Belgian cup final back on and set for August 1

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May 28, 2020

BRUSSELS – Champions Club Bruges will meet Royal Antwerp in the Belgian Cup final on Aug. 1 despite the rest of the 2019-20 season having been called off, the Belgian football association said on Thursday.

The match will take place behind closed doors at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.

The decision was announced after the two clubs, the Belgian Pro League and football association met with city officials to sort out arrangements and police and security services gave a green light.

The final was originally supposed to be played on March 22 but was called off at the start of the COVID-19 health crisis. Belgium has since ended its season early with Club Bruges declared champions.

Lyme disease symptoms could be mistaken for COVID-19, with serious consequences

By

Dan Ojumah

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May 28, 2020

Ticks transmit bacteria — Ticks like this one, can transmit bacteria that cause severe illnesses in humans.

Summer is field season for ecologists like me, a time when my colleagues, students and I go out into fields and woods in search of ticks to study the patterns and processes that allow disease-causing microbes – primarily bacteria and viruses – to spread among wildlife and humans.

That field work means we’re also at risk of getting the very diseases we study. I always remind my crew members to pay close attention to their health. If they get a fever or any other signs of sickness, they should seek medical treatment immediately and tell their doctor that they may have been exposed to ticks.

When summer flu-like illnesses develop in anyone who spends time outdoors in areas where ticks are common, tick-transmitted diseases like Lyme disease should be considered a likely culprit.

This summer, however, the global emergence of the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 is presenting a whole new set of challenges for diagnosing Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

Lyme disease shares a number of symptoms with COVID-19, including fever, achiness and chills. Anyone who mistakes Lyme disease for COVID-19 could unknowingly delay necessary medical treatment, and that can lead to severe, potentially debilitating symptoms.

Delaying medical treatment can be dangerous

As we move from spring into summer, and into the peak period of tick activity in much of the Northern Hemisphere, time spent outdoors will increase, as will risk of tick-transmitted disease.

In some cases, there are key symptoms of a tick-transmitted disease that can help with diagnosis. For example, early Lyme disease, which is caused by the bite of an infected black-legged tick, sometimes called the deer tick, is commonly associated with an expanding “bull’s-eye rash.” Seventy percent to 80% of patients have this symptom.

However, other symptoms of Lyme disease – fever, head and body aches and fatigue – are less distinctive and can be easily confused with other illnesses, including COVID-19. This can make it more difficult to diagnose a patient who did not notice a rash or was unaware that they ever had a tick bite. As a result, Lyme disease cases can be misdiagnosed. Nationally, Lyme disease may be undercounted to the point that only one in 10 cases is reported to the CDC.

A student plucks samples off a drag cloth used to collect ticks. Jory Brinkerhoff/University of Richmond, CC BY-SA

If Lyme disease is identified and treated quickly, two to four weeks of antibiotics can usually knock out Borrelia burgdorferi, the species of spirochete bacteria that causes it.

But delays in the treatment of Lyme disease can lead to more severe and persistent symptoms. If Lyme disease goes untreated, neurological and cognitive problems and potentially fatal heart problems can develop, and painful arthritis that is much more difficult to treat can set in.

Lyme disease isn’t the only tick problem

Lyme disease is most common in the Northeast and North Central U.S., but that does not mean that people in areas without Lyme disease are free from worry about tick-transmitted disease. Ticks throughout North America can spread a wide range of diseases, many of which also present with flu-like symptoms, leading to the potential for misdiagnosis, especially when these diseases are not especially common in the general population.

A closeup of a tick’s head under an electron microscope. Fernando Otalora-Luna/University of Richmond, CC BY

Spotted fevers are another group of tick-transmitted diseases. The most severe of these is Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can be fatal. Spotted fevers, as the name suggests, are typically associated with a rash. But the rash may not show until after fever and other flu-like symptoms, creating the same risk of being mistaken for COVID-19. Like Lyme disease, spotted fevers can be treated with anitibiotics, and early treatment can head off more severe infections, so quick, accurate diagnosis is critical.

