The US military has cancelled a large-scale exercise involving thousands of troops in the Philippines because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The decision to scrap Balikatan 2020 was taken "in light of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding COVID-19 pandemic and in the best interest of the health and safety of both countries' forces", US Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Phil Davidson said.
The war games, scheduled for May 4-15, would have involved more than 10,000 troops from the two longstanding allies and a smaller contingent from Australia, according to the hosts.
"We are in an extraordinary time and it's clear we would have put many people at risk had we pursued Balikatan," said Rear Admiral Adelius Bordado, the Philippines' exercise director.
The United States now has the largest number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the world while the Philippines, with limited testing, has reported around 700 cases.
Among those who tested positive is Philippines military chief ...

US cancels major Philippines war games due to virus

PTI Automatic

China and the United States should "unite to fight" the deadly coronavirus pandemic that has ravaged the globe, said President Xi Jinping in a call with his US counterpart on Friday, according to state media.
The two countries have clashed in recent weeks over the virus, but Xi told Trump China "wishes to continue sharing all information and experience with the US," said state broadcaster CCTV.

Xi tells Trump China and US must 'unite to fight virus': state media

Vigilantes in some Australian outback towns have reportedly slashed tyres of those fleeing coronavirus hotspots in the big cities, according to a government minister who urged calm on Friday.
Remote areas in the northeastern state of Queensland are being inundated with travellers -- mostly retirees --  trying to escape the highly infectious disease, Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said.
"As the borders are being shut, we are seeing a surge of grey nomads from southern states, and also from southeast Queensland, go to southwest Queensland to hide from the coronavirus," Littleproud told Seven News.
"Unfortunately this action could turn caravans into the cruise ships of the outback if someone is infected and spreads it in small communities." Easter is normally prime season for tourism in Queensland's west, as retired travellers visit the outback and remote areas of the state in droves.
Visitors' vehicles had their tyres slashed in some small towns as panicked residents fear their .

Australian outback fears crush of virus refugees: minister

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro decreed Thursday that places of worship are "essential services" that must be exempted from coronavirus confinement orders, the far-right leader's latest jab at aggressive containment measures.
The decree, published in the government diary, adds "religious activities of any kind" to the list of exempted services, alongside supermarkets and pharmacies.
It adds that such activities must be carried out "in accordance with health ministry guidelines." Bolsonaro, who was elected in 2018 with the backing of Brazil's burgeoning evangelical Christian community, has clashed with local authorities who have closed schools and businesses in places such as Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in a bid to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.
The president, who has called the reaction to the pandemic "overblown," says such measures are unnecessary and will wreck Latin America's biggest economy.
Most places of worship in Brazil have already suspended services because .

Brazil's Bolsonaro exempts churches from quarantine

England bowler James Anderson is determined that the coronavirus will not end his illustrious career as he focuses on keeping fit by taking part in "virtual" training sessions with his teammates.
Anderson, 37, whose 584 Test wickets are the most taken by any paceman in the history of the game, is nearing the end of his playing days.
But the Lancashire veteran says despite having no cricket to play until the end of May at the earliest, the idea of not bowling professionally again has not crossed his mind.
"I've not actually thought about never playing cricket again," he said during a conference call on Thursday.
"I feel like we will play again and I will play again at some stage.
"I'm still hungry to play, I've still got ambitions to play for England.
"So I think the fact I've been able to do this for a long time and I get to play a sport as a job means when I do get to do that again, I'm really going to cherish it and enjoy every single moment of it."
With Britain under a coronavirus .

England's Anderson says coronavirus won't end cricket career

With nagging concerns about coronavirus sweeping through teams and players scattered across the world, unable or hesitant to return, China is finding that restarting football is no simple matter.
The problems faced by China, one of the first countries to suspend football and the epicentre of the pandemic, could be a glimpse into the future for other leagues called off around the world.
The Chinese Super League (CSL) was a harbinger of the collapse of global sport when officials announced in January that the February 22 start date had been indefinitely postponed.
Last week there were claims that with the peak of coronavirus -- which emerged in China in December -- seemingly over in the country, the CSL could start on April 18. May 2 was also mentioned.
But then came the first confirmed coronavirus case in Chinese football, a Brazilian in the second tier, one of a wave of imported cases that has put China on alert for a second virus emergency.
And on Sunday former Manchester United ...

