Top Stories
South Africa’s HIV/Aids patients worry about treatment
BBC News, Johannesburg
ReutersGugu used to collect her antiretrovirals from a USAID-funded clinic in downtown Johannesburg.
But when President Trump’s cuts to aid funding were announced earlier this year, she and thousands of other HIV-positive patients across South Africa suddenly faced an uncertain future.
Gugu was lucky, the clinic where she got the medication that helps suppress her symptoms contacted her before it closed down.
“I was one of the people who was able to get their medication in bulk. I usually collect a three-month prescription. But before my clinic closed, they gave me nine months’ worth of medication.”
She will run out of antiretrovirals (ARVs) in September, and then plans on going to her local public hospital for more.
A former sex worker, the 54-year-old found out she was HIV-positive after she’d quit the industry.
Ten years ago she got a chesty cough, and initially thought it was tuberculosis. She went to a doctor who told her she had a chest infection and treated her for it.
But when the treatment failed, she went to a clinic to get an HIV test.
“By then I already assumed that I was HIV-positive, and I told the nurse this.”
She was right, and she has been on ARVs ever since. We’re not using her real name at her request.
She currently works as a project coordinator for an NGO.
“We help pregnant sex workers get their ARVs, to ensure their children are born HIV-negative. We also do home visits to make sure that the mothers take their medication on time, and to look after their babies when they go for their monthly check-ups.”
Many HIV-positive sex workers in South Africa relied on private clinics funded by the US government’s now-defunct aid agency, USAID, to get their prescriptions and treatments.
But most of the facilities closed after US President Donald Trump cut most foreign aid earlier this year.
In a report due to be released on Thursday, the UN body in charge of fighting HIV/Aids does not single out the US, but says that drastic cuts from a number of donors have sent shockwaves around the world, and the “phenomenal progress” in tackling the illness risks being reversed.
“New HIV infections have been reduced by 40% since 2010, and 4.4 million children have been protected from acquiring HIV since 2000. More than 26 million lives have been saved,” UNAIDS says, warning that if the world does not act, there could be an extra six million new HIV infections and four million Aids-related deaths by 2029.
Gugu believes that many sex workers could be discouraged from going to public hospitals for their HRVs..
“The problem with going to public hospitals is the time factor. In order to get serviced at these facilities, you have to arrive at 4 or 5am, and they may spend the whole day waiting for their medication. For sex workers, time is money,” Gugu says.
She adds that she recently went to her local clinic with some friends to register her details and build a relationship with staff.
“The nurse who attended to us was very rude. She told us there was nothing special about sex workers.”
She thinks this could lead to many sex workers defaulting on their medication, “especially because their hospital files contain a lot of personal information, and the concern is that sometimes the nurses at these local clinics aren’t always the most sensitive in dealing with this kind of information.”
According to the UN, the US cuts to HIV funding could reverse some of the gains made by what has been called one of the most successful public health interventions in history.
Scientists in the UK-based Lancet medical journal last month estimated that USAID funding directly reduced Aids deaths by 65%, or 25.5 million, over the past two decades.
Getty ImagesThen-US President George W Bush launched an ambitious programme to combat HIV/Aids in 2003, saying it would serve the “strategic and moral interests” of the US.
Known as the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), it led to the investment of more than $100bn (£74bn) in the global HIV/Aids response – the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease in the world.
South Africa has about 7.7 million people living with HIV, the highest number in the world, according to UNAIDS.
About 5.9 million of them receive antiretroviral treatment, resulting in a 66% decrease in Aids-related deaths since 2010, the UN agency adds.
South Africa’s government says Pepfar funding contributed about 17% to its HIV/Aids programme. The money was used for various projects, including running mobile clinics to make it easier for patients to get treatment.
The Trump administration’s cuts have raised concern that infection rates could spike again.
“I think we’re going to start seeing an increase in the number of HIV infections, the number of TB cases, the number of other infectious diseases,” Prof Lynn Morris, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Johannesburg’s Wits University, tells the BBC.
“And we’re going to start seeing a reversal of what was essentially a real success story. We were getting on top of some of these things.”
