals to AIDS patients: Agence France-Presse - April 24, 2002; LUANDA, April 24 (AFP) - Angola's government Wednesday adopted a program that aims to provide life-prolonging anti-retroviral drugs to people living with AIDS, especially to pregnant women and children.
Portugal-health-AIDS: Portugal has EU's highest rate of HIV: statistics office: Agence France-Presse - April 24, 2002; LISBON, April 24 (AFP) - Portugal has the highest rate of HIV infection in the European Union, and is the only nation in the 15-member bloc where rates of infection are rising, the National Statistics Institute said on Wednesday.
SAfrica-mining-AIDS: HIV/AIDS raises cost of S.African gold production: Agence France-Presse - April 24, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, April 24 (AFP) - The world's largest gold producer AngloGold estimated on Wednesday that HIV/AIDS was raising its production costs in South Africa, where about a quarter of its workers were HIV positive, by four to six dollars an ounce.
Mozambique-AIDS: AIDS seen killing 17 percent of Mozambican teachers by 2012: Agence France-Presse - April 24, 2002; MAPUTO, April 24 (AFP) - At least 17 percent of Mozambique's teachers will die of AIDS during the next 10 years, according to a new study released on Wednesday by the education ministry.
SAfrica-AIDS-Mbeki: South Africa president delivers strong message on HIV/AIDS: Agence France-Presse - April 24, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, April 24 (AFP) - South Africa's president delivered his strongest personal message yet on HIV/AIDS in an interview with a Johannesburg newspaper Wednesday, suggesting a change in the government's approach to the pandemic.
ADB-aid: Asian Development Bank chief says US plan may not be feasible: P. Parameswaran; Agence France-Presse - April 23, 2002; MANILA, April 23 (AFP) - A US proposal for multilateral institutions to extend more aid in the form of grants rather than loans to poor nations may not be feasible in Asia, the head of the Asian Development Bank warned Thursday.
WHO-AIDS-drugs: WHO paves way for sharp increase in anti-AIDS drugs for poor: Agence France-Presse - April 22, 2002; GENEVA, April 22 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) signalled Monday a tenfold increase in the availability of life-saving medicines to treat HIV/AIDS in poor countries, after it adopted a controversial new list of essential anti-AIDS drugs.
SAfrica-AIDS-TB: Mandela welcomes S.African government's AIDS shift: Agence France-Presse - April 22, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, April 22 (AFP) - Former South African president Nelson Mandela said Monday he was relieved the South African government had changed its AIDS policy, after it announced it would provide the anti-retroviral drug Nevirapine to rape victims.
Caribbean-US-health: US offers health aid to Caribbean nations: Agence France-Presse - April 20, 2002; GEORGETOWN, Guyana, April 20 (AFP) - Washington will send health workers to fight AIDS in Caribbean nations, where health-care services have suffered from the migration of professionals to the United States, US Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said Saturday.
Russia-space-SAfrica-ISS: South African space tourist heads to blast-off site: Agence France-Presse - April 19, 2002; MOSCOW, April 19 (AFP) - South African millionaire Mark Shuttleworth left for the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Friday after final preparations to become the world's second space tourist, a spokesman at Moscow's Star City told AFP.
China-AIDS-drugs: China considering exempting import duties for AIDS drugs: official: Agence France-Presse - April 19, 2002; BEIJING, April 19 (AFP) - China is considering exempting import duties for AIDS drugs sold by major pharmaceutical companies in an effort to make treatment more affordable for its rapidly expanding population of HIV/AIDS patients, a Chinese health official said.
US-debt-Congress: Lawmakers introduce debt relief legislation for world's poorest nations: Agence France-Presse - April 18, 2002; WASHINGTON, April 18 (AFP) - Senate lawmakers, ahead of a weekend meeting here of global financial leaders, on Thursday introduced legislation aimed at granting additional debt relief to the world's poorest nations.
Money-G7-US: O'Neill berates opponents to grants for poor nations: Agence France-Presse - April 18, 2002; WASHINGTON, April 18 (AFP) - US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill on Thursday berated opponents to his campaign for rich nations to give more grants, instead of loans, to the poor.
Tanzania-IMF: IMF approves 25 million dollars in low-cost loans for Tanzania: Agence France-Presse - April 18, 2002; DAR ES SALAAM, April 18 (AFP) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Thursday that continued strong performance of the Tanzanian economy qualifies it to draw on up to 25 million dollars in low-cost loans.
SAfrica-Russia-space: South African millionaire ready for blast-off as second space tourist: Agence France-Presse - April 18, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, April 18 (AFP) - South African millionaire Mark Shuttleworth, who is set to become the world's second space tourist, on Thursday said he was ready for his 10-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
SAfrica-morals: South Africans launch moral movement: Agence France-Presse - April 18, 2002; PRETORIA, April 18 (AFP) - More than 800 leaders from all walks of South African life gathered in a hangar the Waterkloof air force base near Pretoria Thursday to launch a movement designed to build a more moral society.
SAfrica-AIDS: AIDS will drive South Africans' life expectancy below 40: researchers: Agence France-Presse - April 18, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, April 18 (AFP) - AIDS will drive South Africans' average life expectancy below the age of 40 by 2010, researchers predicted Thursday.
Russia-drugs-religion: Russian monastery is refuge for drug addicts: Vincent Begin; Agence France-Presse - April 18, 2002; SERPUKHOV, Russia, April 18 (AFP) - After spending five years in the hell of heroin addiction, Olga has found peace in an Orthodox monastery dating back to the Middle Ages.
Money-Africa: Africa should see "respectable" growth in 2002: IMF: Agence France-Presse - April 18, 2002; WASHINGTON, April 18 (AFP) - Africa should enjoy modest economic growth this year, but prospects will be largely determined by commodity prices, the effectiveness of domestic policies and the scope of armed conflict, the IMF said Thursday.
Health-AIDS-Kenya: AIDS activists in Kenya decry shortage of affordable drugs: Agence France-Presse - April 17, 2002; NAIROBI, April 17 (AFP) - AIDS activists in Kenya Wednesday said some HIV/AIDS victims are being forced to interrupt their treatment because of a shortage of discounted antiretroviral drugs.
SAfrica-AIDS: South Africa to provide anti-AIDS drugs to rape victims: Agence France-Presse - April 17, 2002; PRETORIA, April 17 (AFP) - The South African government on Wednesday approved the provision at all state hospitals of anti-retroviral drugs to rape victims to counteract AIDS.
Vietnam-WBank-health: World Bank to fund safer Vietnam blood transfusions: Agence France-Presse - April 17, 2002; HANOI, April 17 (AFP) - The World Bank is to provide communist Vietnam with 38.2 million dollars to help ensure that blood transfusions in the country's most populated regions are free from the risk of HIV and other infection, it said in a statement on Wednesday.
Increasingly deserted Pacific island heading toward complicated poll: Michael Field; Agence France-Presse - April 17, 2002; Niueans are the rugged loners of the Pacific but thats not so bad: the World Health Organisation says Niue is the only nation left without AIDS or HIV.
India-AIDS: Clinical trials of India-specific anti-AIDS vaccine to start in 2003: Agence France-Presse - April 16, 2002; NEW DELHI, April 16 (AFP) - India announced Tuesday that the first phase of clinical trials for an anti-AIDS vaccine being developed specifically for Indians could start in New Delhi in late 2003.
Africa-health-NGOs: Ugandan vice president urges greater cooperation with NGOs: Agence France-Presse - April 16, 2002; NAIROBI, APRIL 16 (AFP) - Ugandan Vice President Specioza Kazibwe Tuesday advised African governments to work in partnership with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) instead of viewing them as opposition political groups.
Senegal-Africa-NEPAD: Key African development meeting opens Monday: Agence France-Presse - April 14, 2002; DAKAR, April 14 (AFP) - A two-day conference opens here Monday on financing the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), which seeks to lift the world's poorest continent out of its misery through a new partnership with the developed world and global corporate giants.
Nigeria-AIDS: Obasanjo urges AIDS tests for Nigerians to curb spread: Agence France-Presse - April 13, 2002; LAGOS, April 13 (AFP) - Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged comprehensive tests for Nigerians to determine their HIV/AIDS status, a press report said Saturday.
Russia-UN-AIDS: AIDS epidemic in Russia "getting out of control": top UN official: Agence France-Presse - April 12, 2002; MOSCOW, April 12 (AFP) - Russia has the world's fastest-growing rate of infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and the epidemic is "rapidly getting out of control," the UN's top AIDS official warned in an interview published Friday.
SAfrica-Basson: Trial money should have rather been spent on AIDS drugs: Basson: Agence France-Presse - April 12, 2002; PRETORIA, April 12 (AFP) - South African apartheid-era germ warfare expert Wouter Basson on Friday said the money spent on prosecuting him should have rather been used to give the anti-AIDS drug Nevirapine to mothers and their babies.
US-science-gene: Main difference between humans and chimpanzees lies in the brain: study: Agence France-Presse - April 11, 2002; WASHINGTON, April 11 (AFP) - What sets humans apart from chimpanzees -- to whom they are nearly identical genetically -- is mostly in the brain, researchers have found, and understanding this difference could help scientists understand diseases that ravage humans but leave primates largely untouched.
