NBA referee Courtney Kirkland has been cleared by doctors to depart Sacramento after coronavirus test results returned negative, ESPN reported Sunday.
Kirkland, who has officiated more than 1,200 games in 20 seasons as a league referee, has been cleared to resume all activity without restrictions, according to the report on the sports network's website, citing unnamed sources.
The news comes four days after Kirkland had been scheduled to officiate the Sacramento Kings' home game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
But the contest was postponed minutes before tipoff because Kirkland had also worked the Utah-Toronto game on Monday in Salt Lake City.
The move was made in the wake of Utah All-Star center Rudy Gobert of France testing positive for COVID-19 just before a scheduled game Wednesday.
Another Utah player, Donovan Mitchell, also tested positive for coronavirus.  Kirkland, 45, was tested on Thursday and isolated himself until receiving the results.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver put ..

NBA referee Kirkland tests negative for coronavirus: report

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Cafes, shops and restaurants shut down across France and Spain on Sunday and travellers faced chaos at US airports as governments stepped up their fight against the coronavirus pandemic which has now reportedly killed more than 6,000.
France ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses, while Spain went a step further and banned people from leaving home except to go to work, get medical care or buy food.
Cases also spiked in Germany and sources told AFP that the government planned to shut its borders with France, Switzerland and Austria on Monday.  Spain and France are among the worst-hit countries in Europe although Italy, which imposed Europe's most draconian lockdown on its 60 million citizens last week, still dominates in terms of infections from COVID-19.
A spike in deaths reported in Spain from 183 on Saturday to 288 on Sunday took the global toll to 6,036 from almost 160,000 infections, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources.
Experts warn, however, that 

Spain, France tighten controls as global deaths pass 6,000

In the face of furious criticism, French Ligue 1 outfit Lyon defended their president Jean-Michel Aulas on Sunday, who had suggested wiping out the French season.
Aulas, his club said in a statement, had only envisaged "a hypothesis" when he talked about "a blank season", if Ligue 1 could not completed its fixture because of the coronavirus pandemic.
On Friday, Aulas told Le Monde newspaper: "The most logical thing would be to say: we'll cancel everything and go back to the situation at the start of the season."
That would mean Lyon's great rivals, Paris Saint-Germain, would be deprived of a likely league title, while Lyon, seventh in the table, would become one of the four French qualifiers in next season's Champions League. Marseille, in second, would miss out.
On Saturday, Aulas told French television he "obviously" wanted to end the current campaign.
"I haven't in any way dismissed the chance to finish the championship," he said.
"The question was what would happen if the ...

Lyon defend president Aulas from coronavirus criticism

Gulf shares dropped Sunday amid unprecedented shutdowns to ward off the spread of coronavirus, despite tens of billions of dollars in stimulus packages announced by oil-rich governments.
The Saudi Tadawul market, the region's largest, dropped 1.1 per cent despite the kingdom announcing a USD 13.3 billion stimulus package to help the national economy cope with the effects of the virus and a low oil price.
The market was also impacted by a 20.6 per cent dive in 2019 net profit of energy giant Saudi Aramco whose shares ended down 1.0 per cent.
UAE's bourses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi ignored a USD 27.2 billion stimulus package announced by the central bank, mainly directed at banks which were asked to delay debt payments of customers for up to six months.
Dubai shares dipped 3.4 per cent, sliding below the 2,000-point mark for the first time since 2013, and the Abu Dhabi stock market ended the day down 1.9 per cent.
Boursa Kuwait was the biggest loser with the Premier Index sliding 6.5 per ..

Gulf shares down despite stimulus packages

Manchester United star Paul Pogba has promised to financially support the fight to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Pogba has organised a fundraising page on Facebook and the France midfielder will double the amount raised if the target of ?27,000 is reached.
World Cup winner Pogba, who had his 27th birthday on Sunday, wrote: "It's my birthday and I'm always grateful that me, my family and friends are healthy. Nonetheless, not everybody is in good health right now.
"The Coronavirus pandemic is affecting the health and lives of many, including children. The impact of a large-scale outbreak, especially on poor and vulnerable children, can be immense.
"UNICEF is helping prevent the spread of Coronavirus by supplying vital medical supplies, consulting with communities and implementing prevention campaigns.
"It is a priority to stop the spread of this new virus, and the misinformation that's spreading alongside it.
"At times like this we need to come together. With your help, I am ...

