As successful treatments prolong the lives of HIV positive individuals, researchers question whether they could be facing a "double hit to the immune system" from a combination of the disease and normal aging. The effects of HIV, even when adequately treated, combined with the decline of the immune system as people age, could be making those living with HIV more susceptible to non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

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First Lady Michelle Obama is leading the U.S. delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games and is accompanied by Olympic and Paralympic greats, including Brandi Chastain, Dominique Dawes, Gabriel Diaz de Leon, Grant Hill, and Summer Sanders. The First Lady is working to turn the inspiration of these athletes into action by getting more kids healthy and active as part of her "Let's Move!" initiative.

Our "Photo of the Week" comes to us from the U.S. Embassy in London, where the First Lady hosted an event this morning for about 1,000 American military children and American and British students at the U.S. Ambassador's residence. The students had the chance to meet David Beckham, Bart Conner, Nadia Comaneci, Teresa Edwards, Emily Hughes, Sarah Hughes, Shawn Johnson, Carl Lewis, ...

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This post is a follow up on a previous posting addressing mainly Algerian press reporting on supposed Qatari support for militant movements in northern Mali ('RE: Canard Enchaîné, Qatar in northern Mali and Algeria'). It particularly looks at the involvement of the Qatar Red Crescent in this context, which was taken by some observers as [...]

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This post is a follow up on a previous posting addressing mainly Algerian press reporting on supposed Qatari support for militant movements in northern Mali ('RE: Canard Enchaîné, Qatar in northern Mali and Algeria'). It particularly looks at the involvement of the Qatar Red Crescent in this context, which was taken by some observers as [...]

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Working on pictures from my last Uganda trip.

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A guest post by Niti Bhan

Getting There is not difficult as there are Kenya Airways flights and also Rwandair flights. Our experience with Kenya Airways was not the best however. Our flight (via Bujumbura, Burundi) was on time and comfortable but the luggage for ALL, but three, passengers was never loaded in Nairobi, (or so they told us). Though, we were traveling under the "Priority" luggage tag due to colleague's KLM frequent flyer card, the luggage arrived the following day, with the locks broken on the suitcases and the contents ransacked.

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I want to address the Syrian people, regardless of ethnicity, culture, community, or background. The crisis that you are facing has seized the attention of the entire world. We are profoundly aware of the sacrifices you are making in your revolution and your courageous acts to speak out in the face of lethal repression.

There are some who are uncertain of the future and fear retaliation because of the community to which they belong. All Syrians must recognize that accountability and transitional justice go hand in hand with reconciliation. Neither a community nor an ethnicity must be blamed for the actions of individuals in the regime. It must be clear that only individuals who committed crimes against humanity will be identified and held accountable for their abhorrent actions.

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Introducing the Morsi Meter Turkey and the  "Syria Cauldron" by Jeremy Salt Bassem Haddad's 50 Minutes with Manaf Tlass

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Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu appeared in Court today on the kidnap and theft charges before a stand in magistrate in Regional Court Tredgold Bulawayo. They were represented by a stand in lawyer who was not aware of the case details. The prosecutor Mr Katenaire initially agreed to a further month long remand but when [...]

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Protests at AIDS 2012 continued through the week, following the first organized demonstration on Sunday. Promoting topics ranging from "tax the rich" to "D.C. statehood now," protesters at the Tuesday "We Can End AIDS" demonstration converged at the White House, where 13 activists were arrested. The following day, a group of protesters promoting sex worker rights interrupted a special session on the role of the U.S. Congress in confronting AIDS that included five current or former members of Congress, three of whom were Republicans.

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This week will be remembered for the passing of Ghana's sitting president, John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills. He was a good man, and I will remember him fondly. His memories will live amongst us, everywhere. He really wanted a "Better Ghana". We should all want the same and contribute our quota to make it happen.

My favorite Accra station, CITI FM, shared top 10 quotes of Professor Mills. My favorite is from his acceptance speech from his induction on 7th January 2009. He had been elected fuelled by a campaign of change. He said "Change has also come to Ghana; let us embrace it and forge ahead together with a common sense of purpose. Let us all put our shoulders to the wheel and begin to build a Better Ghana. May God continue to bless our homeland Ghana and make her great and strong". This quote ...

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