Gugu points out that treatment is a matter of life and death, especially for vulnerable populations like sex workers.
“People don’t want to default on their ARVs. They’re scared that they’re going to die if they don’t get access to them.
The cuts have also affected research aimed at finding an HIV vaccine and a cure for Aids.
“There’s the long-term impact, which is that we’re not going to be getting new vaccines for HIV,” Prof Morris adds.
“We’re not going to be keeping on top of viruses that are circulating. Even with new viruses that might appear, we’re not going to have the surveillance infrastructure that we once had.”
South Africa has been one of the global leaders in HIV research. Many of the medications that help prevent the virus, and which have benefitted people around the world, were trialled in South Africa.
This includes Prep (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a medication which stops HIV-negative people from catching the virus.
Another breakthrough preventive drug released this year, Lenacapavir, an injection taken twice a year and that offers total protection from HIV, was also tried in South Africa.
In a lab at Wits University’s Health Sciences campus, a small group of scientists are still working on a vaccine for HIV.
They are part of the Brilliant Consortium, a group of labs working across eight African countries to develop a vaccine for the virus.
“We were developing a vaccine test to see how well that works, and then we would trial it on humans,” Abdullah Ely, an Associate Professor at Wits University, tells the BBC in his lab.
“The plan was to run the trials in Africa based on research carried out by Africans because we want that research to actually benefit our community as well as all mankind.”
But the US funding cuts threw their work into doubt.
“When the stop order came, it meant we had to stop everything. Only some of us have been able to get additional funding so we could continue our work. It’s set us back months, probably could even be a year,” Prof Ely says.
The lab lacks funding to carry out clinical trials scheduled for later this year.
“That is a very big loss to South Africa and the continent. It means that any potential research that comes out of Africa will have to be tested in Europe, or the US,” Prof Ely says.
In June, universities asked the government for a bailout of 4.6bn South African rand ($260m; £190m) over the next three years to cover some of the funding lost from the US.
“We are pleading for support because South Africa is leading in HIV research, but it’s not leading for itself. This has ramifications on the practice and policies of the entire globe,” says Dr Phethiwe Matutu, head of Universities South Africa.
South Africa’s Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced on Wednesday that some alternative funding for research had been secured.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust have agreed to donate 1m rand each with immediate effect, while the government would make available 400m rand over the next three years, he said.
This would bring the total to 600m rand, way below the 4.6bn rand requested by researchers.
As for Gugu, she had hoped that by the time she was elderly, a cure for HIV/Aids would have been found, but she is less optimistic now.
“I look after a nine-year-old. I want to live as long as I can to keep taking care of him,” she tells the BBC.
“This isn’t just a problem for right now, we have to think about how it’s going to affect the next generation of women and young people.”
You may also be interested in:
Getty Images/BBC
Top Stories
Barbra Streisand among stars to pay tribute to Robert Redford: ‘One of the finest actors ever’ | Robert Redford
Barbra Streisand has paid tribute to Robert Redford, calling him “one of the finest actors ever”.
The entertainer shared a statement after her co-star in The Way We Were died at the age of 89 on Tuesday. His publicist wrote that he died “at Sundance in the mountains of Utah – the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved”.
On Instagram, Streisand reminisced about their time together while making the 1973 hit.
“Every day on the set of The Way We Were was exciting, intense and pure joy,” she wrote. “We were such opposites: he was from the world of horses; I was allergic to them! Yet, we kept trying to find out more about each other, just like the characters in the movie. Bob was charismatic, intelligent, intense, always interesting— and one of the finest actors ever. The last time I saw him, when he came to lunch, we discussed art and decided to send each other our first drawings. He was one of a kind and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.”
Romantic drama The Way We Were was a critical and commercial hit with Streisand’s theme song also becoming a chart hit and receiving an Oscar nomination.
Streisand’s tribute joins a long list from Hollywood and beyond after Redford’s death. Meryl Streep, who starred with him in Out of Africa and Lions for Lambs, wrote: “One of the lions has passed. Rest in peace my lovely friend.”
