The UK’s former prime minister Gordon Brown has accused the world of “moral failure” with poor countries struggling to procure supplies of Covid-19 vaccines.
Western countries are hoarding about 300 million doses while only 70 million people in Africa have so far been vaccinated, he said in an article for the Sunday Mirror newspaper.
He said that the West would have about one billion surplus doses by the end of the year even if every European and American adult had a booster shot and all children aged over 12 were injected.
"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," said the former prime minister, who served from 2007 to 2010.
“The result is that whilst 70 per cent have been immunised here, just two per cent have been in Africa, leaving even millions of nurses and health workers unprotected.”
“Already vaccines have saved 80,000 lives in the UK but denying vaccines – that are surplus here – to poor countries is a stain on the world’s conscience and represents a catastrophic moral failure in international co-operation.”
Mr Brown called on US President Joe Biden and other leaders of the G7 group of wealthy nations to urgently ship vaccines to Africa.
He said their grip on stocks was stopping Covax, the global vaccination initiative, from delivering two billion doses to poorer countries this year.
Mr Brown on Sunday told broadcaster Sky that the failure to spread vaccines around the world “will come back to haunt us from Africa” and hurt even the fully vaccinated with new variants.
"It's a moral failure on the part of the whole of the world,” he said.
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Everton
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester
When: Sunday, kick-off 7pm (UAE)
How to watch: Live on BeIN Sports 11HD
Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
Score
New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs
New Zealand win by 47 runs
New Zealand lead three-match ODI series 1-0
Next match: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Friday
Brief scoreline:
Tottenham 1
Son 78'
Manchester City 0
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
