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New York Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Manchester United in Kuala Lumpur: Defeat, boos and… an open-top bus?
To travel the public walkways around National Stadium Bukit Jalil three hours ahead of Manchester United's first game of this whistlestop tour was to be reminded of the enduring appeal of a club that finished the Premier League campaign with 18 defeats in 15th place. Logic dictates that a team so bad should not command an audience of this scale 6,600 miles away from home, but to weave through the masses of red shirts was to comprehend how football support is irrational. Advertisement This was United in Kuala Lumpur, a world away from Old Trafford. Instead of burger vans, there was the aroma of nasi lemak, the national dish, goat curry and satay skewers. The setting may have been different, but the crowd of 72,550, who rarely, if ever, get to see their team in the flesh were at least given an authentic Manchester United experience. Once again, Ruben Amorim shook his head and flapped his arm on the touchlines as his players toiled in the final third without penetration, so that for the second Wednesday in succession, United were forced to watch another team lift a trophy. The Maybank Challenge Cup is not quite as prestigious as the Europa League, but nonetheless the stony faces on the United players spoke to another blow to their egos. Twice they tried to leave the pitch before the ceremony was complete. David Harrison, United's outgoing director of football operations, had to usher Chido Obi away from the tunnel after the team had completed a lap of applause, and then, after the runners-up medals had been handed out, Carlos Fernandes chased Casemiro so that he returned to see the ASEAN All Stars presented with the silverware. It was all rather excruciating, given the bruises from Bilbao are still pronounced. This season of despair is being extended into an embarrassing epilogue. There was one difference, though. United's performance got booed at the final whistle. It had a tone of disappointment rather than anger, and claps followed, but it was telling that even these supporters, so eager to be positive, felt compelled to acknowledge the negative. It was something Amorim backed, and even suggested might be welcome at Old Trafford next season. 'I feel always guilty of the performance of the team since I am here in the first game,' he said. 'The boos from the fans, maybe it is something we need because every game that we lost in the Premier League they were always there. Let's see for next season.' Advertisement The result was decided when Maung Maung Lwin, the Myanmar captain, who plays for Thai side Lamphun Warriors, broke into the box down United's left and found a neat finish past Tom Heaton. It could have been worse for United had academy player Jim Thwaites not made a last-ditch tackle in a one-on-one during added time. United made substitutions in the first period, changed the entire XI at half-time, and were clearly suffering after a 14-hour flight and in 36-degree temperatures. Two water breaks were needed. But ASEAN All Stars, a mixed team pulled together from the 10 countries in the region, also rotated their whole side and are, of course, supposed to be several rungs below in terms of quality. But they kept United at bay and carried a sting on the counter. It was a far cry from United's game in this stadium during the 2001 pre-season tour when they thrashed another all-star XI 6-0 in a line-up that featured David Beckham, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs among other big names. The atmosphere then was rapturous. This occasion was not a sell-out, with some 12,000 seats left empty, but as well as the absence of real draws aside from one or two players, that can in part be attributed to the pricing. The first tranche of tickets were very reasonable, less than £8, but the most expensive topped 1,500 Malaysian Ringgit, the equivalent to £260 — a month's salary for the average person. Andre Onana was, curiously, among those who gained the most attention, with fans chanting his name from the warm-up. The loudest cheers were reserved for when the announcer read out Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho, who both played the entire second half. Fernandes tried to bring the entertainment by flicking a rabona, while Garnacho attempted to take on defenders, and there was audible excitement when he got the ball, but he also looked exhausted, more than once sinking to his knees in the way that Amorim does when he gets low to the pitch. Garnacho had a particularly wayward shot that flew high over the bar that summed up his night. If this is to be one of his last appearances in a United shirt, as seems very likely, it would be a sad denouement to a bright career at the club. Jack Moorhouse, Reece Munro, Sekou Kone, Tyler Fletcher, Shea Lacey, Jaydan Kamason, Godwill Kukonki, Daniel Armer and Thwaites all featured for the first time at this senior level, which Amorim thinks will give them an impression of the pressure that comes with playing for United. Advertisement Nobody is pretending this journey across the globe is for sporting performance. The United executives who have travelled all have a strong commercial element to their jobs, with chief executive Omar Berrada, joined by chief business officer Marc Armstong, and chief operating officer Collette Roche. Technical director Jason Wilcox is not here. United arrived at the W Hotel, their base for this leg of the trip, at around 