Jane Fonda, who starred with him in four movies including Barefoot in the Park, said in a statement: “It hit me hard this morning when I read that Bob was gone. I can’t stop crying. He meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way. He stood for an America we have to keep fighting for.”
“Bob was a unique artist, in front of and behind the camera … and he gave the world of American cinema something irreplaceable and lasting with Sundance,” said film-maker Martin Scorsese, who Redford directed in his film Quiz Show. “It saddens me to know that I won’t be seeing him again. And I’ll never forget my time with him.”
Ethan Hawke remembered him as “our ultimate champion of independent film, relentless advocate for authentic storytelling and fiercely passionate environmentalist”, while Leonardo DiCaprio told Associated Press that Redford’s death was “a huge loss”.
“Not only was he an incredible actor — we all know his work — but his ability, as a director too, films like Quiz Show,” he said. “He was one of the first guys to do political thrillers – Three Days of the Condor, All the President’s Men … he paved the way for films like this but more so than anything, he was a staunch environmental leader and was a member of the NRDC, like me, and fought for Indigenous rights — the list goes on and on. We lost a legend today.”
Morgan Freeman wrote on Instagram: “There are certain people you know that you’re going to click with. After working with Robert Redford on Brubaker in 1980, we instantly became friends. Working with him again in An Unfinished Life was a dream come true. Rest peacefully, my friend.”
Journalist Bob Woodward, who Redford played in All the President’s Men, wrote on Instagram, “He will be remembered as one of the greatest storytellers in our country’s history. He elevated stories beyond mainstream. He not only cared about the environment, but he took all conceivable actions to protect it.”
Samuel L Jackson wrote on Instagram: “It was a dream come true to work on screen with Mr Redford. Sometimes your heroes don’t disappoint and truly are as great as you imagined.”
Hillary Clinton shared a picture of her with Redford, writing: “He championed progressive values like protecting the environment and access to the arts while creating opportunities for new generations of activists and filmmakers. A true American icon.”
Scarlett Johansson, who starred in The Horse Whisperer, a drama directed by and starring Redford looked back on their time together. “He was patient and warm and kind,” she said. “Bob taught me what acting could be, and it was from his generosity and patience that I was inspired to pursue the possibilities of the craft. That same generosity and love of the art inspired Bob’s creation of Sundance, a place where film-makers learn from one another, inspire one another, and discover one another’s talent. Bob, thank you for your belief in me and for your grace and guidance.”
He was also described by Ron Howard as an “artistic game changer”.
Redford was known for his many films as an actor, including The Sting, All the President’s Men and Spy Game, but also played a key role in the Sundance film festival, with many seeing him as a pioneer of US independent cinema.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our founder and friend Robert Redford,” a Sundance statement read. “Bob’s vision of a space and a platform for independent voices launched a movement that, over four decades later, has inspired generations of artists and redefined cinema in the US and around the world.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Cal Raleigh broke Mickey Mantle’s record for homers by a switch-hitter and tied the Mariners record set by Ken Griffey Jr. when the Seattle star hit his 55th and 56th of the season in consecutive at-bats against the Royals on Tuesday night.
Raleigh doubled in his first at-bat on a hot, humid night in Kansas City. He came up again in the third inning and, batting left-handed against Michael Wacha, fouled off a changeup and took a sinker for a ball before Raleigh sent a hanging curveball 419 feet over the right-field fence for his 55th home run of the season.
That broke the switch-hitter mark set by the Yankees star in 1961, which Raleigh had tied against the Angels on Sunday.
BIG DUMPER TWO HOME RUN NIGHT!
Cal Raleigh ties Ken Griffey Jr. for the most home runs in a single season in franchise history 😳
(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/Wpz7lk7W4n
— ESPN (@espn) September 17, 2025
The All-Star catcher was back up in the fourth inning Tuesday night. This time, batting right-handed against left-hander Daniel Lynch IV, Raleigh sent the first pitch he saw 425 feet to straightaway center for his 56th homer.
Griffey set the Mariners record when he hit 56 homers during the 1997 season and matched the mark the following year.