Is COVID-19 increasing chances of tick bites?

Recent reports from across the nation and around the globe suggest that wildlife have become more bold this spring, wandering into suburbs and cities where human and vehicle traffic are reduced because of COVID-19.

Whether this phenomenon is being driven by changes in animal behavior or is simply an artifact of humans spending more time in their homes and becoming more aware of their surroundings is not clear, but changes in wildlife behavior and habitat use could affect tick-transmitted disease. For example, white-tailed deer are important hosts to multiple human-biting tick species in eastern North America, including black-legged ticks, and more deer around our homes and in our neighborhoods could lead to more ticks that have a chance to bite humans.

A closeup of a tick’s mouth parts under an electron microscope shows the barbs that allow it to hang on after it penetrates skin. Fernando Otalora-Luna/University of Richmond, CC BY-SA

Ticks do not move very far by themselves – perhaps about a foot per day for some species – but can be dispersed dozens of miles or more while hitching a ride on a highly mobile host like a deer, coyote or bird. Thus, the wildlife we observe exploring our neighborhoods while we are encouraged to stay at home may be leaving behind ticks that are carrying pathogens, or that could acquire infection from the more common wildlife already near our homes.

Staying safe

Awareness is a key component of preventing and treating tick-borne disease. People should be aware of the activities that could expose them to ticks, and physicians should consider the possibility of tick-borne disease, especially given the potential overlap in symptoms with COVID-19.

As with COVID-19, mitigation efforts can substantially reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases. Wear long sleeves and long pants and use an EPA-registered repellent when you are in tick habitat, and check yourself thoroughly for ticks when you get home.

It is important to be aware of ticks when spending time outside, but fear of ticks should not stop people from enjoying nature.

[Get facts about coronavirus and the latest research. Sign up for The Conversation’s newsletter.]

Jory Brinkerhoff, Associate Professor of Biology, University of Richmond

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

“All of this is lies” Kabuga denies Rwanda genocide accusations

By

Dan Ojumah

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May 28, 2020

Félicien Kabuga, the man accused of financing the 1994 Rwandan genocide has denied participating in the killings – By Prudence Wanza.

Kabuga was detained earlier this month on charges relating to the 1994 genocide terming the accusations as lies.

“All of this is lies. I have not killed any Tutsis. I was working with them,” Kabuga is quoted by BBC as he defended himself in a French court during a bail hearing.

He is alleged to finance and armed ethnic Hutu militias who killed about 800,000 people in 1994.
Kabuga’s lawyers argued that he should be tried in France instead of being transferred owing to his old age and ill-health.

The court however denied his request as prosecutors had raised the issue of the suspect being a flight risk. The court will rule on his extradition on June 3.

The 84-year-old had been living in a suburb in Paris living under a false identity and has been on the run for 26 years.

Police reported that he used over 28 aliases to escape being arrested.
Before moving to Paris, Kabuga is alleged to have lived in many countries in East Africa including Kenya.

Olympic chief Bach consults with IOC members over virus fallout

By

Dan Ojumah

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May 28, 2020

Olympic chief Thomas Bach on Wednesday held a series of talks with International Olympic Committee members on the potential consequences of the coronavirus pandemic that has seen the Tokyo Games pushed back a year to 2021, sources said.

Bach was to address the 100 IOC members in three different sessions decided by language and local time zone.

Bach’s aim is to canvas the members for their view on “how to handle the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic”, a source told AFP.

The IOC president wants to hear “thoughts, ideas and experiences of all members across the globe”, it added.

While Bach addressed all Olympic actors on March 24 when announcing the postponement of the Tokyo Games, it is the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak that he has specifically consulted IOC members.

Bach was backed up by Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi, IOC sports director Kit McConnell, IOC director general Christophe De Kepper and chief operating officer Lana Haddad.

The IOC’s medical and scientific director, Richard Budgett, also took to the floor to discuss “the issue of a vaccine”, according to a second source.