8pm local time on Monday, and a crowd of a few dozen had formed from three hours beforehand. They were left disgruntled when the players, who needed to get fed and sleep, largely failed to acknowledge them on their way in. Te-J Constant had flown over from England for this tour with his six-year-old son, who was in tears. Joshua Zirkzee encouraged a smile by firing back his gun celebration. After grumbles about some of the hotels United stayed in during the season, there could be few complaints about the W, a chain owned by United sponsor Marriott. A shimmering gold vending machine dispensed miniature bottles of Moet & Chandon champagne, though United, of course, have had no cause to pop corks this season. A few feet away, in the hotel's Living Room bar, Berrada and Armstrong took a business meeting, and with United deprived of the revenue for competing in the Champions League, not to mention the corresponding £10m cut to Adidas' £90m-per-year kit deal, bridging that gap will be a major focus of their work. Before training, United players took part in four simultaneous events with fans on their first full day in the country. At one of them, a signing and photo session at the Adidas shop in Exchange TRX mall, Garnacho allowed a yawn to escape. Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, Amad, and Harry Amass also attended, with fans queuing for one of them based on which colour wristband they had. Fernandes, who carries his captain's responsibility on this aspect of the job very well, even signed shirts in the mixed zone after the game and is such a seasoned veteran he advised people to stretch the fabric so he could make a clean signature. Advertisement At another event, as Matthijs de Ligt sang 'Glory, Glory Man United' with gusto, Patrick Dorgu looked a little confused. Ayden Heaven got into the swing of things and Zirkzee conducted the tune in his usual nonchalant manner. Those players also travelled round the city on an open-top bus, which is as set up for a punchline as you can imagine. 🔥 OMG – The #MUFC Open-Top Bus Parade is underway in #Malaysia 🇲🇾 Absolute scenes 🤣🤣🤣 — AnfieldIndex (@AnfieldIndex) May 28, 2025 How successful those in charge at United are in shaping the squad this summer will dictate whether there is a parade in future that comes with some actual silverware. Speaking pitchside, Berrada said: 'We were ready for all the different scenarios and now know what we need to do. We have a very clear idea where we need to invest in the squad to improve. 'Jason, his team and Ruben have been in talks for many months. Now it's a question of executing that plan and doing it in a way that is prudent but, at the same time, with ambition.' Matheus Cunha is on the way after United triggered his £62.5million release from Wolves, and they have made their pitch to Liam Delap, who has also spoken to Chelsea, Everton, and Newcastle United and is expected to make his decision before flying out for the European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia. Chelsea are seen as United's main rivals. Lee Carsley names his squad on June 6, by which point United will be long back from Hong Kong, their next and final stop.
New York Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Manchester United inform staff of 200 redundancies after Europa League final loss
Manchester United's football staff are finding out today (Friday) if they are at risk of redundancy with the club looking to cut another 200 jobs from the workforce. Members of the football department were informed by email they would be finding out their fate less than 48 hours on from assisting the team in the Europa League final. Advertisement United hosted a barbecue for these same employees at Carrington on Thursday evening, a day after the match against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao, and the timing has been badly received internally. It is expected physios and masseurs will be impacted. United wanted to provide clarity before the end of the Premier League campaign on Sunday, when the squad will fly to Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong on a post-season tour. The number of United's scouts is also being reduced, while The Athletic has previously reported on the upcoming exits of director of scouting Steve Brown, director of football operations David Harrison, and director of innovations Richard Hawkins. United confirmed in February that they were set to make 150 to 200 redundancies as part of wider cost-cutting measures under Sir Jim Ratcliffe's stewardship, following the 250 redundancies made the previous summer. This takes the number of redundancies at United to 450 since Ratcliffe completed his minority purchase of the club in February 2024. United had an average of 1,112 monthly employees according to club accounts for the year ending June 30, 2023. Ratcliffe has made a series of decisions aimed at reducing costs at Old Trafford since completing his minority investment in United and taking control of operations across the club. The announcement of the upcoming redundancies in February was also coupled with changes to provisions of food for employees. United, who remain majority owned by the Florida-based Glazer family, have posted five consecutive full-year losses since last achieving profitability during the 2018-19 season, totalling £373million. United were beaten in the Europa League final by Tottenham on Wednesday, with defeat meaning the club miss out on qualification for next season's Champions League and the subsequent financial benefits of European football.
