South Africa's plans for the upcoming Test series against the British and Irish Lions took another hit after training was suspended on Monday due to another positive coronavirus test in the squad.
Lock Lood de Jager has tested positive, forcing the squad back into isolation as a precaution with the Springboks due to play Georgia again on Friday at Ellis Park.
Prop Vincent Koch and winger Sbu Nkosi tested positive and were put in isolation on June 27. Backs Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi joined them as close contacts but have been cleared to play this week.
Scrum-half Herschel Jantjies also tested positive but a review considered it a false positive. Jantjies appeared as a replacement for the Springboks last Friday when they beat Georgia 40-9 in the first Test in Pretoria.
The Springboks are building up to the three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions that is due to begin on June 27.
Coronavirus has wreaked havoc on the Springboks, forcing them to cancel all 13 home and away Tests scheduled for last year.
The match against Georgia in Pretoria last Friday was the first for the world champions in 20 months since they defeated England convincingly to win the Rugby World Cup a record-equalling third time.
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber reacted to the initial isolation by saying he did not believe the Lions tour was in jeopardy.
“There is no Springbok player who does not want to participate in this tour because it is so special, coming around just once every 12 years.
“I am not an expert in Covid, viruses and virology, but we are trying to mitigate the risks of infection and adhere to the health protocols.
“With a virus, I do not think you can completely take away the risk of contracting it, but the precautions being taken to keep us as safe as possible are magical and we are abiding by them.”
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
The specs: 2018 Genesis G70
Price, base / as tested: Dh155,000 / Dh205,000
Engine: 3.3-litre, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 370hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 510Nm @ 1,300rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.6L / 100km
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
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Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
THE NEW BATCH'S FOCUS SECTORS
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Greener Crop – agriculture
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PowerDev – energy big data
Sav – finance
Searover – renewables
Swftbox – delivery
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Workfam – employee engagement
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