US-AIDS: Rocker Elton John asks US for more money in AIDS fight: Agence France-Presse - April 11, 2002; WASHINGTON, April 11 (AFP) - Rock superstar Elton John on Thursday appealed to the United States to do more to help in the global fight against AIDS, a disease that kills some 8,000 people around the world every day.
Russia-health-AIDS: Around 200,000 Russians infected with AIDS virus: experts: Agence France-Presse - April 11, 2002; MOSCOW, April 11 (AFP) - Around 200,000 Russians are now officially infected with the HIV-virus that causes AIDS, the worst affected group being intravenous drugs users between 15 and 30 years old, ITAR-TASS quoted experts saying at a conference here Thursday.
Ireland-health-blood: Irish haemophiliacs to receive compensation for HIV infection: Agence France-Presse - April 11, 2002; DUBLIN, April 11 (AFP) - A compensation deal for Irish haemophiliacs infected with HIV or Hepatitis C as a result of tainted blood products was agreed on Thursday, the government said.
Zimbabwe-ageing-AIDS: Zimbabwe: AIDS devastating old people's traditional lifestyles: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - April 11, 2002; HARARE, April 11 (AFP) - Elderly people are increasingly having to care for the more than one million AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe, where one in four adults is HIV positive and 2,000 people die every week from the disease, officials said.
China-AIDS: China reports record number of HIV carriers -- 850,000 -- last year: Cindy Sui; Agence France-Presse - April 11, 2002; BEIJING, April 11 (AFP) - China on Thursday reported an estimated 850,000 of its people had been infected with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2001, a figure significantly higher than the last given and the highest figure ever given by Beijing.
WBank-Africa: World Bank presses rich nations to fulfill Africa vows: David Williams; Agence France-Presse - April 10, 2002; WASHINGTON, April 10 (AFP) - The World Bank on Wednesday pressed rich nations to boost aid and open the gates of trade to Africa as its key annual review showed millions suffering from AIDS and sluggish economic growth.
UNICEF-AIDS: Over ten million AIDS orphans worldwide, double that by 2010: Agence France-Presse - April 10, 2002; GENEVA, April 10 (AFP) - A devastating 10.4 million children throughout the world were recorded last year as AIDS orphans, but the figure could double by 2010, the UN children's rights organisation UNICEF has warned.
EU-AIDS: Senegal to benefit from new European AIDS initiative: Agence France-Presse - April 9, 2002; ROME, April 9 (AFP) - Senegal will be the first African country to benefit from a new European AIDS program, aimed at developing health services in areas of the world decimated by the virus, French Health Minister Bernard Kouchner said Tuesday.
Russia-SAfrica-space: South African space tourist to conduct experiments in space: Agence France-Presse - April 8, 2002; MOSCOW, April 8 (AFP) - South African space tourist Mark Shuttleworth will conduct scientific experiments to help combat AIDS and other diseases while onboard the International Space Station (ISS), Russian media reported Wednesday.
SAfrica-AIDS-US: US congressman slams Mbeki's AIDS policies: Agence France-Presse - April 8, 2002; CAPE TOWN, April 8 (AFP) - Influential US congressman Jim Kolbe slammed South Africa's AIDS policies Monday, saying the lack of leadership by the government of President Thabo Mbeki was "tragic".
Ethiopia-US: Ethiopian prime minister sees US legislators over aid: Agence France-Presse - April 5, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, April 5 (AFP) - Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has held taks with a touring team of five US legislators, who pledged financial aid to fight HIV/AIDS and boost food security, national radio reported Friday.
Health-AIDS-Africa: Breastfeeding wrecks short course anti-HIV treatment for babies: Agence France-Presse - April 4, 2002; PARIS, April 4 (AFP) - Many African infants who are saved from catching HIV in the womb thanks to anti-retroviral drugs tragically catch the AIDS virus through breastfeeding, according a new study.
SAfrica-AIDS: Court forces S. African government to supply anti-AIDS drug: Agence France-Presse - April 4, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, April 4 (AFP) - The South African government on Thursday lost a legal battle against supplying anti-AIDS drugs to HIV-positive pregnant women when the country's highest court ordered it to start doing so.
SAfrica-Mandela-Mbeki: Mandela says he will back Mbeki for second term: Agence France-Presse - April 4, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, April 4 (AFP) - Former South African president Nelson Mandela on Thursday said he would back his successor Thabo Mbeki for a second five-year presidential term.
SAfrica-US-health: US health secretary tells S.African counterpart Nevirapine is safe: Agence France-Presse - April 4, 2002; PRETORIA, April 4 (AFP) - US Secretary for Health Tommy Thompson said Thursday he had stressed the safety of the anti-AIDS drug Nevirapine in talks in Pretoria with his South African counterpart, who has called it into doubt and resists wide distribution of the drug.
UN-religion: UN Population Fund seeks help of religious groups: Agence France-Presse - April 3, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, April 3 (AFP) - The head of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Thoraya Obaid, called Wednesday on religious groups to help promote understanding of the fund's more controversial programs.
Mozambique-US-health: US gives 30 mln dollars for Mozambique's health programmes: Agence France-Presse - April 3, 2002; MAPUTO, April 3 (AFP) - The United States on Tuesday pledged to give Mozambique 30 million dollars (34.1 million euros) to combat malaria and HIV/AIDS, among other health programmes in the southern African country.
Health-Vietnam-AIDS: Vietnam urged to be more tolerant of vice for sake of AIDS prevention: Agence France-Presse - April 3, 2002; HANOI, April 3 (AFP) - Vietnam's efforts to control the spread of the AIDS virus are being hampered by government policies which still treat heroin use and prostitution as social evils in need of eradication, an independent review said Wednesday.
India-AIDS: India announces national policy to combat AIDS: Agence France-Presse - April 2, 2002; NEW DELHI, April 2 (AFP) - The Indian government, struggling to keep down its HIV infections below four million, announced Tuesday a national policy for the prevention and control of AIDS.
US-Senate-AIDS: Battling AIDS: the last fight of Jesse Helms: Leon Bruneau; Agence France-Presse - April 1, 2002; WASHINGTON, April 1 (AFP) - A veteran US lawmaker better known for his arch-conservative views has announced he intends to spend his final year in Congress making up for lost time in the fight against the AIDS pandemic.

March

Zimbabwe-AIDS: Finding hope in Harare for people with AIDS: Isabelle Ligner; Agence France-Presse - March 28, 2002; HARARE, March 28 (AFP) - In the Shona language, Mashambanzou means "the dawn of a new day," and the organization bearing that name in Harare has for 12 years used the image to bring hope to people with HIV.
Vietnam-abortion: Rising teen abortions spur debate for sex education in Vietnam: Agence France-Presse - March 28, 2002; HANOI, March 28 (AFP) - Debate is raging in Vietnam about introducing sex education in schools for youngsters in a country where some 300,000 teenagers resort to having abortions every year.
Indonesia-AIDS: Indonesia launches national drive to combat AIDS: Agence France-Presse - March 28, 2002; JAKARTA, March 28 (AFP) - Indonesia on Thursday decided to launch a national campaign to combat HIV/AIDS, the health minister said.
Canada-natives: Canadian natives demand more control over their own lives: Howard Williams; Agence France-Presse - March 28, 2002; OTTAWA, March 28 (AFP) - From Quebec to British Columbia to north of the Arctic Circle, Canada's aboriginal, or native, population is stepping up its fight to get back many of its ancestral lands, many of which are in resource rich regions.
WTO-drugs: Campaigners urge action on poor countries' access to cheaper drugs: Agence France-Presse - March 28, 2002; GENEVA, March 28 (AFP) - Campaigners called on Thursday for the international community to step up efforts to prevent a key WTO deal on access to anti-AIDS drugs in poor countries becoming a "dead piece of paper".
China-AIDS: Henan AIDS sufferers win partial victory following protest: Cindy Sui; Agence France-Presse - March 27, 2002; BEIJING, March 27 (AFP) - AIDS-infected farmers from China's "AIDS village" Wednesday said they had won a partial victory after staging an unprecedented protest demanding medicine to treat a disease they got from selling blood.
SAfrica-justice-AIDS: South Africa to fight new order on AIDS drugs for pregnant women: Agence France-Presse - March 27, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, March 27 (AFP) - The South African health ministry on Wednesday said it was fighting a new court order forcing the state to distribute anti-retroviral treatment more widely to HIV positive pregnant women and their newborn babies.
SouthernAfrica-famine: UN aid agency warns of major famine disaster in southern Africa: Agence France-Presse - March 26, 2002; HARARE, March 26 (AFP) - The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned Tuesday that southern Africa's deepening food crisis could develop into a major disaster unless Western donors step up emergency aid.
Tanzania-malaria: Tanzanians asked to use treated nets to check malaria deaths: Agence France-Presse - March 26, 2002; DAR ES SALAAM, March 26 (AFP) - With malaria killing more than 100,000 people every year in Tanzania, health authorities here have urged people to use insecticide treated nets (ITN) as a practical solution.