Bach warned last week that 2021 was the “last option” for holding the delayed Tokyo Games, stressing that postponement cannot go on forever.

He said he backed Japan’s stance that the Games will have to be cancelled if the coronavirus pandemic isn’t under control by next year.

The German wouldn’t say, however, whether a vaccine was a prerequisite for going ahead with the Olympics, but was lukewarm on the idea of holding them without fans.

In March, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were postponed to July 23, 2021 over the coronavirus, which has killed hundreds of thousands around the world and halted international sport and travel. It was the first peacetime postponement of the Olympics.

The IOC has already set aside $800 million to help organisers and sports federations meet the extra costs of a postponed Olympics.

According to the latest budget, the Games were due to cost $12.6 billion, shared between the organizing committee, the government of Japan and Tokyo city.

Formula 1’s cost-cutting changes, including budget cap, approved

By

Dan Ojumah

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May 28, 2020

Reduced cost-cap from 2021 onwards and new ‘aero handicap’ system among wide-ranging new rules; “F1 wins today,” say McLaren

F1’s big and wide-ranging package of cost-cutting measures – headlined by a tighter budget cap – have been approved to make the sport more sustainable and competitive into the future.

Rubber stamped by the World Motor Sport council on Wednesday, F1 will introduce a $145m budget cap from next season and – for the first time – an aero development handicap system for the more successful teams.

“Formula 1 wins today,” said McLaren’s Zak Brown. “This is a crucially important moment for our sport.

“F1 has been financially unsustainable for some time, and inaction would have risked the future of F1 and its participants, who are to be commended for resolving this issue collectively and determinedly.”

The main changes in the regulations are:

A reduction of the cost-cap level to $145M for 2021, $140M for 2022 and $135M for 2023-2025, based on a 21-race season
An ‘aero handicap’ for 2021, with teams limited to how much aerodynamic development they can do based on where they finish in the championship
A new token system for 2021 so that teams can only make a limited number of modifications to their 2020 cars for next season

F1 had previously agreed to install the sport’s first-ever budget cap from next year with a limit of $175m, as part of a wider package of technical, sporting and financial rule changes designed to improve the spectacle and give more teams a chance of success.

But the coronavirus crisis, which has seen a number of British-based outfits place sections of their staff on furlough and resulted in F1’s factory shutdown period being brought forward and extended, has accelerated the need for F1 to slash costs.

The grid’s leading teams are currently spending in excess of $200m per season.

Renault, who have also long pushed for cost reductions, said in a statement that the changes “constitute responsible and appropriate responses to the short and long term challenges of Formula 1”.

What else is changing?

Having previously agreed to defer the sport’s car-design overhaul by 12 months to 2022 and continue with the still-unraced 2020 cars for next year, F1’s teams and stakeholders have also agreed immediate measures for when this season does begin.

Power unit upgrades will be limited, with test bench use at factories restricted, while all teams will have to adhere to reduced aerodynamic development time.

The FIA also confirmed that a “large list of components” over the 2020-2021 off-season – including the chassis and gearbox – will be frozen, with the token system to only allow for limited modifications.

For 2021, changes to the plan-view trim and simplification of the floor ahead of the rear tyres will be enforced “in order to moderate the increase of downforce” expected between this season and next.

With the early European events of the new season set to take place without fans in attendance, starting with the planned Austrian GP on July 5, F1’s Sporting Regulations now differentiate and include provisions for ‘open’ and ‘closed’ events

What will the budget cap mean for teams?

While the budget cap will still preclude some big-ticket items, such as drivers’ salaries, the introduction of the $145m limit for team performance for 2021 and subsequent sliding scale is set to prompt significant and long-lasting changes to aspects of teams’ operations.

McLaren are expected to make around 70 redundancies in their F1 team as part of wider cost-cutting measures at the Woking group in preparation for the cap and Andreas Seidl, their team principal, said: “It has been clear to everyone for some time that a budget cap would be applied and we pushed for a lower limit to support a financially sustainable sport

“It is a big challenge ahead of us.