After both home runs, Raleigh got a standing ovation from a small group of Mariners fans behind the visiting dugout at Kauffman Stadium. Many Royals fans, who had turned out to watch a club fading from playoff contention, also applauded the home runs. It was Raleigh’s 20th career multihomer game and his 10th this season, the most in a single season by a catcher in MLB history.
There have only been nine 60-homer seasons in the majors. Aaron Judge had the last when he hit 62 for the Yankees in 2022, an American League record. Raleigh would need to hit six more home runs over the next 11 games to tie Judge’s record.
The Associated Press and ESPN Research contributed to this report.
Top Stories
Alleged Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson charged with murder; prosecutors to seek death penalty
Read the chilling text exchange between Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin and his trans lover
Tyler Robinson’s roommate, Lance Twiggs, a biological male that identified as transgender who was in a romantic relationship with Robinson, provided evidence including a series of text messages from Robinson on September 10, 2025.
Prosecutors say Twiggs received a text message from Robinson which said, “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.”
Twiggs looked under the keyboard and found a note that stated, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
Police found a photograph of this note. Prosecutors say the following text exchange then took place: After reading the note, Twiggs responded, “What?????????????? You’re joking, right????”
Robinson: I am still ok my love, but am stuck in orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.
Roommate: you weren’t the one who did it right????
Robinson: I am, I’m sorry.
Roommate: I thought they caught the person?
Robinson: no, they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing. I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down. Its quiet, almost enough to get out, but theres one vehicle lingering.
Roommate: Why?
Robinson: Why did I do it?
Roommate: Yeah.
Robinson: I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out. If I am able to grab my rifle
unseen, I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it.
Roommate: How long have you been planning this?
Robinson: a bit over a week I believe. I can get close to it but there is a squad car parked right by it. I think they already swept that spot, but I don’t wanna chance it.
Robinson: I’m wishing I had circled back and grabbed it as soon as I got to my vehicle. … I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpas rifle … idek if it had a serial number, but it wouldn’t trace to me. I worry about prints I had to leave it in a bush where I changed outfits. didn’t have the ability or time to bring it with. … I might have to abandon it and hope they don’t find prints. how the f–k will I explain losing it to my old man. … only thing I left was the rifle wrapped in a towel. … remember how I was engraving bullets? The f–kin messages are mostly a big meme, if I see “notices bulge uwu” on Fox New I might have a stroke alright im gonna have to leave it, that really f–king sucks…judging from today I’d say grandpas gun does just fine idk. I think that was a $2k scope.
Robinson: delete this exchange.
Robinson: my dad wants photos of t
he rifle … he says grandpa wants to know who has what, the feds released a photo of the rifle, and it is very unique. Hes calling me rn, not answering. …
Robinson: since trump got into office [my dad] has been pretty diehard maga. …
Robinson: Im gonna turn myself in willingly, one of my neighbors here is a deputy for the sheriff.
Robinson: you are all I worry about love.
Roommate: I’m much more worried about you.
Robinson: don’t talk to the media please. don’t take any interviews or make any comments. … if any police ask you questions ask for a lawyer and stay silent
-
Business3 weeks agoThe Guardian view on Trump and the Fed: independence is no substitute for accountability | Editorial
-
Tools & Platforms1 month ago
Building Trust in Military AI Starts with Opening the Black Box – War on the Rocks
-
Ethics & Policy2 months agoSDAIA Supports Saudi Arabia’s Leadership in Shaping Global AI Ethics, Policy, and Research – وكالة الأنباء السعودية
-
Events & Conferences4 months agoJourney to 1000 models: Scaling Instagram’s recommendation system
-
Jobs & Careers3 months agoMumbai-based Perplexity Alternative Has 60k+ Users Without Funding
-
Podcasts & Talks2 months agoHappy 4th of July! 🎆 Made with Veo 3 in Gemini
-
Education2 months agoMacron says UK and France have duty to tackle illegal migration ‘with humanity, solidarity and firmness’ – UK politics live | Politics
-
Education3 months agoVEX Robotics launches AI-powered classroom robotics system
-
Podcasts & Talks2 months agoOpenAI 🤝 @teamganassi
-
Funding & Business3 months agoKayak and Expedia race to build AI travel agents that turn social posts into itineraries