Returned to the Motherland yesterday after 19 days abroad, which, it occurs to me, is the longest period I’ve been out of country in years. So reliable internet access is mine once more, hence the photo above, which I’ve only just had the chance to upload to Flickr — more coming soon!

On the way back from India we spent just over a day in London, where we saw The History Boys at Wyndham’s Theatre (I’m ashamed to say I was so bitterly jetlagged I slept through parts of it — sorry, Nikipedia!) and attended the Christmas party of our gracious hosts Karen and Andy. The London fog delayed our departure by only a couple of hours, and our last ever flight on BWIA was memorably smooth and ended with our getting a upgrade to First Class between Barbados and Trinidad and some heartfelt parting words from captain and crew.

It’s Christmas Eve, and I have 19 days’ worth of laundry to do and presents to wrap and deliver, but hope to have some time very soon to reflect in these pages on the tremendousness of the Global Voices Summit and India travel.

In the meantime, here’s to a Christmas season filled with peace, love and joy!

I’ve been seriously on vacation since December 4, in India, to be exact, ahead of the 2006 Global Voices Summit in New Delhi. Great internet access hasn’t been presenting itself, and to be honest, I’ve been savouring the time offline. I’m in Jaipur at the moment, checking e-mail in the internet room at the lovely Diggi Palace Hotel (highly recommended! The only place I’ve ever stayed where the rooms look better live than in the photos on the web site), and I learn that CFR is a finalist in the 2006 Weblog Awards in the Best Latino, Caribbean, or South American blog category!

I was aware CFR had been nominated — and many, many thanks to whoever is responsible for having done this — but I had no idea that I’d reach this far, especially given the competition I’m up against. So, if you feel so inclined, please check in and vote. Polls close at 11:59 PM (US - Eastern) December 15, 2006 (which, in case you were wondering, is the day after my birthday. And just so you know, apparently you can vote once every 24 hours.) Thanks in advance!

In return I’ll try and find a wi-fi connection when I get back to Delhi and upload my India photos to Flickr, and maybe even blog a bit about my travels.

Another earthquake….

Not terribly strong, but unnerving all the same.

People living with HIV

• 39.5 million people worldwide
• 37 million adults
• 17.7 million women
• 2.3 million children under 15

New HIV cases in 2006

• 4.3 million total new cases
• 3.8 million adults
• 530,000 children under 15

AIDS deaths in 2006

• 2.9 million total deaths
• 2.6 million adults
• 380,000 children under 15

HIV by Region 2006

Sub-Saharan Africa

• 24.7 million adults and children living with HIV
• 13.3 million women living with HIV
• 2.8 million adults and children newly infected with HIV
• 5.9% adult prevalence
• 2.1 million adult and child deaths due to AIDS

South and South-East Asia

• 7.8 million adults and children living with HIV
• 2.2 million women living with HIV
• 860,000 million adults and children newly infected with HIV
• 0.6% adult prevalence
• 590,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

East Asia

• 750,000 adults and children living with HIV
• 210,000 women living with HIV
• 100,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV
• 0.1% adult prevalence
• 43,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

Eastern Europe and Central Asia

• 1.7 million adults and children living with HIV
• 510,000 women living with HIV
• 270,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV
• 0.9% adult prevalence
• 84,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

Caribbean

• 250,000 adults and children living with HIV
• 120,000 women living with HIV
• 27,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV
• 1.2% adult prevalence
• 19,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

Latin America

• 1.7 million adults and children living with HIV
• 510,000 women living with HIV
• 140,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV
• 0.5% adult prevalence
• 65,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

North America

• 1.4 million adults and children living with HIV
• 350,000 women living with HIV
• 43,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV
• 0.8% adult prevalence
• 18,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

Western and Central Europe

• 740,000 adults and children living with HIV
• 210,000 women living with HIV
• 22,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV
• 0.3% adult prevalence
• 12,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

Middle East and North Africa

• 460,000 adults and children living with HIV
• 200,000 women living with HIV
• 68,000 adults and children newly infected
• 0.2% adult prevalence
• 36,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

Oceania

• 81,000 adults and children living with HIV
• 36,000 women living with HIV
• 7,100 adults and children newly infected with HIV
• 0.4% adult prevalence
• 4,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

All figures from UNAIDS AIDS Epidemic Update 2006