South Africa wary of Sputnik vaccine over HIV fears

South Africa’s health products regulator, Sahpra, has withheld approval for Russia’s Sputnik V Covid vaccine over concerns that it could increase the risk of HIV infection among men.

The decision was based on two earlier studies that tested the safety of a modified form of adenovirus contained in the Russian jab.

The Gamaleya Institute, which developed Sputnik V, said it would produce information to show that Sahpra’s concerns were completely unfounded.

The country has the highest HIV burden in Africa. It has about 7.8 million cases of HIV among its population of over 60 million people, according to UNAids. About 13.5% of men aged between 15 and 49 are infected.

Sahpra said its concerns followed consultations with local and international experts.

South Africa has so far approved Covid vaccines manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson and the Chinese-made Sinovac.

The World Health Organization has not yet approved Sputnik V for emergency use. The vaccine is however being administered in at least 45 countries including Zimbabwe and Namibia.

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Tributes honour Powell’s role in South Sudan freedom

South Sudanese have been paying tributes to Colin Powell, the former US secretary of state who died on Monday at the age of 84.

President Salva Kiir sent a condolence message to US President Joe Biden, Powell’s family and the American people on behalf of the unity government and the people.

He said Powell’s efforts and determination led to the signing to the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) on 9 January 2005, which ended the 21-year civil war in the country.

The agreement between rival Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), led by then rebel leader John Garang, and the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) of former president Omar al-Bashir paved way for South Sudan’s independence from Sudan.

“I pray that God will give his family, the American people and all those affected by his death the comfort they need, at this time to endure the loss of this national icon,” President Kiir said in a statement read on the national broadcaster on Monday night.

South Sudanese on social media have also been paying tribute to Powell, praising him for the role he played during the negotiations between SPLM and NCP in Kenya.

Apart from witnessing the signing of the agreement in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, Powell also witnessed the declaration of independence of South Sudan in the capital, Juba, on 9 July 2011.

On the same day, Powell also participated in the laying of the foundation stone as they inaugurated the first US embassy in the new country.

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Nick Rolovich: Washington State football coach fired for refusing Covid vaccine

A top US college football coach has been fired for refusing to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Washington State University (WSU) sacked Nick Rolovich, its highest-paid employee, and four of his assistants, for failing to meet a vaccine mandate.

The mandate means all state workers in Washington have to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or lose their jobs.

Mr Rolovich, 42, who earned $3.1m (£2.25m) a year, had applied for a religious exemption from the mandate.

But WSU’s Director of Athletics, Pat Chun, said the exemption had been refused.

“This is a disheartening day for our football programme,” Mr Chun said.

“Our priority has been and will continue to be the health and wellbeing of the young men in our team.”

Mr Rolovich’s sacking marks the culmination of a three-month showdown between the coach and Washington’s Democratic Governor Jay Inslee.

In August, Gov Inslee announced that all state employees and healthcare workers would need two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine to keep their jobs. Monday was the deadline for them to get vaccinated, or have a medical or religious exemption.

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But Mr Rolovich had said he would not get vaccinated, calling it a personal decision.

“While I have made my own decision, I respect that every individual – including coaches, staff and student-athletes – can make his or her own decision regarding the Covid-19 vaccine. I will not comment further on my decision,” he said earlier this year.

Some 90% of WSU employees and 97% of students have been vaccinated, according to the college.

Mr Rolovich, who was in his second season at WSU, is the first major college football coach to lose their job over their vaccination status.

College sports netted nearly $19bn (£14 bn) in total revenue in 2019, most of which came from football, which is watched by five million people on average per game.

Mr Rolovich’s salary at WSU was barely above the average pay grade of head coaches in college football, but it made him the highest paid public employee in the state, according to local media.

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Rapper Kanye West changes his name to just Ye

A Los Angeles judge has approved the request of the rapper, producer and fashion designer to legally change his name from Kanye Omari West to just Ye, with no middle or last name.

“There being no objections, the petition for change of name is granted,” Judge Michelle Williams Court said in court documents.The petition filed Aug. 24 cited “personal reasons.”

He has called himself Ye on his social media pages for years. He tweeted in 2018 that he wanted the change saying, that being formally known as Kanye West. I am now YE.”

The moniker was also the title of his 2018 album. He has said in interviews that, along with being a shortening of his first name he likes, that it’s a word used throughout the Bible.

The 44-year-old is in the middle of a divorce with Kim Kardashian West, who did not ask that her last name be changed back to just Kardashian when she filed to split from him in February. The couple’s four children also have his former last name.

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COP26: Russia’s Vladimir Putin will not attend climate summit

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will not attend the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

No reason was given for the decision not to attend, but a Kremlin spokesperson said climate change was an “important” priority for Russia.

COP26 takes place in Scotland’s largest city from 31 October to 12 November.

Russia’s decision is seen as a blow to efforts to get leaders to negotiate a new deal to stall rising global temperatures.

“Unfortunately, Putin will not fly to Glasgow,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that climate change was “one of our foreign policy’s most important priorities.”

Mr Putin has not commented on the official announcement, but speaking at an international energy forum in Moscow on 13 October, the Russian leader cited the coronavirus pandemic as a factor in his decision to travel.

“I am not sure yet if I will attend [COP26] in person, but I will certainly take part in it,” he added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is also unlikely to attend, though Chinese officials have reportedly not entirely ruled out a change of plans.

Earlier in October, Australian Prime Minister attracted widespread criticism for suggesting he might skip the summit, but he later announced that he would indeed attend.

COP26 is the biggest climate change conference since landmark talks in Paris in 2015. Some 200 countries are being asked for their plans to cut emissions by 2030.

Many observers will be watching how Russia and other major fossil fuel producers will be willing to reduce their reliance on them.

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