China-AIDS: Henan AIDS patients protest outside government office: Agence France-Presse - March 26, 2002; BEIJING, March 26 (AFP) - Eighty farmers from a village in central China, where many residents were stricken with the HIV/AIDS virus after selling their blood for money, protested outside government offices Tuesday, demanding medicine, a protestor told AFP.
SAfrica-AIDS,lead: Court again orders S.African government to distribute AIDS drug: Agence France-Presse - March 25, 2002; PRETORIA, March 25 (AFP) - A South African court on Monday again ordered the government to distribute the anti-retroviral drug Nevirapine to HIV-positive mothers and their new-born babies wherever possible.
SAfrica-AIDS-Tutu: Tutu compares South Africa's AIDS battle to fight against apartheid: Agence France-Presse - March 24, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, March 24 (AFP) - Former Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu said Sunday South Africa needed to summon up the spirit and determination that defeated apartheid in the battle against AIDS.
Vietnam-health: TB claims 20,000 lives annually in Vietnam: report: Agence France-Presse - March 24, 2002; HANOI, March 24 (AFP) - Tuberculosis claims some 20,000 lives in Vietnam every year, the head of the country's tuberculosis institute said in remarks published on World TB Day Sunday.
India-AIDS: Indian court orders pension payment for sacked AIDS victim's family: Agence France-Presse - March 24, 2002; NEW DELHI, March 24 (AFP) - An Indian court ordered the federal government to pay pension to the family of an AIDS victim who was sacked after he was found to be HIV-positive, a report said Sunday.
Thailand-health: Thailand to campaign against growing tuberculosis infection rates: Agence France-Presse - March 24, 2002; BANGKOK, March 24 (AFP) - Thai health authorities said Sunday they were concerned that tuberculosis, once thought to be under control here, is on the rise and will soon be the number one killer of AIDS patients.
Russia-health-TB: Russia's TB rate staggering, but not world's worst: official: Agence France-Presse - March 24, 2002; MOSCOW, March 24 (AFP) - Russia's tuberculosis rate dwarfs the disease's growth in the West but is still lower than the levels in Africa and India, according to Russian health officials.
SAsia-AIDS: South Asia AIDS rates surge on rising tide of drug abuse: UNICEF: Agence France-Presse - March 22, 2002; KATHMANDU, March 22 (AFP) - One young person contracts HIV every two minutes in South Asia with infection rates accelerating on a rising tide of drug use, experts warned at a major regional health conference here.
Health-AIDS: Monkeys caught for "bush meat" pose new AIDS threat: study: Agence France-Presse - March 22, 2002; PARIS, March 22 (AFP) - Monkeys caught for food or as pets in the rainforests of Cameroon, west Africa, are major viral incubators that have the potential to unleash a new strain of HIV, French scientists warned on Friday.
Health-AIDS-SAfrica: South Africa's scientists fire broadside in HIV row: Agence France-Presse - March 22, 2002; PARIS, March 22 (AFP) - South Africa's top AIDS scientists have hiked pressure on Pretoria ahead of a March 31 deadline for launching a programme to prevent pregnant women with HIV from handing on the virus to their babies.
Thailand-AIDS: Thailand to launch dollar-a-day anti-AIDS cocktail: Agence France-Presse - March 22, 2002; BANGKOK, March 22 (AFP) - Thai health authorities said Friday they will begin selling the world's cheapest anti-AIDS drug early next month for less than a dollar a day, in a move applauded by activists.
Zimbabwe-tuberculosis: In Zimbabwe, TB spreads with HIV and poverty: Isabelle Ligner; Agence France-Presse - March 22, 2002; HARARE, March 22 (AFP) - Zimbabwe has six times more cases of tuberculosis than it did 20 years ago, and the spread of the disease shows no signs of slowing as more people suffer from AIDS and poverty, the World Health Organization said.
Ethiopia-AIDS-UN: AIDS an emergency in Ethiopia, but government has a chance: Agence France-Presse - March 21, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, March 21 (AFP) - Ethiopia is facing an emergency over the AIDS epidemic but the HIV-positive rate is not as high as in southern Africa and there is still time to stave off disaster, a UN official has warned.
US-health-smallpox: US scientists develop first oral drug for smallpox: Agence France-Presse - March 20, 2002; URBANA, Illinois, March 20 (AFP) - US researchers have developed the first oral drug to treat the deadly smallpox virus, creating a possible new way to counter an outbreak caused by a bioterrorist attack, scientists said Wednesday.
Canada-sex-Nunavut: Nunavut's campaign to fight STDS hits gold with animal motif condom wraps: Stefanie Batcho; Agence France-Presse - March 20, 2002; TORONTO, March 20 (AFP) - Condom wraps showing arctic char, musk ox, caribou, whale skin and seal motifs are helping make safe-sex more appealing to Inuit communities, which suffer from higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), officials say.
Latvia-EU-prisons: Latvian youths face harsh prison conditions: rights group: Agence France-Presse - March 18, 2002; RIGA, March 18 (AFP) - Latvian youths often languish in inhumane conditions in prison for more than two years before they are sentenced, a human rights group said Monday.
Ukraine-AIDS: Between 10 and 20 Ukrainians infected with AIDS from hospital: Agence France-Presse - March 15, 2002; KIEV, March 15 (AFP) - Health officials are investigating a hospital in the southern Ukraine, where between 10 and 20 people have contracted the AIDS virus after receiving blood transfusions, the health ministry said Friday.
Uganda-AIDS: Uganda to seek 90 million dollars to treat its AIDS patients: Agence France-Presse - March 15, 2002; KAMPALA, March 15 (AFP) - Uganda will seek up to 90 million dollars from the Global Fund on AIDS (GFA) to purchase anti-retroviral drugs to be given freely to people who cannot afford them,the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) said Friday.
Pakistan-AIDS: Pakistan has "narrow window" to curb AIDS spread: UN: Agence France-Presse - March 15, 2002; ISLAMABAD, March 15, (AFP) - Pakistan must act quickly to halt the spread of AIDS or risk going the way of neighbouring India, where infection rates have escalated dramatically in the past five years, the United Nations cautioned Friday.
Africa-AIDS-UN: Taken seriously as terrorism, AIDS can be beaten: UN envoy: Agence France-Presse - March 14, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, March 14 (AFP) - If the world responded to the AIDS pandemic with the same resources as it is fighting terrorism, millions of lives could be saved, UN envoy Stephen Lewis said in the Ethiopian capital Thursday.
US-Bush-aid: Bush boosts US development aid by five billion dollars: Olivier Knox; Agence France-Presse - March 14, 2002; WASHINGTON, March 14 (AFP) - President George W. Bush on Thursday unveiled plans to boost US development aid by five billion dollars over three years for poor nations that take the "hard road" to legal, economic and political reform.
India-AIDS: India has 3.97 million people living with HIV: government: Agence France-Presse - March 14, 2002; NEW DELHI, March 14 (AFP) - India announced Thursday that it had 3.97 million HIV-positive cases, making it the country with the second highest number of people with the infection in the world.
Asia-AIDS: Asia warned against complacency in fight against HIV-AIDS: Bernice Han; Agence France-Presse - March 14, 2002; SINGAPORE, March 14 (AFP) - There is no room for complacency over the HIV-AIDS problem in Asia even though the region has significantly fewer infected people than sub-Saharan Africa, experts said Thursday.
Health-AIDS: Flies unleashed AIDS epidemic: German theory: Agence France-Presse - March 13, 2002; PARIS, March 13 (AFP) - Bloodsucking flies may have unleashed the world's AIDS pandemic by transmitting an HIV-like virus from chimpanzees to humans, German biochemists have suggested in a new study.
Health-AIDS-Europe: AIDS epidemic spreading differently in European countries: Agence France-Presse - March 13, 2002; PARIS, March 13 (AFP) - The AIDS virus is transmitted differently across Europe, with drug injection being the main source of infection in Italy and Spain, whereas heterosexual intercourse is the biggest channel in Britain, a study said Wednesday.
Health-Vietnam-AIDS: More than half of Hanoi prostitutes HIV positive: government survey: Agence France-Presse - March 13, 2002; HANOI, March 13 (AFP) - More than half of registered prostitutes in the Vietnamese capital now carry the AIDS virus following a huge surge of infection in the communist state's large sex industry, a government survey suggested Wednesday.
Asia-HIV: Balanced approach needed to fight HIV-AIDS scourge: expert: Bernice Han; Agence France-Presse - March 13, 2002; SINGAPORE, March 13 (AFP) - Asian health authorities were urged Wednesday to take a balanced approach in the fight against the HIV-AIDS epidemic or risk losing initial gains.
UN-poor-US: US dismisses World Bank call for doubling aid: David Williams; Agence France-Presse - March 12, 2002; WASHINGTON, March 12 (AFP) - The United States dismissed Tuesday a World Bank call for rich nations to double aid to the world's poorest, saying it was impossible to pinpoint exact financial needs.