Pogba makes coronavirus fund-raising pledge

Valencia confirmed on Sunday five of the club's players and staff have tested positive for coronavirus, including Argentinian defender Ezequiel Garay.
Valencia said all those affected were "now at home, in good health and obeying self-isolation measures."
Garay, who was set to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, became the first player in La Liga to confirm a positive test earlier on Sunday.
"Clearly I've got off on the wrong foot in 2020," Garay wrote on social media. "I've tested positive for the coronavirus, I'm fine and now just listening to the health authorities, at the moment in isolation."
Valencia confirmed more cases shortly after Garay's announcement. "Valencia CF confirm five positive cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus have been detected amongst first team staff and players.
"All of these persons are now at home, in good health and obeying self-isolation measures." Valencia played behind closed doors on Tuesday in the Champions League against Atalanta, the Serie 

Valencia confirm five positive tests for coronavirus, among them Garay

A spike in deaths from the coronavirus in Spain has pushed the global toll past 6,000, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources.
The worldwide death toll rose to 6,036, with 159,844 infections after 105 died in Spain. While China remains the country with the most deaths with 3,199, the pandemic is now spreading more rapidly in Europe, with 1,907 deaths in the continent's worst-hit country Italy.

Global coronavirus death toll passes 6,000

Malaysia said Sunday that more than half the country's 428 coronavirus cases were linked to an international Islamic gathering held last month.
The Southeast Asian nation announced a spike of 190 new infections over the weekend, mostly linked to a global Islamic event attended by almost 20,000 people.
"Of the 428 cases, 243 are participants from the religious event in Sri Petaling mosque," Noor Hisham Abdullah, director-general of the health ministry, told AFP.
Authorities said participants at the gathering from February 27 to March 1 came from Bangladesh, Brunei, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Around 14,500 of the participants were Malaysian.
Brunei reported 10 new cases on Saturday, raising the total to 50, most in people who attended the Malaysia gathering.
Singapore has also announced cases linked to the event.
On Friday, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin warned Malaysia of a second wave of infections spread and urged people to avoid mass gatherings.
Ahmad Farouk, a ...

Most Malaysia coronavirus cases linked to Islamic gathering

Spain on Sunday reported some 2,000 new coronavirus cases and more than a hundred deaths over the last 24 hours, the latest spike in Europe's second-most affected country after Italy.
The new figures raise Spain's number of COVID-19 infections to 7,753 -- and its death toll to 288 -- after the government imposed a near-total nationwide lockdown, banning people from leaving home except to go to work, get medical care or buy food.

Spain reports 2,000 new virus cases and more than 100 deaths

Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney claims the British government and football authorities have treated players like "guinea pigs" during the coronavirus crisis.
While the rest of European football was shutting down due to the growing threat of the global pandemic, Rooney is angry it took several days for the Premier League and Football League to postpone their matches until April 3.
It was only when Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for the virus on Friday that football's UK governing bodies called a temporary halt to the season.
Rooney, currently playing for second tier Derby, felt they should have acted quicker and the former England captain said he would "never forgive" the authorities if his family fell ill as a result.
"Why did we wait until Friday? Why did it take Mikel Arteta to get ill for the game in England to do the right thing?" Rooney wrote in the Sunday Times.
"For players, staff and their families it has been a ...

