Agence France-Presse - Table of Contents 'English'

2009

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

December

East Timor's ticking AIDS timebomb: Matt Crook; Agence France-Presse - December 31, 2009; DILI, Dec 31, 2009 (AFP) - The tiny nation of East Timor could face a deadly AIDS epidemic, with promiscuity among youths, low condom use and general ignorance leading to a sharp increase in reported cases, doctors said.
Malawi arrests newly-wed gays for 'gross indecency': Felix Mponda; Agence France-Presse - December 29, 2009; BLANTYRE, Dec 29, 2009 (AFP) - A gay couple was jailed for "gross indecency" in Malawi after the country's first same-sex public wedding ceremony over the weekend, as several African states were clamping down on homosexuality.
Researchers develop new hepatitis C treatment: Agence France-Presse - December 3, 2009; WASHINGTON, Dec 3, 2009 (AFP) - An experimental treatment targeting hepatitis C was able to inhibit replication of the virus in the bloodstream of chimpanzees and could treat chronic infections in humans, a new study said Thursday.
Red ribbons at the Elysee for World AIDS Day: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2009; PARIS, Dec 1, 2009 (AFP) - The Elysee presidential palace for the first time displayed two large red ribbons on its columns Tuesday to mark World AIDS Day, supporting a cause dear to first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
China warns gay transmission of AIDS gaining pace: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2009; BEIJING, Dec 1, 2009 (AFP) - China warned in a notice for Tuesday's World AIDS Day that homosexual transmission of the disease was gaining pace and called for health authorities nationwide to step up prevention work.

November

Washington to host international AIDS forum in 2012: Agence France-Presse - November 30, 2009; WASHINGTON, Nov 30, 2009 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Monday that the International AIDS Society will host its 2012 conference in Washington, as the Obama administration lifts a decades-old ban on HIV-positive visitors.

October

S.Africa HIV caseload stable, still too high: health minister: Agence France-Presse - October 5, 2009; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 5, 2009 (AFP) - The number of HIV positive pregnant women in South Africa has stabilised at 29 percent, but among expecting mothers in their early 30s the rate was still 40 percent, a government study said Monday.

September

HIV/AIDS treatment for poor grows tenfold in five years: UN: Agence France-Presse - September 30, 2009; GENEVA, Sept 30, 2009 (AFP) - More than four million people from poor and middle-income countries received HIV/AIDS treatment in 2008, marking a tenfold increase in access to medication over five years, a UN report said Wednesday.
AIDS breakthrough as vaccine cuts infections for first time: Rachel O'Brien; Agence France-Presse - September 24, 2009; BANGKOK, Sept 24, 2009 (AFP) - An experimental AIDS vaccine has for the first time cut the risk of infection in humans in what scientists Thursday called a "breakthrough" in the quarter-century fight against the epidemic.
S.Africa's swine flu toll rises to nearly 50 deaths: Agence France-Presse - September 15, 2009; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 15, 2009 (AFP) - Swine flu has now killed nearly 50 people in South Africa while 11,253 cases of the virus have been recorded, nearly double the figure of two weeks ago, health authorities said on Tuesday.
Hitler AIDS ad pulled from YouTube: Agence France-Presse - September 9, 2009; BERLIN, Sept 9, 2009 (AFP) - A German AIDS awareness advert showing an Adolf Hitler lookalike having sex was pulled from Internet video-sharing site YouTube on Wednesday.
Potential key to AIDS vaccine discovered: study: Agence France-Presse - September 3, 2009; CHICAGO, Sept 3, 2009 (AFP) - US researchers have discovered two powerful new antibodies which could hold the key to achieving a viable AIDS vaccine, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science.

August

Swine flu virus now most prevalent strain of flu: WHO: Agence France-Presse - August 28, 2009; GENEVA, Aug 28, 2009 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation said Friday that the swine flu virus has overtaken other viruses to become the most prevalent flu strain.
AIDS, violence burden health care in SAfrica: studies: Courtney Brooks; Agence France-Presse - August 25, 2009; JOHANNESBURG, Aug 25, 2009 (AFP) - A lack of leadership has left South Africa's health system burdened by rampant HIV, poor maternal and child health services, and violent crime, doctors said in The Lancet.
Scientists decode HIV genome structure: study: Agence France-Presse - August 6, 2009; PARIS, Aug 6, 2009 (AFP) - Scientists in the United States have decoded the overall structure of the HIV virus genome that causes AIDS in humans, according to a study published Thursday.