WHO-UN-health: Health experts urge more spending to reduce child deaths: Agence France-Presse - March 12, 2002; STOCKHOLM, March 12 (AFP) - Billions of dollars of investments and stronger political will are needed to reduce the 11 million child deaths that occur each year from preventable and treatable causes, leading health experts told an international conference here Tuesday.
Health-AIDS-France: 80-year-old woman in France dies after HIV-tainted blood transfusion: Agence France-Presse - March 12, 2002; PARIS, March 12 (AFP) - A woman aged 80 died in France after receiving a blood tranfusion that was contaminated by the AIDS virus, Health Minister Bernard Kouchner said Tuesday.
Kenya-Carter-AIDS: Jimmy Carter urges more funding for AIDS projects in Africa: Agence France-Presse - March 11, 2002; NAIROBI, March 11 (AFP) - Former US president Jimmy Carter on Monday urged rich countries to contribute generously to HIV/AIDS prevention projects in Africa, saying money so far donated was being put to good use.
SAfrica-AIDS: Court orders South African govt to distribute anti-AIDS drug: Agence France-Presse - March 11, 2002; PRETORIA, March 11 (AFP) - A High Court judge on Monday ordered the South African government to immediately begin distributing a key anti-AIDS drug to pregnant women nationwide even though Pretoria is appealing against an initial ruling to that effect.
Nigeria-Gates-grant: Gates grants Nigeria 260,000 dollars to fight HIV/AIDS: Agence France-Presse - March 9, 2002; ABUJA, March 9 (AFP) - The AIDS Prevention Initiative (APIN), funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has granted Nigeria 260,000 dollars to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS, it was announced here Saturday.
Nigeria-AIDS-US: Nigerian president urges new strategies against HIV/AIDS: Agence France-Presse - March 9, 2002; ABUJA, March 9 (AFP) - Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo Saturday urged citizens of his populous west African nation to refocus their strategies in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
France-justice-AIDS: Man awarded damages for erroneous HIV diagnosis: Agence France-Presse - March 8, 2002; LYON, France, March 8 (AFP) - A Frenchman who spent three years under the mistaken impression that he was infected with the virus that causes AIDS due to a laboratory error was awarded 11,000 euros (9,700 dollars) in compensation on Friday.
Nigeria-AIDS-US-people: Jimmy Carter, Gates senior to attend Nigerian AIDS meeting: Agence France-Presse - March 8, 2002; LAGOS, March 8 (AFP) - Former US President Jimmy Carter and the father of Microsoft executive Bill Gates are scheduled to be special guests Saturday at a one-day meeting on HIV/AIDS in Africa's most populous country, officials said.
SAfrica-Carter-AIDS: Former US president Carter slams Mbeki's AIDS policies: Agence France-Presse - March 8, 2002; CAPE TOWN, March 8 (AFP) - Former US president Jimmy Carter on Friday attacked the AIDS policies of South African President Thabo Mbeki, saying the number of people in the country being infected by the HIV virus was increasing "by leaps and bounds every day".
SAfrica-AIDS: Gates awards 150,000 dollars to S.African AIDS project: Agence France-Presse - March 7, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, March 7 (AFP) - The US-based Gates Foundation Thursday awarded four South African AIDS projects 150,000 dollars (170,000 euros) at a ceremony here attended by former president Nelson Mandela, Bill Gates's father William and former US president Jimmy Carter.
SAfrica-baby-rape: Man, 23, arrested in South Africa for baby rape: Agence France-Presse - March 7, 2002; PRETORIA, March 7 (AFP) - A 23-year-old man was arrested early Thursday and accused of raping and sodomising a nine-month-old baby last October, South African police said.
Zimbabwe-vote-food: Hunger crisis casts large shadow over Zimbabwean elections: Griffin Shea; Agence France-Presse - March 7, 2002; HARARE, March 7 (AFP) - One year ago, Mrs. Ndlovu's fields were ripe with melons, pumpkins and corn. More importantly, she was able to get mealie meal -- finely ground corn used to make sadza, which has an almost sacred place in the Zimbabwean diet.
WBank-poor: World Bank chief urges 50-billion-dollar boost to aid: David Williams; Agence France-Presse - March 6, 2002; WASHINGTON, March 6 (AFP) - World Bank president James Wolfensohn pressed rich countries Wednesday to double their aid with an extra 50 billion dollars a year to halve poverty by 2015.
Zimbabwe-vote-AIDS: AIDS kills 500 times more in Zimbabwe than poll-related violence: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - March 6, 2002; HARARE, March 6 (AFP) - While about four people have been killed each week in the violence-wracked run-up to Zimbabwe's presidential election, another 2,000 quietly died of AIDS.
CWealth-points: Main points of the Coolum declaration: Agence France-Presse - March 5, 2002; COOLUM, Australia, March 5 (AFP) - Commonwealth leaders Tuesday adopted a declaration on future commitments and guiding values.
Thailand-AIDS: UN plans first food aid campaign to counter AIDS pandemic: Agence France-Presse - March 4, 2002; BANGKOK, March 4 (AFP) - The United Nations plans to spearhead the world's first major campaign to use food aid to counter the HIV-AIDS pandemic in Southeast Asia and East Africa, officials said Monday.
SAfrica-AIDS-Mandela: Mandela's radical proposal to South Africa's AIDS policy: Jan Hennop; Agence France-Presse - March 3, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, March 3 (AFP) - Former president Nelson Mandela on Sunday proposed a radical challenge to South Africa's AIDS policy, saying people who wanted access to anti-retrovirals (ARVs) should be given the medicines.
Nigeria-AIDS-US-people: Jimmy Carter, Gates senior to attend Nigerian HIV/AIDS summit: Agence France-Presse - March 3, 2002; LAGOS, March 3 (AFP) - Former US President Jimmy Carter and the father of Microsoft executive Bill Gates will attend a one-day meeting on HIV/AIDS in Africa's most populous country next week, spokesmen said this weekend.
Zimbabwe-vote: Mugabe, Tsvangirai hold twin rallies in Zimbabwe's second city: Griffin Shea; Agence France-Presse - March 2, 2002; BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, March 2 (AFP) - Zimbabweans got the closest they have ever come to seeing President Robert Mugabe and his challenger Morgan Tsvangirai on the same stage, as the two held back-to-back rallies hardly 10 kilometers (six miles) apart in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe-food: In Zimbabwe, even ending national hunger hangs on elections: Griffin Shea; Agence France-Presse - March 1, 2002; GUNGWE, Zimbabwe, March 1 (AFP) - After driving over barren riverbeds and dried-out maize crops on the way to Gungwe village, it's no surprise to see thousands of people waiting with their donkeys in Zimbabwe's oppressive midday heat for desperately needed food aid.
Zambia-budget: Zambia's new budget cuts taxes, boosts anti-AIDS fight: Agence France-Presse - March 1, 2002; LUSAKA, March 1 (AFP) - Zambia's new government Friday presented its first budget, which includes major tax cuts and earmarks new funds for the purchase of anti-AIDS drugs.

February

UN-population-ageing: UN demographer foresees growing number of "hour millionaires": Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - February 28, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, Feb 28 (AFP) - Hour millionaires, people living to 114, will become more numerous as the world's population ages over the next 50 years, the chief UN demographer said Thursday.
Ghana-AIDS: Ghanaian AIDS victim claims infecting 39 men: report: Agence France-Presse - February 28, 2002; ACCRA, Feb 28 (AFP) - A Ghanaian woman who died of AIDS this week has thrown her hometown in a tizzy by claiming on her deathbed that she had infected 39 men, a state-owned daily said Thursday.
US-health-Aids-Africa: New African monkey virus relaunches debate on origin of AIDS: Francis Temman; Agence France-Presse - February 27, 2002; SEATTLE, Washington, Feb 27 (AFP) - An international team of researchers has identified a new simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in a species of monkey from Cameroon, relaunching the debate on the origin of the AIDS virus.
UN-drugs-Africa: Heroin injection rise fueling AIDS spread in Africa: UN: Agence France-Presse - February 27, 2002; VIENNA, Feb 27 (AFP) - The spread of HIV and AIDS looks likely to accelerate further in parts of Africa with the spread of injected heroin use, especially among younger people, a UN drugs board warned Wednesday.
US-AIDS: New drugs will make things difficult for HIV: Francis Temman; Agence France-Presse - February 27, 2002; SEATTLE, Washington, Feb 27 (AFP) - A new class of experimental anti-AIDS drugs show promising results and could soon reinforce the current arsenal of medicines against the deadly disease, researchers meeting here said.
SAfrica-AIDS: No reason to delay expansion of AIDS programmes: research report: Agence France-Presse - February 27, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Feb 27 (AFP) - South Africa's programmes to reduce HIV transmission from pregnant mothers to their babies with the anti-retroviral drug Nevirapine should be expanded immediately, a research report released here said Wednesday.
US-health-AIDS-vaccines: Anti-AIDS vaccine combo will not receive large-scale testing in US: Agence France-Presse - February 26, 2002; SEATTLE, Washington, Feb 26 (AFP) - The United States will not expand a study of two AIDS vaccines, because trials conducted so far have proved inconclusive, US health authorities have said.
