Discrimination and lack of medical support have led to alarming rise of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men in developing countries, a leading American AIDS research group said Tuesday.

The House of Representatives is considering a $34-billion measure for U.S. international assistance programs and other foreign affairs priorities. Known as the foreign operations bill, the measure contains money for a range of global priorities, from AIDS treatment and prevention, and assistance to Darfur to peacekeeping and democracy-building.

HIV-positive people who say religion is an important part of their lives are likely to have fewer sexual partners and engage in high-risk sexual behavior less frequently than other people with the virus that causes AIDS, according to a study issued today by the RAND Corporation.