Lessons from China as coronavirus-hit football faces difficult return

The US Open golf tournament, scheduled to be held in mid-June, is on thin ice and likely to be postponed, the US media reported.
The June 18-21 majr at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York is in jeopardy and now the US Golf Association (USGA) hopes to hold the tournament later in the summer, the New York Post reported. The new date would depend on how the New York area recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The course was closed last week when New York governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order halting all non-essential businesses in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
USGA senior director of championship communications Beth Major told the newspaper on Thursday, "Nothing is official at this point.
"Obviously, we're talking about it, knowing what's going on in New York (which has the most COVID-19 cases in the country) right now."
The USGA said earlier that it hoped to make a decision about the US Open in mid-April.
The first two major tournaments of the season, The ...

US Open golf facing postponement - report

Xi jinping, china, coronavirus

There were another 55 new infections in China Friday, the National Health Commission said, with one local infection and 54 imported cases from overseas

China bans entry of foreign visitors as imported coronavirus cases rise

Business Standard

Forced by the coronavirus pandemic to suspend reelection rallies, President Donald Trump has converted daily White House briefings on the crisis into mini campaign speeches, dominating the airwaves while his main rival sits quarantined in his basement.
In a nation paralyzed by fear of the rampaging virus, the White House briefing room podium is the go-to place for primetime television viewers to catch their government's latest response.
At least that's the idea.
But center stage is reserved for Trump and with a little over seven months to election day, the virus is not the only battle on the Republican's mind.
Experts, like renowned infectious diseases doctor Anthony Fauci, line up behind the president. The unquestioned star, though, is their showman-like boss.
Held at around 5:30 or 6:00 pm in Washington, the briefings are hardly brief, clocking in at 90 minutes or more.
First come the aides, quietly standing around an empty space at the lectern. Then, with the timing honed during a .

Trump coronavirus briefings become mini election rallies

The 104th Indianapolis 500 was moved from May 24 to August 23 by IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
It will mark the first time the US classic on the famed 2 1/2-mile (4km) oval will be staged outside of May since its 1911 debut, with Frenchman Simon Pagenaud looking to defend his title.
Organizers also moved the IndyCar Grand Prix of Indianapolis, which had been scheduled for May 9 on the road course at the Speedway, to July 4 -- the American Independence Day holiday -- as part of a revamped IndyCar season schedule.
"The Month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is my favorite time of year, and like our fans, I am disappointed that we have had to reschedule the Indianapolis 500," series and speedway owner Roger Penske said on Thursday.
"However, the health and safety of our event participants and spectators is our top priority, and we believe that postponing the event is the responsible decision with the conditions and ...

Indianapolis 500 moved to August 23 due to coronavirus

South American football's governing body CONMEBOL said  it would advance participation fees to clubs playing in its two flagship competitions that are suspended over the coronavirus pandemic.
The Copa Libertadores -- the region's equivalent to Europe's Champions League -- and the secondary Copa Sudamericana have been suspended since March 12, with CONMEBOL saying there would be no play until May 5 at the earliest.
All major football leagues in South America have also been suspended as the region battles to control the deadly outbreak.
It has put many clubs under serious financial strain, unable to generate income to pay their expenses.
"The clubs that are playing in the group phase of the 2020 CONMEBOL Libertadores or CONMEBOL Sudamericana can request a one-off advance of up to 60 percent of their participation rights," said the governing body.
That figure amounts to the equivalent of $1.8 million for the 32 clubs taking part in the Copa Libertadores group phase.
"Situations like this 