The South African
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
'Springboks have made England their little b*%#* at World Cups'
The Springboks have a favourable historical record against most blue-chip opponents, especially in recent years. The Springboks' nail-biting 16-15 win in the 2023 semi-final against England was the sixth Rugby World Cup meeting between the sides. South Africa won the 1999 quarter-final (44-21) in Paris; the pool game (36-0) and final (15-6) in 2007, also both in Paris; and the final (32-12) in Yokohama in 2019. England won the pool game in Perth in 2003 (25-6). The Springboks now boast an 83.33% win rate against their old foes at the world's biggest tournament, and two of those four wins have come in the match that matters most of all. Amazingly, the 2023 semifinal was the first time the Springboks named an unchanged matchday 23 for consecutive games since 2018. This spoke volumes for the consistency in the World Champions' performances leading up to and including the 2023 World Cup. There's been a special level of mutual trust in the camp between technical staff and players, culminating in glory in Paris. The William Webb Ellis trophy isn't for everyone. South Africa has four titles, the most of any nation. France and England share the dubious honour of having lost the most finals, three apiece. Is England the biggest choker in history? The Springboks got the better of them in 2023's verve-jangling semi-final after eventually defeating France 29-28 in what will go down as one of rugby's greatest-ever matches. For what it's worth, the Springboks have never lost a final. Rassie took the Boks back from the brink Siyamthanda Kolisi in Cape Town. Image: David Harrison / AFP What's the next hurdle for the Springboks? Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Australia's Macquarie University announces AUD $40,000 scholarship for Indian students
Macquarie University will provide scholarships worth AUD $40,000 to Indian students aspiring to study at the university, under the Early Acceptance Scholarship for the 2025 and 2026 batches. The Australian university will provide an annual scholarship of AUD $10,000 to students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate courses to cover tuition fees across courses at their Sydney campus. Students will be awarded the scholarship on the basis of merit, for all courses, including Banking and Finance, Data Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business Analytics, Medicine, Arts and Media, and Communication. Students can apply for grants throughout their course, and those applying for any program will be directly eligible for the scholarship. Those opting for four-year bachelor's programme can avail the maximum amount, up to AUD $40,000. The university, in a release said, any international student pursuing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree on campus must fulfil the following requirements to be considered for the grant of the scholarship: Be a citizen of India Accept a Letter of offer and pay the commencement fee by the deadline Remain enrolled in each compulsory study period Must not be a recipient of a government sponsorship or scholarship that covers full tuition fees, unless approved by Macquarie University Scholarship Team Announcing the scholarship David Harrison, executive director, International at Macquarie University expressed his happiness on offering the Early Acceptance Scholarship 'to talented and ambitious Indian students pursuing their academic goals at Macquarie University.' Harrison said that the initiative reflects the university's commitment to making world-class education more accessible and nurturing global talent. 'By investing in promising students early, we aim to empower them with the skills, knowledge, and international exposure needed to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. We are excited to welcome the generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers to our campus,' he added.
Mail & Guardian
25-04-2025
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
Reform legislation to boost the Pandemic Treaty
Lessons learned: During the Covid-19 pandemic, Global South countries such as South Africa were the last to get vaccines, ventilators and personal protective equipment, with these items delivered to wealthier nations first and surplus vaccines left to expire. Photo: David Harrison After three years of intense negotiations, the World Health Organisation (WHO) member states have reached consensus on the Pandemic Treaty, officially known as the WHO Pandemic Agreement, a global legal instrument intended to prevent and respond to future pandemics more equitably. This milestone comes in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which revealed — and in many ways exacerbated — the deep inequalities that divide the Global North and South, particularly in access to medicines, vaccines and medical technologies. Although the pandemic accelerated international cooperation in some respects, it also starkly exposed a system in which legal and economic structures privileged the wealthy and left the rest scrambling for survival. At the heart of these discussions lies a controversial and complex issue: the intersection of business interests, intellectual property law and the right to health. During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, countries in the Global South were often last in line to receive vaccines, ventilators and personal protective equipment, despite having contributed significantly to research, clinical trials and global health surveillance efforts. The primary interest of pharmaceutical companies being how much money they can make meant that vaccines were distributed primarily to wealthier nations first, often in surplus quantities that later expired unused, while lower-income countries were forced into costly and legally onerous contracts or waited months, if not years, for access to basic health interventions. This disparity was not accidental. It was the result of decades of a legal framework that embedded inequality into the global health ecosystem, a legal framework that aided multinational pharmaceutical companies largely based in the Global North. Key among these are the intellectual property systems that allow pharmaceutical companies to hold exclusive rights over the manufacture, distribution and pricing of essential medicines and technologies. The WHO-led global mRNA technology transfer hub, launched in 2021, such as the one in Cape Town, is a promising step toward equitable access to vaccine technology. Initial successes, such as early vaccine production and the selection of regional beneficiaries, reflect real progress in decentralising biomedical capacity. But critical issues remain. Technology transfer alone is insufficient without substantial investment in infrastructure, regulatory frameworks and local expertise. Intellectual