Latest News from Independent
The Independent
33 minutes ago
- Business
- The Independent
How sexual violence survivors in South Africa are now collateral damage of Trump's aid cuts
Donald Trump 's decision to slash international aid has had a crippling impact on HIV services – with a lifeline linking rape and sexual violence survivors to support now becoming collateral damage. In Sub-Saharan Africa, girls and young women are more than twice as likely as their male peers to contract HIV, driven in part by an increased risk of facing sexual exploitation. Funding to tackle the virus is often also used to fund gender-based violence services. Take the Networking HIV and AIDS Community of Southern Africa (NACOSA) based in South Africa. NACOSA received 40 per cent of its funding thanks to the DREAMS programme run by the United States Agency for International Development. Standing for 'Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-Free, Mentored and Safe', the DREAMS programme provided two million young people in 15 African countries with a wide range of initiatives from the more direct – HIV testing, condoms and medication – to less obvious ways to address viral spread, like mentoring, life skills, financial literacy training and free sanitary products. Although DREAMS was set up as an HIV prevention programme, the close link between sexual violence and the virus meant it ended up providing a crucial link to rape crisis support, regardless of survivors' HIV status. 'Young women are more vulnerable if they are dependent. If they are in poverty [they are] more vulnerable to both gender-based violence and HIV,' explains Sophie Hobbs from NACOSA. Research found some girls were being coerced into sex in exchange for period products. In sessions to help them to understand what abuse and harassment looks like, girls and young women would often tell their mentors about experiences of abuse – and be linked to emergency contraception and counselling services. 'It would have been disclosed to us, 'my stepdad has been doing this for the longest time and I didn't realise it was wrong',' explains Tarryn Lokotsch, chief executive of the Greater Rape Intervention Program (GRIP) in eastern South Africa, which works with NACOSA and received half of its funding via the DREAMS programme. 'We would be able to link them to care at the hospital, test them for any sexually transmitted diseases, link them to care if they needed it. 'So, the prevention programme fed very nicely into the response programme,' she adds. The DREAMS funding supported a network of care rooms in hospitals, police stations and magistrates' courts. Care rooms allow people can report assaults privately, rather than, 'standing in a long queue,' Lokotsch says, and, 'having to report what's happened to you with every other person that might just be coming to get a document certified'. In hospitals, Lokotsch's group provides care packs to help give survivors back a sense of dignity after the ordeal of a forensic examination, which can include having to hand in their underwear as evidence. These packs include toiletries, sanitary products and spare clothes, as well as emergency money to get home safely. 'Basically we are trying to hold the victim's hand from the moment that they report right through to their day in court,' Lokotsch says. GRIP makes sure survivors who test negative for HIV can begin and complete a full course of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) which prevents the virus developing. 'The majority of our rape survivors remain HIV negative only because we've managed to [link them to] PEP medication,' she says. Those testing positive are linked to antiretroviral treatment — care they might otherwise struggle to access. But all that is at risk. 'You just disappeared' 'This month we did have to close down one of our care rooms,' Lokotsch says. With the rest of the network 'not sustainable forever' with more cuts to come if new funding isn't found. 'We still receive phone calls to ask, where are you guys? We relied on you so much and you just disappeared,' she adds. Without these support services, 'people are beginning to get a little bit more reluctant to report [gender-based violence], which is really scary', Lokotsch says. A State Department spokesperson said: '[The US] continues to support lifesaving HIV testing, care and treatment, and prevention of mother to child transmission services approved by the Secretary of State. This includes lifesaving HIV treatment for adolescent girls and young women,' adding that, 'ensuring we have the right mix of programmes to support US national security and other core national interests of the United States requires an agile approach. We will continue to make changes as needed.' Lokotsch herself is a survivor of sexual violence. After being attacked while on a run, she didn't know where to go, and sought care at a private hospital which wasn't set up to conduct forensic examinations. 