Australian Cricketers Association's (ACA) chairman Greg Dyer has slammed the national board's "slash and burn approach" to combat the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying it will "have disastrous long-term consequences on the health of the game".
Under immense financial stress, Cricket Australia has put 80 percent of its staff on 20 percent salary till end of June, while a handful of others, including the executives, remained on 80 percent pay to cope up with the challenges posed by the pandemic.
The decision saved the board AUD 3 million, which was slammed by critics due to the fact that CA had some AUD 90 million in reserves at the end of March (2020), including 36 million in stock investments.
Dyer also questioned the board's financial policy, saying the game has "yet to experience a significant negative revenue event".
"It saddens me, that for the game that I have loved my whole life, cricket's response to the Covid-19 pandemic is risking an opportunity lost," Dyer said in an ..

COVID-19: ACA slams Cricket Australia's 'disastrous slash and burn approach'

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"The Office" alum BJ Novak is set to work on a multi-camera comedy series from HBO Max.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 40-year-old actor will write and executive produce the series, titled "Young People", which received a multi-script commitment at the streamer.
In the half-hour show, six twenty-somethings from very different backgrounds and perspectives find themselves sharing an apartment in Brooklyn.
The show will tackle friendship in the age of argument, connection in the age of disconnection, and the joys and anxieties of building a life in a gig-to-gig, date-to-date, month-to-month world where living like "young people" might be a transitional phase of life  or might be permanent, as per the official logline.
Warner Bros. Television will produce the show.
The news comes weeks after it was announced that Novak will be developing an untitled anthology drama series at FX.

BJ Novak to write, executive produce multi-cam comedy for HBO Max

A registry of death certificates in Mexico City suggests there were 4,577 cases where doctors mentioned coronavirus or COVID-19 as a possible or probable cause of death, more than three times the official death toll in the city.
The federal government acknowledges only 1,332 confirmed deaths in Mexico City since the pandemic began, less than a third as many as the investigation revealed.
The anti-corruption group Mexicans Against Corruption said in a report Monday that it got access to a database of death certificates issued in Mexico City between March 18 and May 12.
It showed that in explanatory notes attached to 4,577 death certificates, doctors included the words SARS, COV2, COV, COVID-19, or new coronavirus. The virus' technical name is SARS-CoV-2.
The notes the group counted included terms like suspected, "probable, or possible role of the virus in the deaths.
In 3,209 of the certificates, it was listed as a suspected contributing factor along with other causes of death, like ...

Civic group: Mexico City virus deaths 3 times those reported

Attackers used a remotely-controlled bomb and assault rifles to ambush a convoy of Pakistani troops assigned to protect an oil and gas facility in the country's restive southwest, killing six soldiers and wounding four, officials said Tuesday.
According to intelligence and security officials, the attack took place on Monday night in a remote area of Pir Ghaib, a town in southwestern Baluchistan province. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to reporters.
The casualties were brought to a military hospital in Quetta, the capital of impoverished Baluchistan province.  Hours after the attack, Mureed Baloch, a spokesman for the separatist United Baluch Army, claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a statement, he said the group targeted Pakistani soldiers assigned to protect engineers of an oil and gas facility in the region.
Earlier this month, another separatist group targeted troops with a roadside bomb in an area of Baluchistan near ..

Officials: Attackers kill 6 Pakistani troops in southwest

US President Donald Trump has warned the WHO that he would reconsider America's membership in the UN health body and "permanently freeze" the funding to it if it does not demonstrate its "independence" from China in the next 30 days.
On April 14, President Trump halted America's funding of up to USD 500 million annually to the World Health Organisation while a review is being done to assess its role in "severely mismanaging and covering up" the spread of the deadly coronavirus when it first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
In a four-page letter to WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom, Trump said,"It is clear the repeated missteps by you and your organisation in responding to the pandemic have been extremely costly for the world. The only way forward for the WHO is if it can actually demonstrate independence from China."
My administration has already started discussions with you on how to reform the organisation. But action is needed quickly. We do not have time to ...