property barriers and limited cooperation from major pharmaceutical firms continue to hinder true autonomy for low- and middle-income countries. Without sustained political will, funding and commitment to structural change, the hub risks becoming a symbolic effort rather than a transformative force. Its success depends on empowering regions to build lasting, independent mRNA manufacturing and innovation capabilities beyond the current pandemic. Medicines were not always considered patentable. For much of modern history, pharmaceutical products were regarded as public goods. But, as pharmaceutical industries developed in emerging economies such as India, Brazil, and South Africa, the Global North began to reinforce intellectual property protections to maintain dominance over health innovation and markets. The turning point came with the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (Trips), adopted by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1995. Trips imposed minimum standards of intellectual property protection on all WTO member states, including for pharmaceutical products, thus placing barriers on the production and distribution of generic medicines. The system was met with significant criticism, particularly from health activists who argued that Trips impeded access to life-saving medications in low- and middle-income countries. In response, the Doha Declaration on Trips and Public Health (2001) was negotiated to reaffirm member states' rights to protect public health. It introduced 'Trips flexibilities': legal provisions allowing countries to bypass patents in emergencies, such as through compulsory licensing. But these flexibilities have proven difficult to use. A notable example was Rwanda's attempt to import generic HIV/Aids drugs from Canada under a compulsory licence, a process so bureaucratic and time-consuming that it was used only once and never repeated. As such, Trips flexibilities have offered more promise on paper than in reality. South Africa has long stood at the centre of the global struggle for equitable access to medicines. In the early 2000s, during the height of the HIV/Aids pandemic, the SA government faced legal action from multinational pharmaceutical companies for attempting to import more affordable generic antiretroviral drugs. The companies eventually dropped the case following immense public pressure, marking a major victory for health advocacy. But this victory was not matched by a full-scale overhaul of the country's intellectual property laws. South Africa's Patents Act 57 of 1978 still operates largely on a depository system with no substantive examination, allowing low-quality patents to persist and making it more difficult to introduce generics. Although the Intellectual Property Policy of the Republic of South Africa (Phase I) was adopted in 2018 and proposed key reforms — such as introducing patent opposition mechanisms and incorporating Trips flexibilities into national law — these have not yet been implemented through legislative amendments. Additionally, the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Financed Research and Development Act 51 of 2008 (IPR Act) was enacted to ensure that publicly funded research benefits the public. But this framework has limitations in practice, particularly in urgent health contexts. Realising the promise of equitable access to health technology requires not only sound policy but enforceable legal mechanisms. The WHO Pandemic Treaty was conceived as a response to the systemic failures exposed during the Covid pandemic. The primary objective is to ensure fairer and faster global distribution of vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics and related technologies in the event of future pandemics. A highly contested aspect of the negotiations centred on technology transfer, specifically whether countries and private companies would be compelled to share knowledge and waive intellectual property rights during health emergencies. Global South countries, including South Africa, pushed for binding commitments on technology transfer, arguing that reliance on voluntary cooperation had failed during the pandemic. In contrast, countries such as the US, members of the EU and Japan strongly resisted any provisions that would make intellectual property waivers mandatory. The final compromise language reportedly allows for greater flexibility during emergencies but falls short of automatic waivers, reflecting the enduring dominance of Northern interests in shaping global health governance. This debate laid bare a broader truth: law is not neutral. The wording of treaties and national laws carries weighty implications for people's lives. Terms like 'voluntary' versus 'mandatory' can determine whether life-saving technology reaches those in need, or doesn't. The Pandemic Treaty is, in essence, a battleground between competing visions of global solidarity and national self-interest. South Africa now faces a crucial moment of legal and political reckoning. The country must decide how to align its domestic legislation with the principles of the Pandemic Treaty while upholding the constitutional guarantee in section 27 of the right to access health care services. This may require substantive amendments to the Patents Act, as well as the implementation of pending reforms to improve patent quality and facilitate compulsory licensing mechanisms. Moreover, with the potential withdrawal of health funding initiatives like Pepfar (President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief), South Africa and its regional counterparts cannot afford to rely on external aid alone. Strengthening national legal frameworks to ensure independent and equitable access to medicines is now more urgent than ever. The WHO Pandemic Treaty offers a glimmer of hope, not as a panacea, but as a catalyst. For South Africa and other Global South countries, it presents a rare opportunity to reshape their legal environments in ways that prioritise public health over profit. But doing so will require bold leadership, institutional reform and the political will to confront entrenched global power dynamics. As the world looks to prepare for the next pandemic, the lessons of Covid-19 remain clear: inequality kills. The Pandemic Treaty signals a step toward building a more just global health system, but its effectiveness will depend on how it is implemented at the national level. For South Africa, this means confronting the unfinished business of intellectual property reform, leveraging the country's history of health activism and championing the constitutional right to health. In doing so, it can reaffirm its place as a leading voice in the global movement for health equity, where access to life-saving medicine is not a privilege, but a right. Rafia Akram is a lecturer of International Trade Law at the University of Pretoria and Legal consultant with Tutwa Consulting.