CONMEBOL offers clubs advance fees for suspended cups

The English football season from the seventh-tier down has been brought to an end with results from the campaign voided, the Football Association announced.
No promotion or relegation will take place from the leagues affected in what could be an important precedent if the suspension of professional games due to the COVID-19 pandemic is extended.
"The FA and NLS (National League System) steps three to six have reached a consensus that their 2019-20 season will now be brought to an end, and all results will be expunged," the FA said in a statement.
"This will mean no promotion or relegation of clubs between NLS steps three to six, and no promotion to NLS step two."
Men's grassroots football and women's football below the top two tiers were also brought to an end to "allow the game to move forward and to commence planning for next season."
The Premier League and English Football League have so far insisted they will try to finish the current season whenever it is safe to do so.
Football .

English non-league clubs agree to void season

The All England Club will hold an emergency meeting next week to discuss the possible postponement or even cancellation of Wimbledon in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.
AFP Sport looks at the key questions facing the organisers of what is generally regarded as the world's most prestigious tennis tournament.
What are the options for Wimbledon this year?
============================================= --
Wimbledon, which is scheduled to take place from June 29 until July 12, has been staged every year in peace time since 1877, shelved only during the two world wars.  However, the spread of the coronavirus has brought havoc to the 2020 global sports calendar.
Tennis is at a standstill until June 7 with the entire European claycourt season already wiped out.
Roland Garros, traditionally the season's second Grand Slam of four, has been rescheduled from its traditional late May-early June slot to September 20-October 4.
The grass court season is relatively short, five weeks for the ...

Key questions as Wimbledon faces postponement or cancellation

The organisers of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England are to give 20,021 tickets to key workers in recognition of their efforts trying to combat the coronavirus.
Tournament chief executive Jon Dutton made the announcement during an online press conference on Thursday which took place at the same time as a nationwide round of applause for the staff of Britain's National Health Service.
"The team has made the unanimous decision to provide 20,021 free tickets to key workers in the UK as our way of saying thank you," Dutton said.
"The work, effort, dedication and sheer determination needs to be recognised and hopefully we can provide these local heroes and their families with something to look forward to next year."
With the Rugby League World Cup set to be staged in October and November next year, Dutton hopes the tournament will escape the kind of postponements and shutdowns in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 that have affected many other sports across the world, including ..

Rugby League World Cup to give 20,021 tickets to key workers

Colombian sprinter Fernando Gaviria said he had recovered from coronavirus.
The 25-year-old of Team UAE Emirates contracted the disease during last month's Emirates Tour that was canceled on February 27 after several riders caught the virus.
"The last tests I took came back negative and the doctors have discharged me from hospital," Gaviria wrote on Instagram on Thursday.
Following days of rumors amidst a social media silence, Gaviria had admitted on March 12 he was one of the cyclists to have caught the virus.
He remained in the United Arab Emirates, where his team is based, under constant medical attention, during which time he insisted he felt healthy.
"My focus now is on returning home and reuniting with my family," said Gaviria.
However, Colombia is under total lockdown until April 13 due to the pandemic.  It has closed its borders and banned commercial flights from arriving.
Colombia has recorded almost 500 coronavirus cases and six deaths.

Colombian cyclist Gaviria says recovered from coronavirus

NBA star Stephen Curry took his questions on the coronavirus pandemic to senior US scientist Anthony Fauci
in an Instagram conversation that drew almost 50,000 viewers, including former president Barack Obama.
The message from Fauci, who leads research into infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health: "This is serious business."
"One of the reasons why I wanted to have this Q&A, is to hopefully reach different demographics and people who are interested in the facts," Curry told Fauci during the Instagram Live broadcast on Thursday.
He said seeing pictures of people at crowded beaches and parks, even as Californians are under orders to stay home and pratice social distancing, prompted him to try to reach out.
Curry talked about his bout with what was confirmed to be seasonal flu earlier this month, revealing he was tested at the time for COVID-19.
"I had flu-like symptoms about two days before the NBA shut down and I got a test pretty much right away," Curry said.
"And ...