Trump tells WHO to demonstrate 'independence' from China; warns permanent freeze of funding

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is known to have originated from Wuhan, China in December 2019, researchers tracking the origin of the virus, say that the novel coronavirus may have existed in a latent phase in the city since last October.
According to the study on the evolution of the virus, published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, infections may have followed a silent course during this early phase, spreading among the city's population in a random way without showing epidemic signs.
"An unidentified animal or animal parts contaminated by a virus initially originating from bats was brought into contact with humans in October  November 2019, starting a latent infection," the scientists wrote in the study.
The researchers, including Jordi Serra-Cobo and Marc Lopez, from the University of Barcelona in Spain have described the combination of biological and social factors which may have led to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, the first epicentre of the pandemic.
One .

Coronavirus may have silently existed in China as early as last October: Study

The United Nations on Tuesday called for an immediate reduction of violence in Afghanistan, warning that civilian deaths by both the Taliban and Afghan security forces are on the increase.
The UN mission also expressed concern about stepped-up attacks and brutality of the Islamic State group.
A horrific attack last week at a maternity hospital in the Afghan capital has not been claimed by any group, but the United States said it bears all the hallmarks of Afghanistan's IS affiliate  targeting the country's minority Shiites in a neighbourhood of Kabul that IS militants have repeatedly attacked in the past.
The Taliban denied involvement in the maternity hospital attack, which killed 24 people, including two infants and several new mothers.
The UN report blamed the Taliban for killing 208 civilians last month and also said that operations by Afghan forces in April had killed 172 civilians.
Civilians are often caught in the crossfire of the fighting and Afghan forces say they are ...

UN: Civilian deaths by Taliban and Afghan forces on the rise

Nepal has reported 18 new cases of the coronavirus, taking the total infections in the country to 375 with 2 deaths, the health ministry said on Tuesday.
The Ministry for Health and Population said of the newly diagnosed cases, 12 were from Banke district, two from Dhanusha district while one each from Khotang, Dailekh, Sunsari and Jhapa districts.
"Eighteen cases of coronavirus-infection have been confirmed by the Ministry of Health and Population, taking Nepal's tally to 375 on Monday," the ministry said.
Two patients, one male a female, have died of COVID-9 in Nepal. Thirty six patients have already recovered from the disease.
Globally, the coronavirus cases continue to rise with the total infections touching 4,805,005 with 318,534 deaths, according to John Hopkins University.

Coronavirus cases in Nepal rises to 375: Health Ministry

Popular TV host Ryan Seacrest has denied the rumours that he suffered a stroke during the finale of "American Idol" season 18.
Speculations about his health started after his fans noted on social media that during the finale, Seacrest appeared to briefly slur his words and struggled to read off the script.
The host looked visibly disheveled and at one moment, his right eye appeared larger than the other.
However, his representative told People magazine that Seacrest, 45, is fine.
"Ryan did not have any kind of stroke last night. Like many people right now, Ryan is adjusting to the new normal and finding work-home balance, with the added stress of having to put on live shows from home," the spokesperson said in a statement to People magazine.
His representative also spoke about the producer's absence from the show "Live with Kelly & Ryan" on Monday morning.
"Between Live with Kelly and Ryan, American Idol, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, and the Disney Family Singalong specials, he has ...

Ryan Seacrest is fine, says his rep after rumours about his health

Mindy Kaling and Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-creator Dan Goor have signed on to write Reese Witherspoon's Legally Blonde 3,.
Witherspoon will be returning as attorney Elle Woods for the much-anticipated MGM project, reported Deadline.
She will also be producing the film via her banner Hello Sunshine along with franchise's original producer Marc Platt.
This is the second feature film that Kaling and Goor will be teaming up on following Kaling and Priyanka Chopra's upcoming wedding comedy that Universal won in an auction last year.
The first Legally Blonde movie, which released in 2001, revolved around a lively sorority sister trying to win back her ex-boyfriend by getting a law degree from Harvard University. The film also featured Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, Matthew Davis, Victor Garber, Jennifer Coolidge and a Chihuahua named Bruiser.
The sequel, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, set in Washington, DC, came out in 2013.