July

Hormones could explain why women progress faster to AIDS: Agence France-Presse - July 13, 2009; PARIS, July 13, 2009 (AFP) - Scientists in the United States said on Monday they could help explain why women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) advance faster to AIDS than men.
Indian court rules gay sex legal: Elizabeth Roche; Agence France-Presse - July 2, 2009; NEW DELHI, July 2, 2009 (AFP) - A top Indian court issued a landmark ruling Thursday that decriminalised gay sex between consenting adults by declaring a colonial-era ban on homosexuality unconstitutional.

June

Obama urges Americans get tested for HIV: Agence France-Presse - June 27, 2009; WASHINGTON, June 27, 2009 (AFP) - President Barack Obama on Saturday urged his fellow Americans to get tested for HIV in an effort to reduce transmission of the virus that causes AIDS.
One in four S African men admit to rape: study: Agence France-Presse - June 18, 2009; JOHANNESBURG, June 18, 2009 (AFP) - More than a quarter of South African men in a study released Thursday admitted to raping a woman or girl, with 9.8 percent forcing themselves on a victim for the first time before the age of 10.
AIDS stabilising in S.Africa as new cases drop among youth: study: Agence France-Presse - June 9, 2009; JOHANNESBURG, June 9, 2009 (AFP) - South Africa's AIDS epidemic, the worst in the world, appears to be stabilising with infections among children and teenagers declining, according to a new national study released Tuesday.

May

Botswana circumcision drive will prevent HIV infections: report: Agence France-Presse - May 28, 2009; GABORONE, May 28, 2009 (AFP) - The process of circumcising nearly half a million males in Botswana by 2012 will prevent almost 70,000 new HIV infections by 2025, a report published on Thursday said.
Swazi MP retracts statement to brand HIV-positive people: Agence France-Presse - May 28, 2009; JOHANNESBURG, May 28, 2009 (AFP) - A Swaziland MP who last week suggested that HIV positive people be branded on the buttocks Thursday distanced himself from the statement, saying he was misquoted by the media.
Cannes celebrity AIDS gig hit by crisis: Agence France-Presse - May 21, 2009; CANNES, France, May 21, 2009 (AFP) - A celebrity AIDS gala at Cannes headed this year by Sharon Stone and Bill Clinton saw funds raised plummet over 50 percent to 4.5 million dollars (3.23 million euros), organisers said Friday.
Cream with green tea extract hinders HIV transmission: study: Agence France-Presse - May 19, 2009; WASHINGTON, May 19, 2009 (AFP) - A chemical found in green tea helps inhibit sexual transmission of the virus which causes AIDS, said a study Tuesday that recommends using the compound in vaginal creams to supplement antiretrovirals.
Nearly 20,000 infected with HIV in Iran: report: Agence France-Presse - May 3, 2009; TEHRAN, May 3, 2009 (AFP) - At least 19,435 Iranians have been infected with the HIV virus, with more than 1,000 new cases recorded since December 2008, the ISNA news agency reported on Sunday, quoting the health ministry.

