Former UK PM Brown urges rich countries to ship COVID-19 vaccines to Africa instead of stockpiling

Former British prime minister Gordon Brown accused rich countries of committing a “moral outrage” by stockpiling COVID-19 doses while poor countries are struggling to get supplies.

Brown, who is a United Nations special envoy, called on U.S.President Joe Biden and other Group of Seven leaders to urgently ship vaccines from warehouses in America and Europe to Africa.

Western countries are hoarding nearly 300 million shots while only 70 million people in Africa have so far been vaccinated, Brown said in an opinion piece published in the Sunday Mirror newspaper, citing research by data firm Airfinity.

By Christmas, the West is set to have 1 billion surplus doses even if every European and American adult has received a booster shot and all children over 12 are injected, he said.

“We are in a new ‘arms’ race – to get vaccines into people as quickly as possible – but this is an arms race where the West have a stranglehold on the vaccine supplies,” Brown said.

The grip of rich countries on vaccine stocks was stopping Covax, the international facility for buying vaccines, from meeting its promise to send 2 billion vaccines to poorer countries this year, he added.

The stockpiling has also delayed dose-sharing by G7 countries with Africa and low-income countries, Brown said.

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LIVE | All Blacks v Wallabies: Rugby Championship – 5 September 2021

After weeks of delays due to Covid-19 related issues and a stoush between the two boards over the location and timing of this fixture, the third match of the 2021 Bledisloe Cup – which doubles as the second Rugby Championship clash between the Wallabies and All Blacks – finally gets underway at Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, 5 September.

QUIZ | TAKE OUR CURRIE CUP QUIZ AND YOU COULD WIN R1 000!

Never mind that Australia failed to get their hands back on the trophy for a 19th consecutive year – there are Rugby Championship points still up for grabs in this Round 2 affair and there’s sure to be no love lost on the pitch.

READ | STORMERS LOCK LURED BY THE YEN TO TOP JAPANESE CLUB

Australia could perhaps draw some inspiration from the fact that their last meetings with New Zealand in both 2020 and 2017 resulted in home victories, whilst the only meeting between these two sides at Optus Stadium saw Australia triumph 47-26 in 2019 prior to the World Cup.

That, however, accounts for all three of the Wallabies’ wins over the All Blacks from the last 19 clashes (D1, L15), whilst they’ve won just two of their last 15 matches as pre-match outsiders against all oppositions (D1, L12).

The delay in this match has afforded them extra preparation time though to account for a defensive performance described by their own scrumhalf Tate McDermott as “embarrassing” and not befitting of an elite tier nation.

Since the start of 2018, Australia have conceded an average of 34.09 points per head-to-head match across all venues.

Matt Toomua is one of the victims of their most recent poor outing, with exciting centre Samu Kerevi among the inclusions made by Dave Rennie in response.

Undefeated as favourites this season, the All Blacks have won the ‘race to 10 points’ and recorded half-time leads in all five of their victories whilst scoring the opening try in four.

Despite that, more than 61% of their tries recorded this season have been scored after half-time, contributing to all five of their matches seeing the second half as the highest scoring half.

Players to watch

Andrew Kellaway has opened the scoring for Australia in both meetings with the All Blacks this season, whilst New Zealand’s Will Jordan has found the line in all four of his international appearances this year.

Hot stat

All but one match involving either team in 2021 has exceeded the pre-match total points handicap.

TEAMS:

Australia

15 Tom Banks, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper

Substitutes: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Nic White, 22 Reece Hodge, 23 Jordan Petaia

New Zealand

15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 David Havili, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Brad Webber, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower

Substitutes: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 George Bridge

MATCH INFORMATION, TV DETAILS, KICK-OFF TIME, LIVE STREAM

Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth

Date: Sunday, 5 September, 2021

Kick-off: 08:00 (SA time)

Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)

Assistant Referee 1: Jordan Way (Australia)

Assistant Referee 2: Graham Cooper (Australia)

TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)

TV: SuperSport

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Three rhino Kruger National Park poachers each get a hefty sentence

Three rhino poachers each received hefty sentences when they appeared in the Skukuza Regional Court.

