International
AIDS Conference will break attendance records

Organizers of the 16th International AIDS Conference, scheduled for next month in Toronto, say they expect about 25,000 people to attend the event, setting a conference attendance record, reports the Toronto Star. Registrations are running so high that organizers say they may close the registration process early. As many as 10,000 more people are expected at the Toronto conference than attended the 2004 conference in Bangkok or the 2002 gathering in Barcelona.

"The conference expects to close registration early because response from our own country and around the world is so positive," Darryl Perry, executive director of the AIDS 2006 Toronto Local Host Secretariat, told the Star. "We fully expect this will be possibly the largest ever."

The conference, held at the Metro Toronto Conference Center, will host thousands of scientists, physicians, AIDS advocates, HIV patients, journalists, and volunteers. Bill Gates, cochair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will deliver the conference's keynote address. Former U.S. president Bill Clinton is also scheduled to attend. (The Advocate)