April

Obama taps HIV specialist to head AIDS fight: Agence France-Presse - April 27, 2009; WASHINGTON, April 27, 2009 (AFP) - President Barack Obama on Monday named as his global AIDS coordinator an HIV treatment specialist with 25 years experience fighting the disease and engaging policymakers over the scourge.
Vatican raps Belgian MPs over AIDS remarks: Agence France-Presse - April 17, 2009; VATICAN CITY, April 17, 2009 (AFP) - The Vatican criticised on Friday a Belgian parliamentary resolution that deemed "unacceptable" Pope Benedict XVI's suggestion that condoms are aggravating the spread of HIV-AIDS.
GSK, Pfizer pool HIV drugs businesses: Agence France-Presse - April 17, 2009; LONDON, April 17, 2009 (AFP) - GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer, two of the world's largest pharmaceutical groups, are planning to combine their HIV drugs businesses into a new company, GSK said Thursday.
AIDS drugs: New study backs early approach: Agence France-Presse - April 9, 2009; PARIS, April 9, 2009 (AFP) - Doctors on Thursday published evidence backing calls for treating HIV-infected patients before their immune system crashes below a commonly-recognised threshold of damage inflicted by the AIDS virus.
US, French first ladies to work together in AIDS fight: Agence France-Presse - April 3, 2009; STRASBOURG, April 3, 2009 (AFP) - The world's two best-known first ladies, Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, met for the first time Friday and agreed to work together to combat the scourge of AIDS.
Belgian vote on pope's condom remark surprises Vatican: Agence France-Presse - April 3, 2009; VATICAN CITY, April 3, 2009 (AFP) - The Vatican said Friday it was puzzled by a Belgian parliament move that could lead to a formal protest over Pope Benedict XVI's remarks against the use of condoms.
New antibiotic clears hurdle in TB treatment: Agence France-Presse - April 3, 2009; PARIS, April 3, 2009 (AFP) - A new antibiotic has passed a key phase in a test of drugs aimed at shortening the time to cure tuberculosis, offering a potential boon in the fight against TB, according to a study reported in The Lancet on Saturday.

March

AIDS threatens African governments: study: Agence France-Presse - March 17, 2009; CAPE TOWN, March 17, 2009 (AFP) - AIDS is killing so many politicians in southern Africa that their deaths are threatening the ability of governments to function properly, a researcher said Tuesday.
Global fund against AIDS needs four billion dollars: director: Agence France-Presse - March 16, 2009; MADRID, March 16, 2009 (AFP) - A major international fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria needs four billion dollars to cover its budget needs until 2010, the executive director of the Global Fund said Monday.
AIDS: Microbicide gel 'highly encouraging' in lab tests: Agence France-Presse - March 4, 2009; PARIS, March 4, 2009 (AFP) - The dogged search for a vaginal gel to thwart the AIDS virus earned some good news on Wednesday as scientists announced that a cheap, commonly-used compound shielded monkeys from a lethal cousin of HIV.
HIV-positive numbers among above 50s 'surprisingly high': WHO: Agence France-Presse - March 3, 2009; GENEVA, March 3, 2009 (AFP) - The rate of HIV infection is "surprisingly high" among people aged over 50 years, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, warning that cases among older people may be growing worldwide.

February

Gates Foundation gives 100mln for anti-HIV gels: Agence France-Presse - February 24, 2009; WASHINGTON, Feb 24, 2009 (AFP) - A foundation backed by Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates has donated 100 million dollars to research into vaginal gels and other products which could help dramatically cut HIV infection rates.
British tainted blood inquiry attacks 'delays': Agence France-Presse - February 23, 2009; LONDON, Feb 23, 2009 (AFP) - An inquiry into a contaminated blood scandal in Britain which caused the death of around 2,000 people criticised Monday "procrastination" by government and officials over the affair.
HIV rises among pregnant Swazis: Agence France-Presse - February 23, 2009; MBABANE, Feb 23, 2009 (AFP) - Swaziland's already stark AIDS crisis appears to have worsened, as new government data Monday showed an increase in HIV infections among pregnant women.
Rising AIDS threat for Asian homosexual men: WHO: Agence France-Presse - February 17, 2009; HONG KONG, Feb 17, 2009 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned Tuesday that a sharp rise in HIV/AIDS infections was looming among Asia's homosexual men unless they were given better access to health services.
AIDS: 'Major advance' seen in revolutionary gene therapy: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - February 15, 2009; PARIS, Feb 15, 2009 (AFP) - The world's largest experiment using gene therapy to combat the AIDS virus has yielded "a major advance," demonstrating that the technique is both beneficial and safe, scientists said on Sunday.
Gum disease feared to trigger full-blown AIDS: Japan study: Agence France-Presse - February 12, 2009; TOKYO, Feb 12, 2009 (AFP) - An acid produced in the mouth due to gum disease invigorates the virus that can lead to full-blown AIDS, a Japanese researcher said Thursday, billing the finding as a world first.
Cancer rates soaring in developing countries: Agence France-Presse - February 2, 2009; PARIS, Feb 2, 2009 (AFP) - Cancer now kills more people in developing countries each year than AIDS, tuberculosis or malaria, health experts said here on Monday.