US-health-AIDS: Tests of DNA-based vaccine against AIDS bring 'encouraging' results: Agence France-Presse - February 26, 2002; SEATTLE, Washington, Feb 26 (AFP) - Inoculation tests on people of an experimental DNA-based vaccine against the AIDS virus have produced encouraging results, a researcher from the US pharmaceutical group Merck announced Tuesday.
US-health-AIDS: AIDS remedies: the year of the "entry inhibitors": Francis Temman; Agence France-Presse - February 26, 2002; SEATTLE, Washington, Feb 26 (AFP) - AIDS researchers are hopeful that the promising results displayed by a new class of retrovirals known as "entry inhibitors" could lead to breakthroughs in curing the devastating disease.
US-health-AIDS: Nearly half of HIV-infected people in US not tested or treated: CDC: Agence France-Presse - February 25, 2002; SEATTLE, Washington, Feb 25 (AFP) - The number of HIV-positive people in the United States is rising, while nearly half of the one million people infected with the virus that causes AIDS have not been tested or treated, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study released Monday.
Australia-Norfolk: Pacific island drops HIV ban: Agence France-Presse - February 25, 2002; SYDNEY, Feb 25 (AFP) - Norfolk Island, an external territory of Australia, has shelved controversial plans to ban HIV positive people from visiting or living on the island.
SAfrica-AIDS: S.African doctor fired for allowing antiretroviral drugs in hospital: Agence France-Presse - February 24, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Feb 24 (AFP) - A South African doctor has been fired for allowing antiretroviral drugs to be given to rape victims in a public hospital, newspaper reports said Sunday, amid controversy over government policy on HIV medicines.
Afghan-AIDS: First AIDS tests planned in "blank slate" of Afghanistan: Bronwyn Curran; Agence France-Presse - February 24, 2002; ISLAMABAD, Feb 24 (AFP) - The hardline Taliban regime that ruled Afghanistan until late last year left such a dearth of information on AIDS that authorities have no idea how many Afghans have the virus, and half the blood stocks there are untested.
US-AIDS: Gates and Carter foundations to travel to AIDS-infected Africa: Francis Temman; Agence France-Presse - February 24, 2002; SEATTLE, Washington, Feb 24 (AFP) - The world's richest man, Bill Gates, announced Sunday that his foundation plans to join forces with former US president Jimmy Carter on a tour of Africa with goal of fighting AIDS.
SAfrica-AIDS: S.African AIDS Council reviews AIDS drug policy: Agence France-Presse - February 23, 2002; DURBAN, Feb 23 (AFP) - The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) Saturday reviewed its policy on an AIDS drug said to dramatically reduce the HIV transmission rate from mothers to their babies, the deputy president said.
Sweden-summit-Clinton: "Progressives" give Clinton Africa development mission: Agence France-Presse - February 23, 2002; STOCKHOLM, Feb 23 (AFP) - Liberal leaders from 11 countries announced here Saturday that former US president Bill Clinton would lead a mission on their behalf to boost development in Africa and help the continent overcome its AIDS crisis and other obstacles to social progress.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. African leaders agree on AIDS drug plan: Agence France-Presse - February 22, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Feb 22 (AFP) - Ministers in South Africa's industrial heartland province of Gauteng vowed to push ahead with an AIDS drug roll-out programme, hours before announcing a pact with the national government publicly ending a row the issue.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. African government takes on AIDS policy critics in media ad: Agence France-Presse - February 22, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Feb 22 (AFP) - South Africa's government Friday placed an advertisement in major newspapers aimed at countering negative perception of its AIDS policy, and to clarify its position on making available drugs to HIV positive pregnant mothers.
Namibia-AIDS: Namibia to embark on AIDS drugs programme: report: Agence France-Presse - February 22 2002; WINDHOEK, Feb 22 (AFP) - The Namibian government is to embark upon a two-year pilot project which will provide 500 pregnant HIV-positive women with the drug Nevirapine to protect their babies from the virus, a report said Friday.
Swaziland-UN-SADC: Swaziland to host SADC poverty strategy meeting: Agence France-Presse - February 21, 2002; MBABANE, Feb 21 (AFP) - The UN Development Programme will next week hold southern African regional talks in Swaziland to discuss government cooperation and strategy in combatting poverty, a UNDP official said Thursday.
Cambodia-crime: Three Cambodian men shot in row over AIDS claim: Agence France-Presse - February 21, 2002; PHNOM PENH, Feb 21 (AFP) - Two Cambodian friends and a waiter were shot and injured in a row which erupted after one of the pals accused the other of carrying the deadly HIV virus, a report said Thursday.
US-EU-development: O'Neill assails European resistance to World Bank grant aid: David Williams; Agence France-Presse - February 20, 2002; WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (AFP) - US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill sharply criticised European countries Wednesday for seeking to cap World Bank grants to poor countries at 10 percent of total assistance.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. African communists demand emergency meeting on AIDS: Agence France-Presse - February 20, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Feb 20 (AFP) - The South African Communist Party on Wednesday called for an urgent meeting with its political and trade union alliance partners to get the AIDS drug Nevirapine to pregnant women nationwide.
SAfrica-budget: S.African budget aims at poverty, but short on AIDS targets: Agence France-Presse - February 20, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Feb 20 (AFP) - South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel on Wednesday presented a 25 billion dollar budget to attack poverty, but it fell short of demands from thousands in the streets seeking full treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Russia-AIDS: One million Russians could die of AIDS by 2012: official: Agence France-Presse - February 20, 2002; MOSCOW, Feb 20 (AFP) - One million Russians infected with the virus that leads to AIDS may die within the next decade, Vadim Pokrovsky, head of Russia's Centre for the Prevention and Cure of Aids, said Tuesday.
SAfrica-budget-AIDS: S Africa budgets big for AIDS, little for antiretrovirals: Agence France-Presse - February 20, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Feb 20 (AFP) - South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel on Wednesday said in his budget that the country will spend an extra billion rand on fighting AIDS in 2002, but only a fraction of the money will be spent on anti-retroviral programmes.
SAfrica-budget-social: S. Africans to march on budget day for AIDS drugs, welfare: Agence France-Presse - February 19, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Feb 19 (AFP) - Thousands of activists will march on the South African parliament Wednesday as Finance Minister Trevor Manuel reads his budget to demand drugs for HIV carriers and a blanket income grant for all citizens.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. Africa govt distances itself from province's AIDS move: Agence France-Presse - February 19, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Feb 19 (AFP) - South Africa's government on Tuesday distanced itself from an announcement by a provincial premier to provide the anti-retroviral drug Nevirapine to pregnant women with HIV, saying it was contrary to government policy.
Mozambique-AIDS: Mozambique seeks help from global AIDS fund: Agence France-Presse - February 19, 2002; MAPUTO, Feb 19 (AFP) - Mozambique is applying for money from the UN-managed Global Fund to Fight AIDS, to slow the spread of a disease which many people here still do not believe exists, a government official said Tuesday.
SAfrica-AIDS-politics: Position on AIDS correct despite reported tensions: S.Africa: Agence France-Presse - February 18, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Feb 18 (AFP) - South Africa's ruling party Monday said its position on AIDS was correct, after its top leadership, including President Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela met over reported tensions on the issue.
Japan-WHO-health: 100,000 more could die from Asian TB catastrophe in five years: WHO: Agence France-Presse - February 18, 2002; TOKYO, Feb 18 (AFP) - Up to three million more people in East Asia could become infected with tuberculosis and 100,000 of them die over the next five years because of a lack of funding to control the disease, the World Health Organization warned Monday.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. African province vows anti-AIDS drug for all this year: Agence France-Presse - February 18, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Feb 18 (AFP) - South Africa's industrial Gauteng province will provide the anti-retroviral drug Nevirapine, which reduces HIV infection of unborn babies, at all public hospitals this year, the premier announced Monday.
SAfrica-Mandela: Stop talking, wage 'war' on AIDS: Mandela tells S. African government: Agence France-Presse - February 17, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Feb 17 (AFP) - Tackling AIDS is a "war" to be fought at once, former president Nelson Mandela told the South African government, making his strongest intervention yet through Sunday's press.
Bulgaria-Libya-AIDS: Bulgarians' HIV trial in Libya folds for lack of evidence: Agence France-Presse - February 17, 2002; TRIPOLI, Feb 17 (AFP) - A two-year trial of six Bulgarians accused of deliberately killing Libyan children by infecting them with the HIV virus folded Sunday because of lack of evidence that they had threatened state security.
SAfrica-US-SADC: US trade chief pledges 8.7 mln dollars for southern Africa: Agence France-Presse - February 17, 2002; PRETORIA, Feb 17 (AFP) - US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick has announced grants totalling 8.7 million dollars to help boost southern Africa's capacity for international trade, the US embassy in Pretoria said Sunday.
Pharmaceuticals: Big pharma, big challenges: Mark Rice-Oxley; Agence France-Presse - February 17, 2002; LONDON, Feb 17 (AFP) - These are unsettling times for big pharma: the sector which congratulates itself on being "the most profitable industry over the past 25 years" may not be so for much longer.