Warriors' Curry quizes Fauci on COVID-19

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes the 'homework' he has set his players during the coronavirus outbreak could see some of them become coaches.
With the Premier League halted and Britain in a state of lockdown, players are having to train at home.
Arteta tested positive for COVID-19 a fortnight ago but has now recovered.
"There is the psychological support that they need, which we are giving them (the players)," Arteta, who turned 38 on Thursday, told Arsenal's website.
"And as well I'm giving them a lot of homework to do because I've been reviewing everything that we've been doing since I joined.
"There are things we have to maintain doing, improve and develop, and individually they are really enjoying the challenge.
"We might get a few coaches after this virus, or at least a few players that are willing to go down that path, because I think they are really enjoying the process."
Arteta, a father of three children, said he he was trying to make the best of a bad situation.
"For 17 

Arteta reckons Arsenal 'homework' could lead to new coaches

Italy's sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora said he was "very, very doubtful" that Serie A action would return as hoped in early May.
Both Spadafora and Italian football federation chief Gabriele Gravina had last week expressed their hope that the championship could resume on the weekend of May 2.
"The forecasts that made us think we could resume sports competitions in late April or early May I think are a bit too optimistic," Spadafora told Italian television station Rai 3.
"I am very, very doubtful. I can certainly say that if there are conditions to resume competitions in certain circumstances, it will certainly take place behind closed doors.
"To date, it is unthinkable to say that in May it is possible to resume all competitions regularly, especially with spectators.
"Even scientists have no certainty about the evolution of the epidemic. We have to adapt our decisions to changing situations." All sport in Italy has been suspended until April 3 as a result of the coronavirus ...

Italy's sports minister 'doubtful' of early May return for Serie A

Barcelona said they were slashing salaries to counter the financial fall-out from the coronavirus although the Spanish giants did not specify if all of its employees would be affected by the move.
All football has been suspended in Spain where the virus has so far killed more than 4,000 people with 56,000 confirmed cases.
"The suspension of competitions, following the epidemic of Covid-19, entails the cessation of all activities, sporting and non-sporting, of our club," said a statement released by Barcelona.
The club, it added, had taken a "series of measures to mitigate its effects and reduce the economic consequences of this crisis."
"Essentially, it is a reduction in the working day, forced by the circumstances, and consequently a proportional reduction in the remuneration provided for in the respective contracts."
The Catalan club did not specify, however, the scale of the cuts or if all of its employees are affected.

Barcelona to cut salaries in virus fight

Athletes who had already qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics before they were postponed will keep their places when the showpiece takes place in 2021, sources told AFP.
Around 57% of the 11,000 scheduled participants for Tokyo had already made sure of taking part when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) pushed the Games back to 2021 due to the coronavirus on Tuesday.
The IOC and 32 international sports federations held a teleconference on Thursday where it was decided to respect the qualification process.
"Thomas Bach (the IOC President) first explained the reasons for the postponement of the Games, then said that the athletes qualified for Tokyo 2020 would automatically be qualified for 2021," one of the participants in the conference told AFP.
"One of the main subjects was to know when and how to organise the qualifications.
"In some federations, many sportsmen and sportswomen are not qualified and it takes at least three months for the Olympic Games to organise them."
The ..

Athletes qualified for Tokyo 2020 will keep 2021 spots

China reported more than 50 imported cases of the coronavirus on Friday, hours after announcing a ban on foreigners entering the country.
In recent weeks China's tally of infections has dwindled dramatically, with only a handful of domestic patients each day. But just as the country appears to bring the outbreak under control, nations around the globe have been battling to control soaring numbers of infections in new hotspots.
There were another 55 new infections in China Friday, the National Health Commission said, with one local infection and 54 imported cases from overseas.
Beijing has been racing to control the number of infections being brought into the country -- mostly Chinese nationals returning home from overseas, including large numbers of students abroad.
On Thursday Beijing announced dramatic measures to curb arrivals into the country, including reducing the number of international flights, limiting the capacity on board to 75 percent, and imposing a ban on foreigners ...

AFP

AFP

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