THE THREE POACHERS WERE CAUGHT INSIDE THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

The three men, Walter Hendric Mangane (59), Shangani Mathebula (26), and Emmanuel Mdluli (33), were found guilty on several charges.

Police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said on 26 November 2017, the three heavily armed men trespassed and entered the Kruger National Park with the intention to kill rhinoceroses.

“Moments later, a report was received by the Field Rangers about gunshots that were heard in the park. The Field Rangers then responded and followed up on the information, and after that, with the assistance of a tracker dog, they spotted the men.

“While drawing closer, the rangers saw the poachers shooting two rhinoceroses, and they immediately summoned a SANParks helicopter for support, and the trio were then apprehended.”

He said the men were in possession of a rifle, with the serial number filed off as well as ammunition. The trio was also found with rhino horns which were stashed in backpacks.

ALSO READ: Update: Two in court for possession of 19 rhino horns worth millions

“The SAPS members at Skukuza were notified about the incident, and a case was opened accordingly. The docket was then assigned to a team of members from the Skukuza Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit for investigation.

He said the team worked tirelessly, and the three men were then charged accordingly as well as appeared before court where they were convicted hence their sentencing as follows:

• Mangane was sentenced to a total of 45 years imprisonment for trespassing, possession of an unlicensed firearm, being in possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of a firearm with the intention to commit a crime, possession of unlicensed ammunition, possession of a dangerous weapon, and the three counts of hunting rhinoceros.


• Meanwhile, Mdluli was sentenced to a total of 30 years imprisonment for trespassing, possession of an unlicensed firearm, being in possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of a firearm with the intention to commit a crime, possession of unlicensed ammunition, possession of a dangerous weapon, and the three counts of hunting rhinoceros.


• Lastly, Mathebula, who is originally from Mozambique and was in the country illegally, was sentenced to a total of 30 years imprisonment for contravention of the immigration act, trespassing, possession of an unlicensed firearm, being in possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of a firearm with the intention to commit a crime, possession of unlicensed ammunition, possession of a dangerous weapon, and the three counts of hunting rhinoceros.

ALSO READ: Group of rhino poachers caught in the act, one shot and injured

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Mahesh Babu and Tiger Shroff share screen space for an ad film

Sometime back we had reported that south superstar Mahesh Babu was seen sharing screen space with Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh for an advertisement. Now, the latest report is that the south actor will feature alongside action star Tiger Shroff for a mouth freshener advertisement.

In fact, both actors, Mahesh Babu and Tiger Shroff have already shot for the advertisement, which is slated to go on air soon. Mahesh Babu and Tiger Shroff both enjoy a massive fan following. So, this union will be a treat for fans.

 

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Back on the work front, both actors have their hands full, Tiger Shroff who was last seen in Baaghi 3 will next be seen in Heropanti 2, and Ganapath. Mahesh Babu who was last seen in Sarileru Neekevvaru has Sarkaru Vaari Paata in the pipeline.

ALSO READ: Mahesh Babu sends his best wishes to his son Gautam Ghattamaneni on his 15th birthday

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Verstappen takes Dutch GP pole with Hamilton alongside

Max Verstappen put Red Bull on pole position for his home Dutch Grand Prix in front of 70,000 ecstatic fans on Saturday, with Formula One rival and championship leader Lewis Hamilton alongside.

Hamilton, three points clear in the standings after 12 races, was 0.038 seconds slower for Mercedes than Verstappen’s best effort of one minute 08.885 seconds around the seaside circuit.

The Briton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas qualified third with Frenchman Pierre Gasly fourth for Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri.

The pole was the sixth in the last seven races for Verstappen, and the 10th of his career.

“It’s an amazing feeling of course to get pole position here,” said Verstappen as his Orange Army let off flares and celebrated.

“The crowd is incredible and today was also very enjoyable. The car was really nice to drive and this track in qualifying, once the fuel comes out, is really cool.”

