Kicking of the action will be live coverage of Nelson Mandela's Aids benefit concert 46664 on 30 November. The concert will be shown in a special two-hour programme block of Inside Africa and The Music Room. As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com the show will see appearances by major international artists including U2's Bono, Beyonce and The Corrs.

Then from Monday CNN’s Asia correspondents will file a series of special reports examining how countries in the region are coping with the Aids epidemic. These reports will be aired throughout the week on the network’s programme News Biz Today. They will document the rapid spread of Aids in Vietnam and Indonesia, and efforts needed to arrest spiraling rates of infection.

The specials will also examine the scenario for orphans who are the innocent victims of China’s Aids crisis; a first-hand look at how Thailand is tackling the epidemic at the community level, and sharing that experience with other countries. As far as India is concerned the broadcaster will look at the part we are playing in making low-cost drugs more readily available to Aids sufferers. Studio guests with expertise in Aids research and the global campaign against the disease will also appear during the week.