January

AIDS fund chief appeals for US leadership: Agence France-Presse - January 29, 2009; GENEVA, Jan 29, 2009 (AFP) - The head of the global fund against AIDS and other diseases in poor countries on Thursday urged the Obama administration to take the lead in overcoming a multi-billion dollar funding gap despite the economic crisis.
Obama order ends 'unwarranted' restrictions on abortion: Agence France-Presse - January 23, 2009; WASHINGTON, Jan 23, 2009 (AFP) - President Barack Obama said the eight-year ban he lifted Friday on US funding to family planning groups abroad that counseled abortion was "unnecessarily broad and unwarranted" and had become too politicized an issue.
Microbicide can help avoid herpes infection: study: Agence France-Presse - January 22, 2009; WASHINGTON, Jan 22, 2009 (AFP) - A new external vaginal treatment works to protect against genital herpes infection for as long as a week, a new study has found.
Iran doctors jailed over US plot: lawyer: Agence France-Presse - January 21, 2009; TEHRAN, Jan 21, 2009 (AFP) - Iran has given jail terms of six years and three years respectively to two doctors convicted of a US-backed plot to overthrow the Islamic republic, their lawyer told AFP on Wednesday.
Iran says AIDS doctors among US-backed plotters: Agence France-Presse - January 19, 2009; TEHRAN, Jan 19, 2009 (AFP) - Iran said on Monday that two doctors jailed since June were among a group convicted of a US-backed plot to overthrow the Islamic republic by creating social upheaval, Fars news agency reported.
Australian man jailed for trying to infect people with HIV: Agence France-Presse - January 16, 2009; SYDNEY, Jan 16, 2009 (AFP) - An HIV-positive Australian man who deliberately tried to infect unsuspecting gay partners with the virus was jailed for more than 18 years Friday.
Senegal: tougher jail terms signal rise of homophobia: Julie Vandal; Agence France-Presse - January 16, 2009; DAKAR, Jan 16, 2009 (AFP) - The young Senegalese homosexual said he lives "with fear in the pit of my stomach," after he was thrown into jail for three months on charges of performing "unnatural acts".
UNAIDS deplores Senegal's jailing of gay men: Agence France-Presse - January 15, 2009; GENEVA, Jan 15, 2009 (AFP) - UNAIDS on Thursday criticised Senegal for jailing nine gay men, saying that homophobic acts would not help efforts to prevent HIV infection in the west African country.
EU urges United States to drop HIV reference in travel data: Agence France-Presse - January 13, 2009; BRUSSELS, Jan 13, 2009 (AFP) - The European Commission called Tuesday on the United States to drop a requirement that transatlantic air passengers inform US authorities whether they have the virus that causes AIDS.
Fighting AIDS was bright spot of Bush presidency: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - January 13, 2009; PARIS, Jan 13, 2009 (AFP) - Much of President George W. Bush's legacy may come under withering fire but in one area at least, it will be viewed positively: his contribution to fighting AIDS.
Rice highlights US success against AIDS worldwide: Agence France-Presse - January 12, 2009; WASHINGTON, Jan 12, 2009 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday that millions of people worldwide have derived hope from outgoing President George W. Bush's administration's program to fight AIDS.
Immune system: 'Natural killers' have a memory too: Agence France-Presse - January 11, 2009; PARIS, Jan 11, 2009 (AFP) - US scientists have discovered that a component of the immune system that was previously deemed a blunt weapon against microbes turns out to be rather sophisticated with a memory of past invaders.
Senegal jails gays for eight years: Agence France-Presse - January 7, 2009; DAKAR, Jan 7, 2009 (AFP) - Nine gay men were each jailed for eight years by a court in Senegal, the highest such sentence in a country where homosexuality is outlawed, their lawyer and gay rights groups said Wednesday.
Woman burnt alive in PNG in possible witchcraft case: reports: Agence France-Presse - January 7, 2009; PORT MORESBY, Jan 7, 2009 (AFP) - A young woman was stripped naked and burnt alive at the stake in Papua New Guinea, possibly because she was accused of being a witch, newspapers reported Wednesday.

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