US-Powell-condoms: Powell's comments on condoms deepen rift between US left, right: Matthew Lee; Agence France-Presse - February 16, 2002; WASHINGTON, Feb 16 (AFP) - In a reprise of the "culture wars" of the past decade, US conservative and liberal groups have squared off over comments by Secretary of State Colin Powell advocating condom use by the world's youth to prevent the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
Russia-Canada-AIDS: Canada to join Russia in regional AIDS programmes: Agence France-Presse - February 15, 2002; MOSCOW, Feb 15 (AFP) - Canada is to help Russia fight its mounting AIDS problem by setting up joint programmes in four regions, Prime Minister Jean Chretien said Friday during a visit to Moscow's Central Epidemiological Institude.
SAfrica-AIDS-policy: S. Africa's official AIDS policy shifts, but slowly: Philippe Bernes-Lasserre; Agence France-Presse - February 15, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Feb 15 (AFP) - A rebellion against government policy on the treatment of AIDS has spread in South Africa, both on the front line of care and in the cabinet, where a perceived shift satisfies neither doctors nor the dying.
US-Powell-condoms: Powell pushes world's youth to use condoms: Agence France-Presse - February 14, 2002; WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (AFP) - In comments sure to infuriate conservatives in his own Republican Party as well as the Vatican, US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday urged the world's youth to use condoms to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases.
SAfrica-AIDS-village: AIDS village for destitute opens in South Africa: Claire Keeton; Agence France-Presse - February 14, 2002; MARAISBURG, South Africa, Feb 14 (AFP) - South Africa's first village designed for some 350 destitute adults and 100 children sick with AIDS officially opened on a chill rainy Thursday, in a ceremony attended by dozens of celebrities.
SAfrica-Botswana-US: US trade envoy heading for southern Africa on WTO, AIDS: Agence France-Presse - February 14, 2002; PRETORIA, Feb 14 (AFP) - US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick will late Thursday arrive in South Africa as part of the first sub-Saharan African tour by such an envoy from Washington, the US Embassy announced here.
Russia-AIDS: Russia threatened by "African scenario" on AIDS: official: Agence France-Presse - February 14, 2002; MOSCOW, Feb 14 (AFP) - Russia is threatened by African-style depopulation as official measures to curb HIV infection fall behind the spread of the virus, the head of the country's AIDS prevention agency warned on Thursday.
SAfrica-AIDS: S African union boss demands government supply anti-AIDS drugs: Claire Keeton; Agence France-Presse - February 14, 2002; MARAISBURG, South Africa, Feb 14 (AFP) - The head of the powerful Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) on Thursday challenged the government to provide anti-retroviral drugs to nearly five million South Africans who live with HIV/AIDS.
US-Africa: Free trade the key to prosperity in Africa: top US official: Agence France-Presse - February 14, 2002; NAIROBI, Feb 14 (AFP) - The key to prosperity in the world's poorest continent, Africa, lies in increasing and freeing up international trade, US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick said in Kenya on Thursday.
SAfrica-politics-Mbeki: Mbeki says S.Africa to focus on eradicating poverty: Agence France-Presse - February 14, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Feb 14 (AFP) - President Thabo Mbeki on Thursday said South Africa's government will overcome difficulties it faces in eradicating poverty and vowed to pay out two billion rands (174 million dollars) in overdue pensions within weeks.
US-UN-Congress: UN chief urges US lawmakers to open purse-strings on AIDS: Agence France-Presse - February 13, 2002; WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan sat down with top US Senators Wednesday in an effort to win congressional support for more money to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, diseases that kill more than 5.5 million people a year.
Britain-royal-Margaret: Margaret wanted cremation because of "gloomy" burial place: Agence France-Presse - February 12, 2002; LONDON, Feb 12 (AFP) - Britain's Princess Margaret, who died on Saturday aged 71, wanted to be cremated because she found the traditional royal burial place gloomy, a life-long friend said Tuesday.
SAfrica-Britain: British minister for Africa meets NGOs in S. Africa: Agence France-Presse - February 12, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Feb 12 (AFP) - British junior minister for Africa, Baroness Valerie Amos, held talks Tuesday with members of non-governmental organisations dealing with grassroots health and environment issues in South Africa, British officials said.
SAfrica-AIDS-drugs: SAfrican province to give anti-AIDS drug to all pregnant women: Agence France-Presse - February 12, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Feb 12 (AFP) - The South African province worst afflicted by AIDS must immediately make anti-retroviral drugs treatment available to all pregnant women, whatever their HIV status, Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi said Tuesday.
SAfrica-AIDS: No proof yet anti-AIDS drug working in South Africa: minister: Agence France-Presse - February 12, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Feb 12 (AFP) - The South African government on Tuesday stood firm on its refusal to distribute the drug Nevirapine nationwide to curb mother-to-child HIV transmission, saying its effectiveness was still unproven.
Canada-Tanzania: Canada cancels Tanzania debt: Agence France-Presse - February 11, 2002; OTTAWA, Feb 11 (AFP) - Canada has decided to cancel the entire bilateral debt owed by Tanzania, worth 83.6 millions dollars (52.6 million US), Canada's finance minister announced in a statement Monday.
SAfrica-prisons: S.African prisons overcrowded by 68 percent: minister: Agence France-Presse - February 11, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Feb 11 (AFP) - South African prisons are crowded beyond capacity by 71,000 inmates or 68 percent, Correctional Services Minister Ben Skosana said on Monday.
Africa-AIDS: Life expectancy in Africa slashed by AIDS: Agence France-Presse - February 11, 2002; ADDIS ABABA, Feb 11 (AFP) - Within three years, most Africans will not live to see their 48th birthday unless immediate further action is taken to stem the spread of AIDS and HIV, a conference on population heard Monday in the Ethiopian capital.
Taiwan-AIDS: Taiwan's HIV cases rise 21 percent in 2001: Agence France-Presse - February 10, 2002; TAIPEI, Feb 10 (AFP) - Taiwan's HIV rates shot up by more than 20 percent last year with nearly 4,000 people now infected with the virus that leads to AIDS.
SAfrica-AIDS: Mbeki hints at concession on HIV drug treatment for pregnant women: Agence France-Presse - February 10, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Feb 10 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki on Sunday hinted that he might extend anti-retroviral drug treatment for HIV-positive pregnant women beyond the current limited number of test sites.
EU-AIDS-SAfrica: EU commission approves 50 million to fight AIDS in South Africa: Agence France-Presse - February 8, 2002; BRUSSELS, Feb 8 (AFP) - The European Commission on Friday approved a six-year, 50 million euro (43.6 million dollar) aid program to strengthen health care and fight HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
Uganda-AIDS: Ugandans with AIDS to get free anti-fungal drugs: Agence France-Presse - February 8, 2002; KAMPALA, Feb 8 (AFP) - A programme has been launched in Uganda to supply people with AIDS free treatment against two opportunistic diseases.
Africa-summit: African leaders meet on plan to beat poverty trap, woo G8: Jean-Pierre Campagne; Agence France-Presse - February 8, 2002; PARIS, Feb 8 (AFP) - Leaders from 13 African countries met in Paris Friday to work on a home-grown development plan they hope will persuade the rich nations of the world to help them beat the poverty trap.
SAfrica-politics: Mbeki tiptoes on Zimbabwe, AIDS, vows to tackle poverty: Agence France-Presse - February 8, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Feb 8 (AFP) - President Thabo Mbeki took no risks Friday on AIDS policy and Zimbabwe in a state of the nation address many had hoped would bring an about-face on South Africa's most pressing domestic and foreign problems.
SAfrica-politics-AIDS: S. Africa's Mbeki steers clear of change in AIDS policy: Agence France-Presse - February 8, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Feb 8 (AFP) - South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki made no concessions Friday to mounting pressure from critics who want government to give anti-retroviral drugs to pregnant women nationwide immediately.
Australia-HIV-Asia: Asian HIV epidemic could become world's worst, Australian report warns: Agence France-Presse - February 8, 2002; SYDNEY, Feb 8 (AFP) - An explosive HIV epidemic fuelled by the sharing of unhygenic needles by millions of drug users across Asia is threatening to become the world's worst, an Australian research team warned Friday.
US-Caricom-Powell: US unmoved by Caricom plea over Haiti funds: Matthew Lee; Agence France-Presse - February 7, 2002; NASSAU, Feb 7 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday the United States would not drop opposition to international loans for Haiti despite an appeal to do so by the Caribbean Community (Caricom).
WBank-AIDS: World Bank approves 500 million more for AIDS fight: Agence France-Presse - February 7, 2002; WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (AFP) - The World Bank Thursday approved an additional 500 million dollars for the second stage of its program to combat AIDS in Africa.
SAfrica-Mandela-AIDS: Mandela says government too slow in providing AIDS treatment: Emsie Ferreira; Agence France-Presse - February 7, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Feb 7 (AFP) - Former South African president Nelson Mandela on Thursday criticised the government for dragging its heels in providing urgently needed treatment to curb mother-to-child transmission of the HIV virus.