Players treated like 'guinea pigs' over coronavirus: Rooney

Virgil Van Dijk fears Liverpool will be forced to celebrate their first English title for 30 years in an empty stadium as a result of coronavirus chaos.
All Premier League games have been postponed until at least April 3 due to the spread of the global pandemic.
Premier League chiefs are set to meet on Thursday to discuss if it will be possible to continue the season and, if so, in what format.
Games could be played behind closed doors, which would mean Liverpool, who are 25 points clear of second placed Manchester City, winning the title without their fans being present.
That is a depressing prospect for Liverpool defender Van Dijk.
"If we won it in an empty stadium and the fans weren't there, I'd be gutted for them," he told several British newspapers on Sunday.
"Obviously, if there are no fans at Anfield, then it will be a bit of a blow. No one wants to play games without the fans.
"Until a decision is made on how we go on from here, then we just have to deal with it. But when it ..

Van Dijk fears Liverpool will win title in empty stadium

Tyson Fury's reign as world heavyweight champion will not be ended by new claims over an alleged drug-testing scam, according to WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman.
It was alleged in a Mail on Sunday report a farmer was offered money to provide an alibi for Fury's failed drugs test in 2015.
Fury and his cousin Hughie tested positive for nandrolone in 2015, which they subsequently blamed on eating uncastrated wild boar meat, citing a farmer called Martin Carefoot who claimed to have provided them with the product.
After an expensive and elongated stand-off with UK Anti-Doping, Fury and Hughie received retrospective two-year bans and were able to resume their careers in December 2017.
In the Mail report, Carefoot denied having provided the Fury team with the meat, insisting he was offered ?25,000 to make up the story in order to aid their case.
But Sulaiman, whose WBC belt Fury won against Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas last month, said the allegations would have "no impact" on his reign as ..

Fury won't lose world title over doping allegation says WBC chief

Jan Vertonghen's family were held at knife-point during a terrifying burglary while the Tottenham defender was away with his Premier League club.
British police said four men wearing balaclavas and armed with knives broke into Vertonghen's house while the Belgian international's wife and children were inside.
The 32-year-old was in Germany for Tottenham's Champions League last 16 second leg defeat against Leipzig on Tuesday.
Vertonghen was an unused substitute as Tottenham lost 3-0 to crash out of the competition.
"We have been supporting Jan and his family through this terribly traumatic time," a Tottenham spokesperson said.
"We encourage anyone who has any information to come forward to help the police with their investigation." A Police spokesman said: "Police were called to a residential address in NW3 at 7.49pm on 10 March to a report of a burglary.
"Officers attended. It was reported four men wearing balaclavas, armed with knives, had forced entry to the property and stolen a ...

Vertonghen's family held at knifepoint during home invasion

Valencia's Argentinian centre-back Ezequiel Garay said on Sunday he had tested positive for coronavirus, becoming the first player in the Spanish Liga known to have the disease.
"It's clear that 2020 has started on the wrong foot," he posted on Instagram alongside a smiling selfie giving the thumbs up.
"I tested positive for coronavirus, I feel very well and now all that's left is to do what the health authorities say, which is to isolate myself."
Garay, 33, was in the stands on Tuesday for the Champions League round-of-16 second leg match behind closed doors at the Mestalla where Valencia lost 4-3 to Atalanta, who are from Bergamo in  Lombardy, and were eliminated by an aggregate score of 8-4.
By Sunday morning, Spain had recorded 6,391 cases and 196 deaths.
All football is suspended.
Real Madrid's professional football and basketball squads were placed in quarantine on Thursday after a player from the basketball team tested positive for coronavirus.
Barcelona said on Friday they ...

Garay becomes first Liga player known to have coronavirus

Vittorio Gregotti, an Italian architect who designed the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics stadium, died Sunday at the age of 92 after catching the novel coronavirus, Italian media said.
Gregotti died of pneumonia after being hospitalised in Milan having contracted COVID-19, the AGI news agency and the Corriere della Sera newspaper reported.
He also designed the Arcimboldi Opera Theatre in Milan, a futuristic structure built to allow the opera season to continue while the La Scala underwent renovation in 2002-2004.
Paying tribute, fellow Italian architect Stefano Boeri called Gregotti a "master of international architecture" who "created the story of our culture".
"What a great sadness," he wrote on Facebook.
Gregotti's wife Mariana Mazza has been hospitalised at the same Milan hospital, Corriere della Sera said, without providing details on why.