'I had people taking photos of me and someone saying they need to do a medical forensic examination, and people are touching you everywhere. It's the most uncomfortable thing in the world and no one is telling you why they are taking photos or what they are doing,' she recalls. That experience eventually led her to GRIP. Years later, she took over running the service where she works to stop others having the same trauma-compounding experience she had. In South Africa, emergency contraception and PEP are available in public facilities, but people often don't know they are there. 'In theory, post-violence care services are not interrupted [by the US cuts],' says Dr Ntlotleng Mabena, a public health doctor who worked with NACOSA. 'But in practice, we know that survivors need a safe place to go to before they get to that service.' Specialist post-violence centres are also not always accessible to people in rural areas. 'In certain provinces there's only one in the region and probably a three-hour taxi ride. Who's going to want to take a three-hour taxi ride after you've been raped?' Dr Mabena asks. 'I didn't know where I was going' Bongi, a 41-year-old mother of five, met Lokotsch's team in a police station after fleeing a violent relationship. 'I stayed there being violated,' she explains to The Independent, because, 'the person who violated me is the one who gave me food'. She had three kids with him by the time the violence started. 'I didn't know where I was going. I didn't have enough money. I went to the police station,' she says of the day she left with her younger children, after her partner threatened to burn down their house with her inside. For two nights they slept at the police station, and then on the floor of a garage, without being offered help. It wasn't until a police officer finally connected her to GRIP that she was offered comprehensive medical checks, and afterwards, a place in a shelter. Bongi is HIV positive, but had been on and off treatment for years and did not want to reveal her status over fears it would only lead to discrimination. 'I lied because I didn't get help in the police station,' she said, so when she met the GRIP team she thought: 'Here are some ladies who want to help me. If I maybe speak about my status, I'm not going to get the help that I need.' Once she realised they would help her no matter what, she resolved to, 'see what I can do so I can get back on medication'. Dr Isolde Birdthistle at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who has carried out evaluations of DREAMS in a number of places, say the benefits included the social support and empowerment of girls, and in some cases changes in sexual behaviours such as condom use. The biggest effect was on participants knowing their HIV status, Birdthistle explains, which is the first step to link them to treatment or prevention. Girls also reported feeling less scared to test for HIV and more supported if they had experienced violence, Birdthistle says. While the loss of 'safe spaces' in areas where there are often no formal refuges for victims of violence is also a 'big loss,' she adds. For Lokotsch, it is the speed of the change in the wake of Trump's aid cuts that is most jarring. 'I do understand the perspective that the South African HIV crisis and [gender-based violence] crisis is not necessarily America's problem,' she says. 'But America did choose at the start of this to lead the fight against HIV. They took that step to lead the fight internationally. 'And then to pull out and decide that they don't want to lead that fight anymore... We could have got some warning.'
The Independent
33 minutes ago
- Business
- The Independent
White house to challenge Trump tariff block as stock markets surge
The US stock market is set to surge after a federal court blocked President Donald Trump 's global tariffs. Ahead of trading, US futures indicate a 1.5% climb for the S&P 500 and nearly 2% for the Nasdaq following the tariff block announcement. Overnight trading saw Nvidia 's stock surge, making the company set to reclaim its position as most valuable listed company in the world when markets open. Asian stock markets, including the Nikkei 225 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng, rose following the news, while European markets, such as the UK's FTSE 100, showed a more muted response. The White House plans to appeal the court's decision, leading analysts to predict a period of tariff "limbo" that could prolong market uncertainty.
The Independent
33 minutes ago
- General
- The Independent
Pup patrol: The border collies preventing bird strikes at a busy airport