“Adjusting the way we work and right-sizing the team to this new cap over the next months is a massive and painful task and, highlighted by our news earlier this week, will sadly mean losing team members, but our aim is to be the best-sized and most efficient team in the future.”

Trump threatens to close down ‘social media’ after tweet tagged

By

Dan Ojumah

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May 28, 2020

US President Donald Trump threatened Wednesday to shut down social media platforms after Twitter for the first time acted against his false tweets, prompting the enraged Republican to double down on unsubstantiated claims and conspiracy theories – By Agence France Presse(AFP)

There is no evidence that attempts are being made to rig the election, and under the tweets Twitter posted a link which read: “Get the facts about mail-in ballots.”

For years, Twitter has been accused of ignoring the president’s violation of platform rules with his daily, often hourly barrages of personal insults and inaccurate information sent to more than 80 million followers.

But Twitter’s slap on the wrist was enough to drive Trump into a tirade — on Twitter — in which he claimed that the political right in the United States is being censored.

‘Blatant lies’

Kate Ruane, at the American Civil Liberties Union, said that Trump has no power to regulate Twitter.

Now that he faces Biden, Barack Obama’s vice president, Trump is again using Twitter to attack his popular predecessor.

His murky claim that the Democrat was part of a “coup” attempt during the early days of his administration has a Twitter hashtag — #ObamaGate — that the president uses regularly.

The claim that Twitter is biased against conservatives fits the White House narrative that the billionaire president is still an outsider politician running against the elite.

PL confirms four positive COVID tests from three clubs as teams approve contact training

By

Dan Ojumah

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May 28, 2020

The Premier League have confirmed four people from three clubs have tested positive for coronavirus out of 1,008 tests carried out this week.

A total of 12 positive results in total have now been recorded after three rounds of more than 2,700 tests.

Those who have contracted COVID-19 must self-isolate for seven days before being allowed to rejoin teams.

The next batch of testing will be the first one when at least some of the 20 top flight clubs will have resumed “close-contact” training.

Players will now be able to train in larger groups and even tackle each other ahead of next month’s proposed Premier League return after clubs approved the move earlier today.

Just 12 overall positive results is good news ahead of Thursday’s crunch meeting.

Then, club bosses are set to be presented with draft proposals for how the season could finish – including a return date.

Reports have already claimed that the first game back could be a blockbuster clash between Spurs and Manchester United.

That would all form part of a Champions League-style plan to get games back on TV, which could see staggered kick-off times so every fixture is shown live.

The Sun reported recently of Bournemouth keeper Aaron Ramsdale’s shock at his positive coronavirus test.

The Cherries and England Under-21 star tested positive last Friday after training, despite being asymptomatic.

It came after a negative test the Monday before and he believes he got the virus at the supermarket.

Ramsdale told SunSport: “It’s definitely a shock — I’ve not been in contact with anybody and I’ve now got it.

“I’m showing no symptoms so the fact that a healthy young person could potentially have it is definitely scary and worrying.

“It’s obviously not great that I’ve got it but it’s good that I’m showing no symptoms.

“It’s one of those things that has unfortunately happened and happened to me.”

Real Madrid offers FOUR players in return for Paul Pogba

By

Dan Ojumah

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May 28, 2020

Zinedine Zidane, the Real Madrid manager, is still keen to sign Paul Pogba
He will reportedly offer James Rodriguez and Martin Odegaard in a swap deal
Lucas Vazquez and Brahim Diaz will also be in the proposal to Manchester United
But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to play Pogba with Bruno Fernandez in midfield

Real Madrid have reportedly offered four players, including James Rodriguez and Martin Odegaard, to Manchester United in an attempt to sign Paul Pogba.

Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has long been an admirer of French World Cup winner Pogba, who has missed most of this season with a series of ankle issues.

However, Madrid are still keen on signing him and feel a swap deal – also involving Lucas Vazquez and Brahim Diaz – could be an avenue to sign the 27-year-old, according toreports, though United insist their player is not for sale.

