Agence France-Presse - Table of Contents 'English'

2000

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December

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

November

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

October

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

September

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