At West Virginia International Yeager Airport, Hercules and Ned patrol the mile-long airfield daily. The border collies have an important job: ensuring the safety of passengers and crew by keeping birds and wildlife away from planes. Chris Keyser, the airport's wildlife specialist and the dogs' handler, says preventing a bird from hitting a plane "can make a difference for someone's life." Since 2018, Yeager management has employed the services of border collies to mitigate collisions between wildlife and planes, a common issue at airports nationwide. Hercules, the chief ambassador, also spends time inside the terminal, calming nervous passengers and receiving affection. Prior to his arrival at Yeager, Hercules trained for 18 months at Flyaway Geese in Charlotte, North Carolina, learning to herd geese and sheep, preparing him for his vital role in maintaining airport safety. When Hercules stepped onto Charleston's airfield for the first time, 'I held my breath,' Flyaway Geese owner Rebecca Gibson said. 'But boy, he took hold of the reins. It was his place. "He's done an amazing job and has just been a great dog for them. We're very proud of him.' Along the way, Hercules became a local celebrity. He has his own Instagram and TikTok accounts and regularly hosts groups of schoolchildren. Now eight, Hercules has some help. Ned was two when he was welcomed into the fold last year from another kennel where he trained to herd goats and geese. Ned has shadowed Hercules, following commands from Keyser and learning safety issues such as not venturing onto the runway. 'Ned's ready to go,' Keyser said. 'He's picked up on all that. He's doing fantastic, running birds off.' Inside the airport operations center, Hercules is laid back until he's told it's time to work, barking at the door in anticipation. Ned, on the other hand, is always moving. When not outside, he'll bring his blue bouncy ball to anyone willing to play fetch. Charleston's airport is on top of a mountain and has a menagerie of wildlife, including Canada geese, hawks, ducks, songbirds and bats. After it rains, worms come to the surface and cause an increase in bird activity, Keyser said. In addition to taking the dogs on their regular rounds, Keyser is in constant contact with the airport tower, which looks for birds on the field or relays reports from airplanes that see wildlife nearby. 'We get plenty of exercise,' Keyser said. 'You don't gain no weight in this job. It's an all-day job. You're always got your eyes on the field, you've got your ears open listening to the radio." Border collies are among the most energetic dog breeds. They've been used for decades to shoo Canada geese off golf courses. They've also scared away birds at other airports, military bases, and locks and dams. The dogs' instincts are to herd, not to kill. 'But in the mind of the bird, they're no different than a coyote or a fox, which is a natural predator for the bird,' Gibson said. Bird strikes cause delays About 19,000 strikes involving planes and wildlife occurred at U.S. airports in 2023, of which 95 per cent involved birds, according to a Federal Aviation Administration database. From 1988 to 2023, wildlife collisions in the U.S. killed 76 people and destroyed 126 aircraft. Perhaps the most famous bird-plane strike occurred in January 2009 when a flight from New York's LaGuardia Airport almost immediately flew into a flock of Canada geese, knocking out both engines. Pilot Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger guided the powerless jet into the frigid Hudson River. All 155 people on board survived the incident, which was captured in the 2016 movie Sully, starring Tom Hanks. At the Charleston airport, wildlife-plane incidents vary each year from a few to a couple dozen. 'Anytime a plane hits a bird, it has to be inspected, and it causes a delay in the flight,' Keyser said. 'And sometimes you don't make your connecting flights. So that's how important it is to keep everything going smooth.' In 2022 alone, there were five airplane strikes at the airport involving bats. In December 2000, a plane collided with two deer after landing. The tip of the right engine propeller blade separated and punctured the plane's fuselage, seriously injuring a passenger, according to the FAA. A comforting paw Inside the terminal, Hercules wags his tail as he moves about greeting passengers. Among them was Janet Spry, a Scott Depot, West Virginia, resident waiting to board a flight to visit her daughter and grandchildren in San Antonio. Spry needed a bit of cheering up. In addition to having a fear of flying, Spry's 15-year-old cat was euthanized the previous day after being diagnosed with an inoperable condition. An impromptu visit from Hercules brought a smile — and more. Hercules placed a paw on Spry's arm and delivered plenty of wet kisses. 'He's making my day better,' Spry said. She also joked whether the airport might want to let Hercules stay with her a while longer. 'I think there was an empty seat on the plane beside me,' Spry said.