SAfrica-politics: Mbeki under pressure on Zimbabwe, AIDS ahead of state of nation speech: Emsie Ferreira; Agence France-Presse - February 7, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Feb 7 (AFP) - South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki faces pressure to tackle the issues of Zimbabwe, AIDS and domestic economic growth in his much-awaited state of the nation address on Friday.
SAfrica-AIDS-clinic: AIDS treatment trickles down to S. Africa's anxious mothers: Emsie Ferreira; Agence France-Presse - February 7, 2002; PAARL, South Africa, Feb 7 (AFP) - A line of pregnant women snakes round corners in the dim corridors of a clinic, but for every one of them who manages to get anti-retrovirals in a bid to save their babies from the scourge of AIDS, several hundreds in South Africa do not.
US-China-Powell: US-China relations going "rather smoothly" ahead of Bush visit: Powell: Stephen Collinson; Agence France-Presse - February 5, 2002; WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (AFP) - US-China relations are developing "rather smoothly" ahead of President George W. Bush's visit to Beijing this month, despite a year of turbulence, Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday.
FAO-Africa-Egypt: African nations aim for self-sufficiency at food conference: Agence France-Presse - February 5, 2002; CAIRO, Feb 5 (AFP) - Ministers or their representatives from 52 African countries met here Tuesday to examine the food trade on the continent at a meeting of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Bulgaria-Libya: Bulgarians in HIV trial in Libya freed from prison: Agence France-Presse - February 5, 2002; SOFIA, Feb 5 (AFP) - Six Bulgarians on trial in Libya accused of infecting children with HIV have been freed from jail, but will stay under house arrest pending a verdict this month, Foreign Minister Solomon Passi said Tuesday.
SAfrica-AIDS: Top South African medical body backs treatment for HIV mothers: Agence France-Presse - February 5, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Feb 5 (AFP) - South Africa's leading body for specialist doctors on Tuesday said it favoured providing preventative treatment so that mothers infected with the virus that causes AIDS do not pass it on to their children.
Forum: Poverty, terrorism, Middle East dominate economic form, Enron avoided: Nathaniel Harrison; Agence France-Presse - February 4, 2002; NEW YORK, Feb 4 (AFP) - Business and political leaders from around the world wrapped up five days of talks here Monday that delved deeply into such topics as poverty, terrorism and corporate conduct but gave the Enron debacle a wide berth.
US-budget-foreign: US anti-terror allies big winners in Bush's proposed foreign aid budget: Matthew Lee; Agence France-Presse - February 4, 2002; WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (AFP) - US allies in its war on terrorism came out big winners Monday as President George W. Bush presented his 25.4-billion-dollar fiscal 2003 foreign aid and international affairs budget.
US-Africa-Bush-meet: Bush to meet with presidents of Angola, Botswana, Mozambique February 26: Agence France-Presse - February 4, 2002; WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (AFP) - Presidents Jose Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, Festus Mogae of Botswana and Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique are to visit the White House February 26 at the invitation of US President George W. Bush, the White House said Monday.
Forum: World Economic Forum embraces poverty fight, sees tepid global recovery: Nathaniel Harrison; Agence France-Presse - February 4, 2002; NEW YORK, Feb 4 (AFP) - Global business leaders and politicians, who on Monday were winding up a five-day gathering here, have agreed that poverty is both immoral and will be bad for the bottom line in a slowly recovering world economy.
Forum-Africa: U2's Bono urges Marshall Plan for Africa: Agence France-Presse - February 2, 2002; NEW YORK, Feb 2 (AFP) - Irish rock group U2's lead singer Bono called Saturday for a "Marshall Plan" for Africa to save the continent from an AIDS holocaust.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. African doctors don black armbands in fight against AIDS: Agence France-Presse - February 2, 2002; DURBAN, Feb 2 (AFP) - South African doctors donned black armbands with a red ribbon Saturday at a meeting of the Junior Doctors Association (JUDASA) here to highlight the fight against HIV/AIDS, their chairman said.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. African government resists pressure to supply anti-AIDS drug: Agence France-Presse - February 1, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Feb 1 (AFP) - The South African government said Friday after a meeting by top national and regional health officials that it was not ready to supply an anti-AIDS drug to pregnant HIV-positive women countrywide.
Health-Vietnam-AIDS: Vietnam aims to produce AIDS drugs within three years: Agence France-Presse - February 1, 2002; HANOI, Feb 1 (AFP) - Vietnam has set a three-year target for domestic production of Western AIDS drugs amid growing fears about its ability to afford treatment for an expected explosion in patient numbers, health officials said Friday.

January

SAfrica-AIDS: S. Africa's health minister in talks on releasing anti-AIDS drug: Agence France-Presse - January 31, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Jan 31 (AFP) - South Africa's embattled health minister began talks Thursday with provincial ministers as pressure grew on the government to make an anti-AIDS drug available to HIV-positive pregnant women.
WHO-disease: WHO signals shift in approach to infectious diseases: Agence France-Presse - January 31, 2002; GENEVA, Jan 31 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation on Thursday said it will put a greater emphasis on treatment and not just prevention of major infectious diseases.
Forum: Business elite meet in shaken New York, protests gather: David Williams; Agence France-Presse - January 31, 2002; NEW YORK, Jan 31 (AFP) - The world's rich and powerful opened Thursday a five-day meeting under tight security in terror-shaken New York and were told by U2 lead singer Bono to act now to fight an AIDS holocaust.
Forum-Bono: Prevent AIDS Holocaust, Rock star Bono tells WEF: Agence France-Presse - January 31, 2002; NEW YORK, Jan 31 (AFP) - Rock star Bono urged the world's political and business elite Thursday to prove that they really believed in racial equality by helping to prevent an "AIDS Holocaust".
Malawi-AIDS: Malawi runs out of anti-retroviral AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - January 31, 2002; BLANTYRE, Jan 31 (AFP) - Malawi's hospitals have run out of anti-retroviral drugs used to fight AIDS "due to a technical hitch" which has left hundreds of sufferers at risk, health authorities said Thursday.
Rwanda-AIDS: Rwanda to give one million dlrs to UN fund fighting AIDS, malaria: Agence France-Presse - January 31, 2002; KIGALI, Jan 31 (AFP) - The Rwandan government will donate one million dollars to a UN fund set up to combat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, officials said Thursday.
Forum-Davos-UN: Annan to tell global elite not to ignore poverty: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - January 30, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, Jan 30 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will tell political and business leaders at the World Economic Forum that they ignore extreme poverty at their peril, a senior UN official said Wednesday.
SAfrica-US-aid: US aid to South Africa will be 24.5 mln dollars in 2002: envoy: Agence France-Presse - January 30, 2002; PRETORIA, Jan 30 (AFP) - Annual development aid from the United States to South Africa will increase by eight percent this year to 280 million rand (24.5 million dollars), the US ambassador to South Africa announced Wednesday.
SKorea-AIDS: South Korean convict contracts HIV to win freedom: Agence France-Presse - January 30, 2002; SEOUL, Jan 30 (AFP) - A South Korean prison inmate intentionally infected himself with the the human-immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in an apparent bid to get free, officials said Wednesday.
Zambia-Catholics: Catholic Church in Zambia appeals to Mwanawasa to unite the nation: Agence France-Presse - January 29, 2002; LUSAKA, Jan 29 (AFP) - The Roman Catholic Church in Zambia on Tuesday met with recently elected President Levy Mwanawasa and called on him to unite the Zambian people, divided after the December 27 elections.
AIDS-fund: Global fund against HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB declared operational: Agence France-Presse - January 29, 2002; GENEVA, Jan 29 (AFP) - The Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS and two other killer diseases on Tuesday launched a call for funding projects in countries hit hard by the illnesses, on its first official day in operation.
SAfrica-economy: S. Africa's economy at risk from stagnation, not Argentine-style crash: Philippe Bernes-Lasserre; Agence France-Presse - January 29, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Jan 29 (AFP) - The economy in South Africa, as other emerging markets, has taken knocks after last year's attacks in the United States and amid fears of global recession, but the worries here are stagnation in growth and employment rather than an Argentina-style crisis.
SAfrica-AIDS-drugs: AIDS activists defy law by bring anti-AIDS drugs into S Africa: Agence France-Presse - January 29, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Jan 29 (AFP) - South African AIDS activists have challenged the government's commerical patent law and its AIDS policy by bringing generic anti-AIDS drugs into South Africa from Brazil, they announced here Tuesday.
UN-development: "Dramatic shortfall" in resources to meet UN poverty reduction goals: Robert Holloway; Agence France-Presse - January 28, 2002; UNITED NATIONS, Jan 28 (AFP) - Government delegates meeting here warned of "dramatic shortfalls" in resources needed to meet UN goals such as halving absolute poverty and arresting the spread of HIV/AIDS within 13 years.
SAfrica-AIDS-drugs: AIDS drug may be in S. African province hospitals by July: official: Agence France-Presse - January 28, 2002; DURBAN, Jan 28 (AFP) - The anti-AIDS drug Nevirapine could be dispensed from 20 major hospitals in South Africa's eastern KwaZulu-Natal Province in six months, the province's Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said Monday.
