Sub-Sahara Africa leads global decline in new HIV cases

Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are leading a global decline in new HIV infections, the UN has said.

UNAids said 22 countries in the world's worst affected region had seen a drop in new cases of more than 25%.
The fall was because of greater awareness and better use of preventative measures, it said.

But UNAids also noted that cases of HIV were increasing in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and among gay men in developed countries.

Michel Sidibe, UNAids executive director, said the world was making "real progress" towards achieving the sixth Millennium Development Goal (MDG6) of halting and reversing the spread of HIV/Aids by 2015.

"For the first time change is happening at the heart of the epidemic. In places where HIV was stealing away dreams, we now have hope," he said.

UNAids says there are now 5.2 million people worldwide receiving treatment for HIV/Aids, which has helped to ensure that 200,000 fewer people died from the virus in 2008 than in 2004.

The agency said young people "are leading the prevention revolution by choosing to have sex later, having fewer multiple partners and using condoms, resulting in significantly fewer new HIV infections in many countries highly affected by Aids".

The use of male condoms has also doubled in the past five years, while the report notes that "tradition is giving space to pragmatism" in many communities as they embrace male circumcision, which research shows has the potential to reduce HIV infections among men by nearly 60%.

'Challenges remain'
China, where cases are largely concentrated within high-risk groups, was praised for its efforts to increase preventative measures for drug users.

UNAids said South Africa had also rapidly increased "efforts to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support".
But there was a warning that "challenges remain" in the global fight against HIV/Aids, including expanding epidemics in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and resurgence in new infections in wealthier nations among men who have sex with men.

The UN also called for greater investment in HIV/Aids prevention, warning that there was a $10bn (£6.4bn) shortfall in 2009.

It said those countries most severely affected by HIV/Aids could not handle the crisis with their own resources alone.

"At this turning point flat-lining or reductions in investments will set-back the Aids response and threaten the world's ability to reach MDG 6," said Mr Sidibe.

"Investing for Aids is a shared responsibility - between development partners and national governments."

BBC News

BERLUSCONI JOKES ABOUT HITLER AT YOUTH RALLY (Italy)

Faced with a tottering economy and a crumbling coalition government, Silvio Berlusconi has chosen to woo a  youth rally with jokes about Adolf Hitler and his own sexual prowess. Appearing relaxed, if a little pale, before a crowd of cheering supporters yesterday, the frequently outspoken and gaffe-prone Italian prime minister promised to see out the end of his term, despite losing his guaranteed majority after a split with an ally, Gianfranco Fini. Putting politics aside, he then launched into a series of anecdotes and apparent jokes that promptly drew accusations of anti-Semitism and even mental instability from opposition politicians. The former cruise ship entertainer told a joke in which Adolf Hitler is begged by his supporters to return to power after they discover he is still alive. After resisting, Hitler says: "I'll come back, but on one condition ... next time I'm going to be evil." Fabio Evangelisti, a member of parliament for the opposition Italy of Values party, demanded Berlusconi apologise to Israel and the Italian Jewish community. The party's leader, Antonio Di Pietro, said: "At this point the problem is not political or judicial, but psychiatric." Turning his attention to the economy, Berlusconi jokingly advised young Italians to marry into money, adding: "I have a daughter who is free to marry." Now separated from his wife following the scandal over his friendship with the teenage model Noemi Letizia, Berlusconi said he was also an eligible candidate for four reasons: "I am friendly, I have money, legend has it I know how to do 'it', and lastly because girls think: 'He's old and rich, he will die soon and I will inherit everything.'" The poor performance over the weekend of AC Milan, the football club he controls, was down to a leftwing referee disallowing goals, Berlusconi joked.

The impromptu speech followed a visit to Russia on Friday, where he surprised the audience at a conference on democracy with a fierce attack on Italian magistrates he claims are hounding him. He said of Vladimir Putin: "I have never had any doubts that he is anything less than democratically minded." Putin and Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, Berlusconi added, were "a gift from God" to Russia. Last month, Berlusconi took time to defend Muammar Gaddafi after the Libyan leader told an invited audience of 200 women in Rome that Islam should be "Europe's religion". When the speech prompted outcry from the Vatican, Berlusconi dismissed Gaddafi's behaviour as merely "folkloric". Berlusconi, 73, has previously been criticised for calling Barack Obama "young, handsome and tanned", and last year for leaving Angela Merkel waiting to greet him at a conference while he made a call on his mobile phone. Despite the criticism today, Berlusconi claimed he was "a respected statesman who is praised at international summits for his background as a tycoon, his 16 years of political experience and the content of his proposals." He said he had learned from Margaret Thatcher not to waste time reading negative coverage of himself in newspapers. The former British prime minister, he said, had told him that her press secretary only showed her positive articles about her.