Italian architect of Barcelona stadium dies of virus at 92

Iran on Sunday urged its citizens to stick to guidelines and stay at home to stop the new coronavirus spreading, as it announced another 113 deaths from the outbreak.
The latest death toll announced by the health ministry took to 724 the official number of people to have been killed by the disease since last month.
People "should cancel all travel and stay at home so that we may see the situation improving in the coming days," ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said in a televised news conference.
Jahanpour also reported 1,209 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection, raising the total to 13,938.
"The good news is that more than 4,590 of the overall confirmed cases have recovered" and the patients have been discharged from hospitals, he added.
Tehran province had the highest number of new infections with 251 fresh cases.  Khorasan Razavi province, home to the holy Shiite city of Mashhad, followed with 143 cases.
"The cases there will probably increase," the official said, calling .

Iran urges people to stay home as virus claims 113 lives

The president of Kazakhstan on Sunday declared a nationwide state of emergency to stem the spread of new coronavirus infections, further limiting travel and commerce.
The Central Asian country, which currently has only eight cases of COVID-19, will abide to new measures starting Monday for one month, according to a decree published on the website of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The state of emergency expands on measures announced Thursday to ban public events, also introducing "limits on functioning of large retail centres" and "limits" on entry and exit from the country, without explaining who would be banned from crossing the border.
All entertainment centres, including cinemas theatres and exhibits would be closed, it said.
The decree also unlocked funds from a government reserve to provide for the state of emergency, and tasked the government with "increasing control" over people who may be dodging quarantine or medical treatment.
A World Trade Organization conference ...

Kazakhstan declares state of emergency over coronavirus

French driver Sebastien Ogier said the Rally of Mexico should never have taken place after powering to a first win for his new team Toyota in Mexico.
The race was cut short by a day due to the coronavirus, but the rally winner himself said it should never have been raced at all given the circumstances.
"Of course a win is a win," said Ogier, who led the championship standings after this third rally on the circuit.
"But respect for human life should be placed above all other things, and if we put our fans in danger, then a victory is worthless," said the 36-year-old who is a six-time world champion.
The racing on Sunday should have comprised three specials, but the rally was terminated after the second full day, with Ogier 27 seconds ahead of defending world champion Ott Tanak of Hyundai.
Tanak led the early action Friday before suffering a badly damaged suspension when hitting a rock that saw him drop from first to fourth in one of Saturday's early runs.
After a bad crash ruined his ..

Ogier wins shortened Rally of Mexico

Iran announced on Sunday that the new coronavirus has killed 113 more people, the highest single-day death toll yet in one of the world's worst-affected countries.
People "should cancel all travel and stay at home so that we may see the situation improving in the coming days," health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said in a televised conference.

Iran reports 113 new virus deaths, raising total to 724

Zimbabwe's defence minister has called the coronavirus pandemic a "punishment" of the US and Europe for imposing sanctions against members of the ruling regime over human rights abuses.
Coronavirus has infected more than 150,000 people worldwide and killed almost 6,000 since it was first detected in China last December.
"Coronavirus is the work of god punishing countries who imposed sanctions on us," said Zimbabwe's defence minister Oppah Muchinguri on Saturday, speaking at a rally in the northern town of Chinhoyi.
"They are now staying indoors. Their economies are screaming just like they did to our economy." The United States and the European Union first imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe during the despotic rule of the country's late ex-president Robert Mugabe, ousted by the military in November 2017.
The measures were aimed at high-ranking officials and government institutions, including travel bans on Mugabe and his inner circle.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been battling to ...

Virus 'god's punishment' of west: Zimbabwe minister

France will progressively reduce long-distance train, bus and plane travel on its territory over the coming days in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus, the ecology minister said Sunday.
The country, which has already shut cafes, restaurants, schools and universities and urged people to limit their movements, will now seek to limit long-distance travel "to the strictly necessary" minister Elisabeth Borne told journalists in Paris.

AFP

AFP

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