Cameroon-AIDS: AIDS pioneer urges traditional healers to be scientific: Agence France-Presse - January 28, 2002; YAOUNDE, Jan 28 (AFP) - Luc Montagnier, who discovered the HIV virus that causes AIDS, has called on traditional healers in Cameroon to conduct empirical tests of their remedies for the deadly disease.
SAfrica-AIDS: S. African doctors defy Mbeki, give anti-AIDS drugs: report: Agence France-Presse - January 27, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Jan 27 (AFP) - Doctors in state hospitals throughout South Africa are defying government policy on AIDS drugs by giving them to HIV-positive pregnant women and rape victims, a report said Sunday.
SAfrica-AIDS-church: Anglican leader slams South Africa over AIDS drug strategy: Agence France-Presse - January 25, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Jan 25 (AFP) - South Africa's government is sinning against God and also violating the constitution by denying life-saving drugs to children and women facing AIDS, the country's Anglican archbishop, Njongonkulu Ndungane, said Friday.
Finland-crime: Suspected Helsinki "HIV robber" nabbed: Agence France-Presse - January 25, 2002; HELSINKI, Jan 25 (AFP) - A Finnish woman in her twenties accused of robbing several people here recently by threatening to stab them with a syringe she claimed contained HIV-infected blood has been arrested, police said Friday.
China-crime-AIDS: China authorities try to curb panic over rumored HIV syringe attacks: Agence France-Presse - January 24, 2002; BEIJING, Jan 24 (AFP) - Authorities in a northern Chinese city on Thursday attempted to quell spiraling panic over a series of alleged attacks by people wielding HIV-contaminated syringes, saying the reports were "rumor".
Myanmar-drugs: UNDCP and eight Myanmar groups form grassroots anti-drugs initiative: Agence France-Presse - January 24, 2002; YANGON, Jan 24 (AFP) - The United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and eight Myanmar non-government organisations have agreed to form a consortium to fight drug abuse.
SAfrica-AIDS: ANC stalls on issue of anti-AIDS drug in second S African province: Agence France-Presse - January 23, 2002; DURBAN, South Africa, Jan 23 (AFP) - The health chief in South Africa's eastern KwaZulu-Natal province warned Wednesday that staff and treatment follow-up problems will prevent any immediate supply of an anti-AIDS drug to all pregnant mothers there.
SAfrica-child-social: Rape of baby prompts child abuse inquiry in South Africa: Agence France-Presse - January 23, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Jan 23 (AFP) - Reacting to widespread shock caused by the rape of a nine-month-old baby last October, the South African parliament is to hold hearings on the high incidence of child abuse in the country, a spokesman for the speaker's office said Wednesday.
SAfrica-Zimbabwe-church: Southern African church leaders ask Mugabe to step down: Agence France-Presse - January 23, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Jan 23 (AFP) - Southern African church leaders on Wednesday urged Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to quit power, writing in a statement that his departure would "benefit Africa".
Health-Vietnam: Mystery fever cases raise fears of new Vietnam leishmania strain: Agence France-Presse - January 23, 2002; HANOI, Jan 23 (AFP) - Scientists in Vietnam believe they have uncovered a new strain of the tropical disease leishmania after three still unexplained cases were discovered among HIV-positive women in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh last year.
SAfrica-AIDS: S.African province to supply anti-AIDS drug, defying natl policy: Agence France-Presse - January 22, 2002; DURBAN, South Africa, Jan 22 (AFP) - A second South African province will supply HIV-positive pregnant women with an antiretroviral drug to protect their unborn babies in defiance of the central government, which wants to limit distribution to pilot studies.
SAfrica-economy-crime: Crime and corruption seen top barriers to business in S Africa: Agence France-Presse - January 20, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Jan 20 (AFP) - Crime and corruption are seen as the biggest obstacles to trade within South Africa, according to a survey of the country's "opinion-formers" published on Sunday.
Russia-crime: Russia's great escapers all HIV positive: Agence France-Presse - January 19, 2002; MOSCOW, Jan 19 (AFP) - Fourteen prisoners at a Russian hard-labour camp who escaped by digging a long tunnel under the prison compound fence in the Volga region are all HIV positive, Itar-Tass news agency reported Saturday.
India-health: Pharmaceutical firms battle against time to make new TB drug: Jay Shankar; Agence France-Presse - January 20, 2002; BANGALORE, India, Jan 20 (AFP) - Multinational pharmaceutical companies and research institutions are racing to meet a 2010 target for developing a new drug to fight the growing global scourge of tuberculosis.
Tanzania-AIDS: Jail term for Tanzanian who infected "wife" with AIDS: Agence France-Presse - January 18, 2002; DAR ES SALAAM, Jan 18 (AFP) - A Tanzanian court has sentenced to 30 years in prison a businessman convicted of cohabiting with an under-age girl who later died of AIDS, a disease she allegedly contracted from him, local newspapers reported Friday.
US-Africa-rights: African rights could be overlooked after US attacks: report: Agence France-Presse - January 17, 2002; NEW YORK, Jan 17 (AFP) - Human rights issues in Africa risk being overlooked by the international community now it is concentrated on fighting terrorism in the wake of the September 11 attacks, Human Rights Watch warned.
SAfrica-WBank-internet: South African Internet firm wins World Bank award: Agence France-Presse - January 16, 2002; CAPE TOWN, Jan 16 (AFP) - A South African Internet firm has won a World Bank training and marketing award in recognition of its innovative work providing online services for small and medium-sized manufacturers, the company said Wednesday.
Thailand-Malaysia: Thailand asks Malaysia for more time to mull pipeline project: Agence France-Presse - January 14, 2002; BANGKOK, Jan 14 (AFP) - Thailand has asked Malaysia for more time to consider whether to go ahead with building a controversial cross-border pipeline, Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said Monday.
SAfrica-politics: S. African alliance partners present unity after meeting: Agence France-Presse - January 12, 2002; JOHANNESBURG, Jan 12 (AFP) - South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) and its trades union alliance partner on Saturday presented a united front, following a first meeting to iron out differences over privatisation and AIDS policy between them.
Latvia-AIDS: Latvia's HIV infection rate increases 73 percent in 2001: Agence France-Presse - January 10, 2002; RIGA, Jan 10 (AFP) - The number of new HIV infections jumped by 73 percent in Latvia in 2001 from the previous year to 807, prompting an AIDS prevention official to call Thursday for the government to pay greater attention to the problem.
Zimbabwe-vote: Zimbabwe sets presidential elections for March 9-10: Agence France-Presse - January 9, 2002; HARARE, Jan 9 (AFP) - Zimbabwe, torn by bitter political violence for nearly two years, announced Wednesday it would hold presidential elections on March 9 and 10.
Japan-health-CJD: German brain implant firm seeks settlement of CJD suits in Japan: Agence France-Presse - January 9, 2002; TOKYO, Jan 9 (AFP) - The German supplier of contaminated human brain implants blamed for causing the fatal Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) in Japan, said Wednesday it was seeking a settlement of damage suits.
Malawi-SADC-Bono: Bono to attend southern African summit in Malawi: Agence France-Presse - January 8, 2002; BLANTYRE, Jan 8 (AFP) - U2's lead singer Bono will attend the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit next week in Blantyre, to lobby regional leaders to use debt relief to fight poverty and AIDS, Oxfam said in a statement Tuesday.
Canada-transplants: Canadians want Ottawa to hold-off on animal-to-human transplants: group: Agence France-Presse - January 7, 2002; TORONTO, Jan 7 (AFP) - After polling some 2,200 Canadians, a government-commissioned advisory group recommended Monday that Ottawa not allow human trials on transplanting live animal organs into humans until more is known about the risks.
Rwanda-AIDS-women: Two thirds of women raped in Rwanda are HIV positive: report: Agence France-Presse - January 7, 2002; KIGALI, Jan 7 (AFP) - Two thirds of the many thousands of women who were raped during the genocidal violence in Rwanda in 1994 are infected with the virus that causes AIDS, a pressure group representing female survivors said Monday.
Uganda-AIDS-marriage: Ugandan kingdom to restore rewards for brides who are virgins: Agence France-Presse - January 7, 2002; KAMPALA, Jan 7 (AFP) - In a bid to both return to tradition and reduce the incidence of AIDS, brides in the Ugandan kingdom of Buganda are to start receiving rewards if they are still virgins on their wedding day, local Health Minister Robert Ssebunya said Monday.
Health-AIDS: Gene clue to varying success of HIV treatment: Agence France-Presse - January 4, 2002; PARIS, Jan 4 (AFP) - Tiny differences in a gene that controls a key metabolising protein can cause enormous variations in the ability of HIV patients to respond to antiretroviral drugs, researchers reported Friday.
Health-transplants: Despite breakthrough, many questions remain for animal transplants: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - January 3, 2002; PARIS, Jan 3 (AFP) - Two teams of scientists say they have overcome a major hurdle to transplanting animal organs into humans, but other voices caution that the road to turning the dream into reality remains long and studded with challenge.

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