The report details that United Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to get Pogba reintegrated in the starting XI when football resumes again.

Solskjaer wants to pair Pogba with January arrival Bruno Fernandez in the Centre of midfield, with both training this week.

Pogba has only played twice since September and has not played since Boxing Day, but has used the period in which football has been suspended to recover and get back to full fitness

Fairmont Norfolk hotel closes indefinitely, fires all employees

By

Dan Ojumah

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May 28, 2020

The Fairmont Norfolk, one of the oldest hotels here in Kenya with over 100 years of existence has closed indefinitely and fired all its employees citing harsh economic times due to the Coronavirus global outbreak – By Prudence Wanza

Through a memo, Country General Manager Mehdi Morad told the staff and other stakeholders that the unpredictable times bought about the coronavirus outbreak have affected the business.

“Due to the uncertainty of when and how the impact of the global pandemic will result in the business picking up in the future, we are left with no option but to close down the business indefinitely,” said Morad.

He further stated that the business had been left with no other option but to terminate the contracts of all its employees.

Italian Government to determine the fate of the season

By

Dan Ojumah

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May 28, 2020

Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora will tell Italian football federation and Lega Serie A bosses if the health conditions are right to return after nearly three months.

The Italian season has been on hold since March 9 amid the coronavirus pandemic which has killed almost 33,000 people in the country.

Football clubs returned to group training on May 19 but competitive action remains suspended until mid-June.

Indications are that Spadafora and the government’s Scientific Technical Committee will agree to both the health protocol proposed and to start the season again.

In the case of a favorable decision on today Thursday, Lega Serie A have scheduled a meeting for Friday morning to examine “the different calendar hypotheses” for the remaining Serie A and Italian Cup matches.

Lega Serie A bosses want competition to resume on the weekend of June 13-14, starting with four postponed fixtures — Atalanta-Sassuolo, Verona-Cagliari, Inter Milan-Sampdoria and Torino-Parma.

They hope the season would resume fully on June 20, with the goal of awarding the league title, defining promotions and relegations, before playing Italian Cup semi-finals, with the final in early August.

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The closing stages of the European club competitions could also be played in August. Three Italian clubs are still in the Champions League and two in the Europa League

– ‘Risking safety’ –

But not everyone agrees with a return to the pitch and the packed schedule required with teams needing to play three matches a week, in hot summer conditions.

Brescia and Torino, situated in the northern regions of Lombardy and Piedmont respectively, which accounted for nearly 60 percent of Italy’s COVID19 deaths, have consistently opposed to a return.

“To finish this championship is forcing it in my opinion,” Brescia captain Daniele Gastaldello said this week.

“It’s risking the safety of the players.”

Brescia are sitting last in the league, and have nothing to gain by concluding this nightmare season.

Torino president Urbano Cairo, whose club are 15th, would also gladly abandon the season.

“I bow to the majority choice,” said Cairo, voicing his concerns over “the short time between the end of this season and the start of the next one,” scheduled for September 1.

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AC Milan’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one of the big stars of the championship, has already suffered a calf injury in training, and could be out for a month.

“I think it’s chaos,” said Italy coach Roberto Mancini.

“If I were to speak only as a coach, I would prefer it to stop and start calmly next season.

“There is going to be an endless series of matches and I don’t know what state the players will be in.”

On Friday, the ‘Plan B’ will also be analyzed at the Lega Serie A meeting, a format with short playoffs to determine the title, European places and relegation, if the season is again suspended, or all the matches not played.

Another issue to be solved is that of players’ contracts and whether they can be extended to complete the season beyond its natural expiration.

The issue of wage cuts also remains unresolved and liability in the event of illness remains complex.

But one team who have been anxious to return to the pitch are Lazio.

The Roman club were just one point behind leaders Juventus when the season was suspended, and within touching distance of the third Scudetto in the club’s 120-year history.

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“We miss football; I don’t speak only for myself or for our team. We hope that the right decision can be made soon to complete this championship,” said captain Senad Lulic.