In acknowledgment
of World AIDS Day on Thursday, United Kingdom prime
minister Tony Blair released a statement that his government
will donate PS20 million ($48 million U.S.) to the
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and PS7.5
million ($13 million U.S.) to help develop HIV
microbicides. "The AIDS crisis represents a human tragedy
for the more than 40 million men, women, and children
suffering from the disease around the world," Blair
said. "As president of the G-8 and the [European
Union], the U.K. is showing leadership in the global fight
against AIDS through a strong commitment to increased
prevention and treatment." At July's G-8 summit of
rich industrialized nations in Scotland, the eight
heads of state pledged to work toward universal
antiretroviral therapy access by 2010. (AP)