Sunday’s race will be the first Dutch Grand Prix in 36 years, the return driven by Verstappen’s success and huge following.

“He did a fantastic lap and deserves the pole,” said seven-times world champion Hamilton, as some boos could be heard from the crowd.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz qualified fifth and sixth with Antonio Giovinazzi standing out in seventh for Alfa Romeo.

Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso will line up eighth and ninth and Daniel Ricciardo qualified 10th for McLaren.

Williams drivers George Russell and Nicholas Latifi both crashed in the second phase of qualifying and brought out red flags.

Russell, who started on the front row at the previous race in Belgium last weekend after an astonishing qualifying lap, hit the barriers backward but managed to keep the car running and returned to the pitlane with nearly four minutes remaining.

The Briton took no further part in qualifying and will start 11th, and when the track action re-started Latifi then lost control and smashed into the barriers in a much heavier impact.

“My tyres were going and I was pushing too hard,” said Russell. “I just attacked that corner too much and lost the rear. I’m sorry to the team.”

The second stoppage, with a minute and 38 seconds to go, meant McLaren’s Lando Norris failed to get in a quick enough lap to go through to the top 10 shootout.

Verstappen’s Mexican teammate Sergio Perez and Aston Martin’s four times world champion Sebastian Vettel were the big casualties of the first phase.

Vettel, who will start in 17th place, was blocked by dawdling Haas drivers Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher, and the three were summoned to see stewards after the session.

Mazepin blamed Schumacher in comments to Sky Sports television.

“He overtook, backed me up, and put me into Seb. I’ll have a word with the team to see why that happened,” said the Russian rookie.

Poland’s Robert Kubica, standing in at short notice for 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo after the Finn tested positive for COVID-19, qualified 18th and ahead of the Haas pair.

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Get the jab and we’ll reopen PSL stadiums to fans – SA government

The South African ANC government is reportedly considering reopening soccer stadiums to fans who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

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After an initial slow rollout of the vaccinations in Mzansi there’s been a noticeable increase in the daily jabs since the 18-35 age group were recently granted access to register.

Now, in a bid to achieve the 300 000 daily target for vaccinations set by president Cyril Ramaphosa, the government are considering incentivising the public with the lure of opening nightclubs and a return to the stands for live football matches.

PICTURES | PITSO MOSIMANE HAS TEA WITH AUNTY PAT!

“People are hungry for entertainment, for music festivals, to go to Orlando Stadium to go and watch a soccer match,” Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla told Business Insider.

“So, what we are exploring is the possibility where, with some kind of confirmation that you have been vaccinated, we could start up opening up various activities, sports, cultural, and more businesses and other get-togethers.

“To say, if you are vaccinated, so many people can go to the soccer stadium to watch a match.”

PICTURES | ITUMELENG KHUNE AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE!

It’s been nearly 18 months since supporters were last able to attend Premier Soccer League matches.

READ | BAFANA BAFANA LATEST: GHANA TAKE CONTROL OF 2022 SWC QUALIFIER GROUP

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Kebby Maphatsoe to be laid to rest on Sunday

Former president of the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association Kebby Maphatsoe’s funeral service will take place at the GOG Recreational Centre in Protea Glen, Soweto later on Sunday morning.

Maphatsoe went in exile and received military training in Angola and the Soviet Union as an MK combatant.

He lived in Uganda for many years before he returned home.

The former MKMVA president served as Deputy Defence and Military Veterans Minister between 2014 and 2019 and at the time of his death, he was an ANC MP and a whip in the Arts and Culture study group in Parliament.

Earlier in his tribute, Deputy President David Mabuza said Maphatsoe’s life is worth celebrating.

Deputy President Mabuza visits the Mapatsoe home:

The funeral’s brief programme features former President Jacob Zuma who is expected to pay tribute with the ANC Chairperson Gwede Mantashe delivering the eulogy.

@MYANC mourns the passing of Comrade Kebby Maphatsoe #RIPKebbyMaphatsoe pic.twitter.com/WUdKBuvyvo

— African National Congress (@MYANC) September 1, 2021

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