Reign of error: Berlusconi's gaffes in office

• April 2009: Shortly after an earthquake hit the city of L'Aquila, Berlusconi told the 17,000 Italians made homeless by the quake that, "they should see it like a weekend of camping"

• January 2009: Dismissed the idea that increasing the number of troops on Italian streets would help stop a surge in rape cases arguing that, "we would need as many soldiers as there are beautiful girls in Italy – which we will never manage"

• November 2008: At a news conference in Moscow with the Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, Berlusconi described Barack Obama as "young, handsome, and tanned"

• April 2008: Berlusconi caused outrage after saying "Zapatero [Spain's prime minister] has formed a government that is too pink, something that we cannot do in Italy because there is a prevalence of men in politics and it isn't easy to find women who are qualified ... He will have problems leading them"

• April 2006: On welcoming the then newly elected female MP Mara Carfagna to parliament he joked: "I am obliged to remind you of a rule in the Forza Italia group, the jus primae noctis" (a Latin reference to the medieval "law of the first night" which gave the lord of an estate the right to "deflower" new brides)

• June 2005: He claimed he had "brushed up" all his "playboy skills" to persuade Finland's president, Tarja Halonen, to agree to host the European Food Safety Authority in Italy

• July 2003: Berlusconi caused uproar at the European parliament after replying to a heckling German MEP with the comment, "Mr Schulz, I know there is in Italy a man producing a film on the Nazi concentration camps. I would like to suggest you for the role of leader. You'd be perfect"

The Guardian

Have e-mail say on protest by English Defence League

People are being asked how they feel about a protest in Leicester by the controversial English Defence League.

Leicester City Council and city police have created an e-mail address for people to have their say on the protest, which is expected to take place on Saturday, October 9.

The league, which says it is opposed to Islamic extremism, has yet to declare what kind of demonstration it wants to stage – it could be a march through the city or a static protest at a fixed location.

Rival groups have said they will hold a counter-demonstration at the same time.

Critics say league protests invariably turn violent and senior officers are now planning for the event on the understanding that up to 3,000 activists and a similar number of counter-demonstrators could take part.

The Leicester Mercury understands at least 1,000 police officers – including some drafted in from up to 10 other forces – will be on duty on the day.

Sheila Lock, chief executive of the city council, said the authority was seeking the views of a broad spectrum of people.

The results of the consultation will guide the council, which has stressed it is not a vote on whether the protest will go ahead or not.

Council officials and senior police officers are also holding a series of meetings with community leaders.

Ms Lock said: "It is important that everyone has the opportunity to have their say.

"I understand some people may not want to come forward directly and we realise we won't be able to meet with everyone face-to-face.

"To ensure that we capture the views of as many people as possible, we have set up an e-mail address and would encourage people to use it."

If the group wishes to march through the city, it must formally apply for permission at least six days beforehand.

The city council and police could apply to the Home Office for permission to ban a march if there is evidence of a serious risk to public order.

Static demonstrations cannot be outlawed, but controls can be imposed.

Chief Superintendent Rob Nixon, who is in charge of policing in the city, said: "Representatives from both Leicestershire Constabulary and Leicester City Council are out and about in the community talking to people and listening to their views."

The Leicestershire Federation of Muslim Organisations, which represents mosques and other community groups, is holding meetings about the protest. Discussions will continue next week.

To take part in the consultation, e-mail: consultationedl@leicester.gov.uk, or write to Chief Executive Sheila Lock, Leicester City Council, New Walk Centre, Welford Place, Leicester, LE1 6ZG.

This is Leicester

Police chief suspended over racist e-mails (USA)

A South Florida police chief has been suspended for 30 days without pay for reportedly sending racist e-mails with his work account.

Wilton Manors city officials announced the suspension of Police Chief Richard Perez on Friday. The suspension will begin Monday.

According to a statement from the city, Perez acknowledged sending the e-mails and apologized for his actions.

City Manager Joseph Gallegos says the suspension is the most severe punishment the city can hand out, short of firing.

Miami Herald

Provost accused of racism reported to standards watchdog (Scotland)

A council leader accused of making a racist remark is to be reported to a standards watchdog amid calls for him to quit.

Laurie Fraser, provost of Nairn, made the remark when objecting to a bid to turn Nairn County FC social club into a sports bar.

Claiming it would increase noise and would not be an asset, he told a Highland Council planning committee that some of the 150 letters sent in support were by former social club members. He then added: "One or two of them are actually Muslim."

He was immediately interrupted and told to sit down by Jimmy Gray, the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey committee chairman and provost of Inverness, although Mr Fraser later apologised.

Mr Gray said afterwards that although Mr Fraser was not a member of the committee he was allowed to comment as a local councillor but was not allowed to vote.

He said: "I asked him to sit down because he never added anything to the discussion and his comment was inappropriate. I don't know why he said it but he apologised and the committee accepted it."

Mr Fraser, an Independent councillor, has also sent a letter of apology to the council's chief executive.
He said: "I flipped and lost my temper because I wasn't given a vote as a local member."

Highland Council, which showed the meeting on its website but has since withdrawn the webcast, confirmed it had received two complaints.

John Finnie, the SNP opposition leader, has complained to Sandy Park, the council convener, and is to write to the Standards Commission calling for an investigation.

Mr Finnie, who is a former member of Grampian Racial Equality Council, said: "I was shocked Councillor Fraser, an elected representative of our multicultural Highlands, would think it appropriate to comment in the offensive way he did."

Scotsman