The Independent
36 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Independent
In the robot wars of the future, human beings will be redundant
If we want to know what the next world war will look like, we need do no more than see what is happening in Ukraine. Just as the mass aerial bombings of the Second World War could be witnessed first in the Spanish civil war two years earlier, and the Boer War revealed the shortcomings in the organisation of the British Army that had to be rectified by the time of the Great War (when new ones arose), so now we can peer into the present to better prepare ourselves for a European conflict that is feeling inevitable. It might be said to be the first 'modern' war of the 21st century, the first in which a variety of new and evolving technologies is deployed, and with devastating effect. The most obvious is, of course, the drone – cheap and highly effective, provided its signals don't get jammed. But there are others, including the kinds of cyber attacks on companies and national institutions launched by state actors, unofficial proxies and purely criminal gangs who might be persuaded to turn mercenary for a share of the loot in return for assistance from the military. We've seen in recent years what cyber attacks can do to the NHS, banks and, most recently, retailers, and they are as devastating as any air raid. Nuclear weapons have barely been mentioned in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the early assumptions that it would be Second World War, Kursk-style massed tank battles proved short-lived. Over in the merciless war in Gaza, the lessons about the future of combat are less clear – except that the Israeli 'Iron Dome' system proved almost completely effective against Iranian missile attacks, and thus effectively disarmed the ayatollahs as a force to be feared. Now, Donald Trump wants such a defensive shield for America, which is understandable, given that the Americans designed Israel's smaller version. So warfare is being transformed. It is reassuring that the British government seems alert to what is happening. John Healey, minister of defence and one of Labour's unobtrusive, low-key success stories, has announced £1bn to fund more brigades of 'keyboard warriors', and non-human soldiers, this time to create a 'new Digital Targeting Web '. Troops on the ground will be better directed by intelligence gained via satellites, aircraft reconnaissance and drones. That will help them avoid being blown up by enemy ordnance, and assist them in moving faster to hit the other side. Artificial intelligence, like every new technology invented by man before it, is finding an early military application, which will no doubt speed its own evolution, as happened with, for instance, powered flight a century ago. It is not too fanciful in fact to envisage a world where human beings will be replaced by humanoid robots on the battlefield, fighting one another and vast swarms of drones overhead, all controlled by AI military 'brains' thousands of miles away. Just as will become the case in trade and industry, the human being will become redundant in the cyber-wars of the future, except as victims and casualties. Wars will probably be even more destructive than those in the past, because the 'productivity' of a modern war machine powered by AI would be so much greater. It actually makes the arguments about military spending a little less relevant: if a country makes the wrong choices about future procurement and strategy, it doesn't matter how much of the GDP it spends on the wrong stuff. If the Royal Navy's majestic Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers are basically defenceless against squadrons of cheap drones able to overwhelm their defences, we will feel as foolish and vulnerable as when the Japanese went round the back of biggest coastal defence guns in the world and walked into Singapore in 1942. President Trump says his 'Golden Dome' will cost some $175bn; if so, and if it works (not yet obvious), it will be a bargain. The UK's strategic defence review is to be published on Monday – and not before time. How we expend our scarce national resources on defending ourselves is just as crucial as how much the Treasury is prepared to cough up. The abiding lesson of history, however, is that preventing and deterring war is a lot less costly than fighting one.
The Independent
38 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Is PSG v Inter Milan on TV? How to watch Champions League final for free
Paris Saint-Germain face Inter Milan in the Champions League final on Saturday night to crown the latest European champions. The winner will also qualify for this summer's Club World Cup in the United States, with every game set to be shown live on DAZN in the UK. Simone Inzaghi's side are looking to finally get over the line after being denied 1-0 by Man City two years ago, while PSG also fell short in the showpiece event in 2000 when Bayern Munich prevailed 1-0. President Nasser Al-Khelaifi has overseen a drastic change in style and strategy since that game. The PSG 'kingmaker' hired Luis Enrique with the French side flourishing as one of the most attractive sides in Europe this season. Here's everything you need to know about the final on Saturday in Munich: When is PSG v Inter Milan? PSG v Inter Milan is on Saturday 31 May at 8pm BST in Munich, Germany at the Allianz Arena. How can I watch the Champions League final and is there a live stream? In the UK, fans can watch the game on television through TNT Sports. Coverage begins from 6pm BST on TNT Sports 1. TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the game through the Discovery+ app and website. While non-subscribers can watch the game for free through Discovery+, they just need to register for a Discovery+ account, but no subscription is required. Alternatively you can follow all the action on the Independent's live minute-by-minute blog. Luis Enrique has a doubt over Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, though the Georgian has returned to training after missing out on the Coup de France, despite initially being selected to start. The major tactical doubt for Enrique could involve Desire Doué or Bradley Barcola lining up on the right. Presnel Kimpembe is out with an Achilles tendon issue. Inter have welcomed back Lautaro Martinez, Davide Frattesi, Yann Bisseck and Benjamin Pavard to full training, though they all remain names to watch in the final hours before kick-off. PSG (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Barcola, Dembelé, Kvaratskhelia Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Bastoni, Acerbi; Dumfries, Mkhitaryan, Barella, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; Thuram, Lautaro Martinez Odds Match odds PSG: 6/5 Draw: 11/5 Inter Milan: 23/10 To lift the trophy PSG: 4/7 Inter Milan: 11/8 Prediction PSG have more firepower but Simone Inzaghi's side look tactically disciplined and ready to grind out the victory after being denied two years ago against Man City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium. Inter's strong bench could also make the difference. PSG 0-1 Inter Milan.