Mindy Kaling, Dan Goor roped in to write Legally Blonde 3'

Actor David Arquette is set to reprise his role as Sheriff Dewey Riley in the upcoming Scream reboot.
With the new film, Spyglass Media Group is relaunching the 24-year-old franchise.
Arquette, who played the character in all the four previous installments, said he was excited to reunite with the Scream family.'
I am thrilled to be playing Dewey again and to reunite with my Scream' family, old and new. Scream' has been such a big part of my life, and for both the fans and myself, I look forward to honouring Wes Craven's legacy, the actor said a in statement to Deadline.
The makers are in talks to bring back more original cast members for the fifth Scream movie.
Ready or Not helmers Matthew Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, also known as Radio Silence, are directing the reboot from a script written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick.
Plot details are under the wraps, but production will begin later this year in Wilmington, North Carolina after safety protocols are in place.
The first 

David Arquette returning as Sheriff Dewey Riley in Scream' reboot

Actor Megan Fox and her husband Brian Austin Green have called it quits after close to 10 years of marriage.
Green, who married Fox in 2010 after dating for six years, shared the news during the latest episode of his podcast,"... With Brian Austin Green".
Talking about the photos of Fox, 34, with rapper Machine Gun Kelly that appeared over the weekend, Green said they have been "really been trying to sort of be apart" since the end of 2019.
"I will always love her. And I know she will always love me and I know as far as a family (goes), what we have built is really cool and really special," the 46-year-old actor said.
Green shares three sons with Fox -- seven-year-old Noah, six-year-old Bodhi and three-year-old Journey -- and he said as a family, their focus is on the well-being of the children.
"As far as a family, what we've built is really cool and it's really special. So we decided let's make sure that we don't lose that. Let's make sure that we're always friends with each other ..

Megan Fox splits from husband Brian Austin Green

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has announced that all its competitions, including Serie A, will remain suspended until June 14.
The Lega Serie A had hoped for a return on June 13 but the FIGC has pushed back the date in line with a government decree that all sports competitions be suspended until next month.
The FIGC said the choice was made "pending any further... decision by the authorities", suggesting the possibility of a restart on June 13 might still exist.
The Italian season has been on hold since March 9 amid the pandemic which has killed more than 32,000 people in Italy.
But Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Saturday said he needed "more guarantees" before the green light could finally be given for football to resume.
A meeting is planned in the near future between Conte and Italian football bosses.
The government's technical and scientific committee will decide in the coming days if it accepts the new health protocols proposed for a return to group training ...

No Serie A restart before June 14, says FIGC

Actor Adam Sandler is set to play the lead in Netflix movie Hustle, to be produced by LeBron James.
According to Variety, We the Animals helmer Jeremiah Zagar is attached to direct from a script penned by Taylor Materne and Will Fetters.
Sandler is also at producing the project via his Happy Madison banner along with, Roth/Kirschenbaum Films and LeBron James and Maverick Carter's SpringHill Entertainment.
In the film, Sandler will play an American basketball scout who, after being fired, discovers a talented player abroad and decides to bring him to the US to prove that they both have the calibre to make it to the NBA.
Sandler's latest release was 2019 film Uncut Gems, which turned out to be one his most critically-acclaimed performances till date and also earned him a Spirit Award.
His last project with Netflix was "Murder Mystery", co-starring Jennifer Aniston.

Adam Sandler to star in and produce Netflix film Hustle'

La Liga's proposed restart next month has left fans juggling the excitement of football's return and the disappointment it will resume without them.
More than two months after the coronavirus pandemic halted the season in Spain, players have begun training in small groups as they aim to be as ready as possible for the planned reboot on June 12.
Yet goals, saves and tackles will all be greeted by silence or at best, artificial cheers approved by authorities to be pumped out of a sound system.
Even for Sevilla against Real Betis, the usually-heart thumping Andalusian derby that encapsulates the importance of supporters more than any other Spanish fixture, the atmosphere will be non-existent on the first weekend back.
But for clubs, there is a financial necessity given La Liga president Javier Tebas has estimated cancelling the season could cost them 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion).
"People need their dose of football," Adolfo Barbero, a commentator on Movistar, Spain's primary football .

Fans torn as Spanish football prepares to begin recovery without them

Babar Azam wants to take a leaf out of Imran Khan's aggressive captaincy and besides cricket, he is also brushing up his English to become a "complete leader" like the World Cup-winning all-rounder.
Last week, the star batsman took over the reins of Pakistan's white-ball cricket after being appointed as the ODI skipper.
Azam, who was one of the world's leading batsmen across formats last year and already the T20 skipper, replaced wicket-keeper batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed as the ODI captain for the 2020-21 season.
"Imran Khan was a very aggressive captain and I want to be like him. It is not an easy job captaining the Pakistan team but I am learning from my seniors and I have also had captaincy experience since my under-19 days," Azam said.
He said that to be a complete captain one must be able to interact comfortably with the media and express oneself properly in front of an audience.
"These days I am also taking English classes besides focussing on my batting," he said on Monday.
The ...

