Muslim clerics from 25 African countries failed to reach agreement on the use of condoms in preventing HIV and AIDS at a recent meeting in Zanzibar - writes Frank Jomo for Ecumenical News International

Church leaders in India, aware that Christian institutions are responsible for running many of the country's medical facilities, are deeply concerned that the world's second-most populous nation now has the most people with HIV and AIDS - writes Anto Akkara for Ecumenical News International.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has warned of the alarming impact of the AID-HIV pandemic and its actual and potential impact on women and young people, especially.

Yesterday (1 December 2006) British Prime Minister Tony Blair, an Anglican widely canvassed as a possible Catholic convert when he leaves office, risked the wrath of Roman Catholic leaders by saying that religious groups need to face the reality of HIV and AIDS in their teaching and practices regarding the use of condoms.

Churches should use their influence and their Gospel message as tools to help reduce the appalling stigma attached to living with HIV in many parts of the world, a leading church HIV activist told UK-based development agency Christian Aid this week.

A not-for-profit, Christian-owned pharmaceutical factory in India has started to produce low-cost AIDS treatment drugs for the large and growing number of HIV positive people living in the world's second most populous country.

The Catholic Church in India has announced a new HIV/AIDS policy whose aims include combating prejudice and promoting access to health treatment for people affected by the disease.

At least 19 faith-based organizations are among the 160 initial signers of a new Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS.

In a message for World AIDS Day, Javier Cardinal Lozano Barrag·n, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care has called for a reduction of the price of anti-viral drugs and medicines that are needed to treat HIV/AIDS patients.