Author: Chief Editor

Rafael Nadal thinks the global nature of tennis means there is little chance tournaments will go ahead any time soon as the sport continues to be paralysed by the coronavirus pandemic. Novak Djokovic also anticipates a lengthy delay before tennis can be played even behind closed doors, with the world number one expecting players to have to wait a “few months”. The French Open, which Nadal has won a record 12 times, has been postponed until September, shortly after the US Open, while Wimbledon was cancelled earlier this month for the first time since World War II. But the prospect…

Three barges allegedly involved in illicit oil deal and seized by the Nigerian Navy may be forfeited to the Federal Government on conclusion of investigation, a naval official said on Thursday. The barges were allegedly moving unspecified quantity of petroleum product believed to be adulterated diesel before they were seized. Capt. Adegoke Ebo, Executive Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, made the revelation in Onne, Rivers, while handing over the barges to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). “Two of the barges, MT Tomking and an unnamed barge were intercepted and seized by NNS Pathfinder patrol team…

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and captain Jordan Henderson have delivered messages of support to the families of the 96 supporters killed in the Hillsborough disaster 31 years ago. A final memorial service for the victims was due to take place at Anfield on Wednesday, but has been postponed due to coronavirus guidelines on mass gatherings. “Today is the most significant date for our football club each year,” Klopp said in a video message. “The plan was for us to be together at Anfield but this is not possible, the only thing we can make sure is we are in each…

Juventus said Wednesday that French midfielder Blaise Matuidi and Italian defender Daniele Rugani had recovered from coronavirus after testing positive for it last month. Rugani was the first Italian top-flight footballer diagnosed with the virus on March 11. World Cup winner Matuidi also tested positive for COVID-19 a few days later. “Daniele Rugani and Blaise Matuidi underwent, as per protocol, a double-check with diagnostic tests (swabs) for the Coronavirus-COVID 19. The tests came back with negative results,” the club said in a statement. “The players have, therefore, recovered and are no longer subjected to the home isolation regime.” Juventus forward…

The free healthcare programme set up by the Lagos State government as medical palliative measures to cushion effect of the lockdown on residents have so far taken delivery of 600 children. The State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, disclosed this on Tuesday while giving update on how the state is tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor added that many Lagos residents have benefited from the medical palliative measures with over 18,000 patients freely attended to. “We announced medical palliative for all those who are in need of it at our 27 secondary health institutions and 57 primary healthcare facilities. “Within the time…

Global efforts to join forces against the coronavirus faltered Wednesday after Donald Trump froze funding for the World Health Organization, igniting a chorus of criticism from world leaders who urged solidarity in the face of a crippling economic crisis. The US president’s shock move came as a patchwork of countries experiment with loosening lockdown measures, ushering the planet into a new and uncertain phase of a pandemic that has killed more than 125,000 people worldwide and infected at least two million. In Europe, Denmark became the first country on the badly-hit continent to start reopening schools, while Finland lifted a…

Leroy Sane’s new agent says the Manchester City winger is still in the running for a transfer to Bayern Munich, after a potential switch was put on hold due to a serious knee injury. “FC Bayern is the only club in Germany that Leroy can see as the next step in his career,” Sane’s agent Damir Smoljan told magazine Sport Bild on Wednesday. “He believes the conditions are right there for him to achieve his ultimate goal: winning the Champions League.” The 24-year-old Sane is viewed as one of Germany’s brightest talents and has scored five goals in 21 appearances…

Arsenal’s executive team have agreed to cut more than a third of their salary as the club warned it is facing “one of the most challenging periods” in its history on Wednesday. The Premier League has been suspended indefinitely due to strict government guidelines to control the spread of coronavirus. Arsenal posted a £27 million ($34 million) loss for the 2018/19 season and are on course to lose far more this year due to the shutdown. An inability to complete the season could cost Premier League clubs an estimated £1 billion. “The potential financial impact is significant so we must be…

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday called a donors conference for May 4 to fund the creation and global deployment of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus. A vaccine “is our collective best shot at beating the virus. To support this global initiative, funding is needed,” Brussels’ top official told a videolink news conference. The pledging conference will be held online and will be done in close coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO), von der Leyen said. She added that health charities the Wellcome Trust of Britain and the Gates Foundation of US tech billionaire Bill…

The World Health Organization is purely focused on saving lives and halting the coronavirus pandemic, its chief said Wednesday after US President Donald Trump announced he was freezing funding for the WHO. “There is no time to waste. WHO’s the singular focus is on working to serve all people to save lives and stop the COVID-19 pandemic,” director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Twitter following Trump’s decision. Trump said Tuesday he was freezing the funding pending a review into the UN health agency’s “role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus”, adding: “everybody knows what’s going on…