I want to be like Imran Khan, says captain Babar Azam

The US Golf Association is cancelling qualifying for the US Open, which remains scheduled for Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York, in September.
The major championship was originally set for June 18-21 at Winged Foot, and postponed as part of the major revision of the international golf calendar in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
While the US Open remains on course for September 17-20, the USGA said that the usual local, sectional and final qualifying would not take place.
"As you can imagine, this was an incredibly difficult decision, as qualifying is a cornerstone of USGA championships," said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director of Championships for the USGA.
The governing body said the fields for the US Open and the US Women's Open would be filled entirely through exemptions, with information regarding expanded exemption categories to be made available in the coming weeks.
"We take great pride in the fact that many thousands typically enter to pursue their dream of ...

USGA scraps qualifying for US Open

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has said  he's eager for the NBA season to resume, as long as the health of players and their families won't be endangered amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
James, speaking on the "WRTS: After Party" programme on the Uninterrupted multi-media platform, said he hoped the NBA season resumes sooner rather than later.
"Definitely not giving up on the season," said James, whose Lakers led the Western Conference when the NBA suspended play on March 11 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.
The virus brought global sport to a virtual standstill, but as lockdowns aimed at preventing its spread have begun to ease, sport has begun to re-emerge.
Germany's Bundesliga became the first top European football league to resume after a two-month hiatus at the weekend.
In North America the popular NASCAR stock car series resumed without spectators on Sunday and golf stuck a toe in the water with a made-for-TV charity event featuring ...

Lakers' LeBron eager to get back to basketball

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has said he is looking for a challenge "at the top level" and is not ruling out a return to Formula One, amid increasing speculation he could sign for Renault.
"I'm in great physical shape and my motivation is sky high, so I wanted to focus on a top-level category, be it the return to F1, the endurance championship, Indycar..."
Alonso said in a video call with students at the Real Madrid Graduate School-Universidad Europea.
Alonso, who won his two world titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, quit Formula One at the end of the 2018 season.
The Spaniard is a two-time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hour endurance event and finished 13th in his Dakar Rally debut in January. He also plans to race at this year's Indianapolis 500.
"It was when I was searching for challenges and options for the coming years that I decided to opt for the Dakar adventure," Alonso said.
"It was like tossing a coin and seeing how I could enjoy what's a really different car. It was 

Alonso open to Formula One return

Jamaica's Olympic sprint legend Usain Bolt has become a father for the first time after welcoming the birth of a baby girl with partner Kasi Bennett, reports said.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness appeared to confirm the birth of Bolt's daughter in a social media post.
"Congratulations to our sprint legend Usain Bolt and Kasi Bennett on the arrival of their baby girl!" Holness wrote on Twitter.
Local media reports said the couple's daughter was born on Sunday.  No further details were immediately available.
Bolt, 33, had revealed he was expecting a daughter with Bennett on social media in March, jokingly warning any future suitors to steer clear of his daughter.
"Any man! Any boy! Don't play with me!" the eight-time Olympic gold medallist quipped.
Bolt, the world record holder at 100m and 200m, retired from athletics in 2017 after a decade of dominance in men's sprinting.
At the 2016 Olympics, Bolt became the only man to win the 100m and 200m titles at three consecutive

Sprint legend Bolt and partner welcome baby girl

The Premier League has been told by government experts that coronavirus restrictions could endure for at least a year across English football, with players allowed to resume only non-contact training from Tuesday.
England's top division has been studying how the Bundesliga was able to resume at the weekend while being realistic about missing its aspiration of getting back underway by June 12.
We have to be flexible about it, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said in a media call on Monday.
The Germans are a couple of steps ahead of us obviously and we can learn from them and watch them and take confidence from their success."
Team executives will hold talks next Tuesday to discuss protocols for allowing players to take part in contact training, but it is dependent on government approval and there being no new spike in COVID-19 cases after an easing of lockdown restrictions.
(Once) we have had a proper discussion with clubs about how much is required to create the fitness .

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