Italian club, Fiorentina have announced the death of their captain Davide Astori. He passed away in his sleep overnight on Saturday evening in Udine at the age of 31

Astori who was also an Italian international was found dead in his hotel room.

Fiorentina are profoundly shaken and forced to announce that their captain Davide Astori has died, read a club statement.

For this terrible and delicate situation, and above all out of respect for his family, we appeal to the sensitivity of the media.

Fiorentinas game with Udinese has subsequently been cancelled.

Astori, who played as a central defender, was born7 January 1987 in San Giovanni Bianco, the province of Bergamo in Italy.

After playing youth football forPontisola, he started his senior career withMilan, spending loan spells withPizzighettoneandCremonese.

In 2008Cagliarisigned him in aco-ownershipdeal, before signing him fully from Milan, for whom he never made a first team appearance, in 2011. He later spent loan spells atRomaandFiorentina.

He made his international debut forItalyin 2011 and represented his country at the2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, scoring a goal in Italys victorious bronze-medal match.

Source: NAN

Davide Astori, Italy international defender and captain of Fiorentina died of natural causes after a cardiac circulatory collapse.

Antonio de Nicolo, a Udine magistrate described the cause of death as a kind of heart attack, in reports published by Italian media.

Astori, 31 years old, died in his hotel room during the night of Saturday to Sunday, his club Fiorentina said.

The magistrate added that it was strange that such a thing happened without any warning symptoms in a profession which is so closely monitored.

Astoris body was taken to a hospital in Udine for an autopsy.

Fiorentina are profoundly shocked to have to announce the death of captain Davide Astori after a sudden illness, the Serie A club said on Twitter. The 31-year-old, who leaves behind a two-year-old daughter, was in Udine to prepare for Sundays match against Udinese.

Fiorentinas game was called off in the morning. The early kick off between Genoa and Cagliari, one of Astoris former clubs, was abandoned when players learned the news while warming up on the pitch.

The Italian league then postponed the other five Serie A matches scheduled for Sunday, including the Milan derby.

Astori began his career at AC Milan, also playing for Cagliari and Roma before joining Fiorentina in 2015. He played 14 times for Italy.

Former team-mates, coaches and teams were amongst those taking to social media to express their grief.

Gianluigi Buffon, the Juventus captain, called Astori a great man.

Farewell dear Asto, wrote Buffon in a post on Instagram accompanied by a photo of the two players exchanging pennants before a game between their clubs.

Buffon said he did not usually make a habit of expressing his feelings about others.

I want to make an exception to my rule because you have a young wife and others close to you who are suffering, but mostly because your little girl deserves to know that her dad was a good man a great man, Buffon wrote.

Meanwhile former Italy manager Antonio Conte, now in charge of Chelsea, was visibly upset as he paid tribute to Astori ahead of the Blues match with Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday.

This is a tragedy and it really hurts me. Its very difficult at this moment to find the right words for the family, Conte told Sky Sports.

I had him with the national team. He was a great player but especially a fantastic guy. I stay close to his wife, parents and daughter. He was only 31 and its very difficult to explain this situation.

Radja Nainggolan, a Belgian international who played with Astori at two clubs, posted a photo of the two of them joyously celebrating a goal at Cagliari.

A great player, but an even bigger man, so many battles fought together in Cagliari before coming to Rome, I cannot believe it, he wrote.

Astoris formative club Milan also expressed their condolences.

A man who loved football and who grew up with us. AC Milan is shocked by the tragic death of Davide Astori, the clubs official account tweeted in English.

Matteo Renzi, a former mayor of Florence and now leader of the Democrat Party in Sundays Italian election, tweeted: This seems to me impossible. I dont believe it and I cry with the family and everyone at Fiorentina. Ciao capitano.

AFP

Source: NAN

The acrimony caused by the December national convention of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to fester in spite of moves to mend the fences.

Many of the aggrieved members, especially some members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party are reported to have defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Reports say that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Thursday at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, by the defecting members, other political parties and other groups to dissolve into the SDP.

Former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran and former minister of information, Prof Jerry Gana, who are members of PDPs BoT are aggrieved.

Adeniran, who was edged out of the National Chairmanship contest in December, confirmed their defection.

He said they decided to leave PDP because they needed a platform, among other things, that is not owned by one or few individuals.

Though he expressed satisfaction with the reconciliation team led by the Bayelsa State governor, but had been constrained to leave PDP because his supporters from the South-west were miffed by the way Wike insulted them on the eve of the national convention.

I am a member of the SDP and we have taken a decision to move to the SDP. What has happened is this: there are those of us who believe in genuine internal party democracy, who believe in social justice, equity fairness and honesty in politics and are irrevocably and uncompromisingly against impunity imposition and corruption.

We formed what we called new political order. Most of us came in from the PDP, some came in from some other parties, groups, social activist and so on.

Those of us in the PDP felt that the PDP has gone beyond what could be redeemed in terms of its commitment to what we thought should be things of the past. But we realised that we would not be able to get justice for the people and for the things that we should be running away from, and would not move this country forward.

So, we thought we needed a different platform that will respect the dignity of man; that will be honest in all its dealings; a platform where the love of country, genuine patriotism and interest of the masses of the people is supreme; a party that will not be easily purchasable by one individual or group of individuals.

So those of us who believe in the future generations and the youths and the rights of women to be respected and given their rightful place in society and in the politics of the land, we felt we needed a platform that will provide opportunity for this and we considered some new parties and some existing parties and among the various parties that we considered we also thought of those that are likely to encourage national spread, that will not promote ethnicity; a party that abhors internal crisis, a party that will have good programmes and principles, whose structure is good for the country.

That was what recommended the Social Democratic Party. As we are moving in as part of it, everybody is equal; nobody is bigger than the other, and there is room for people and others coming behind because there are so many other groups coming from all over the place and different parties that are still coming in.

He said that though the PDPs reconciliation committee was headed by a very honourable, honest, nice and patriotic man, but the committee did not do much.

He told newspaper: He is someone I respect a lot. I admire his style of leadership. He meant well, no question about that. But after all that was done, you know, politics is about people. We represent people and so forth.

I am from the South West, I have gone back to my people and they felt so insulted by some people within the PDP, and they said they do not believe that they can relate and deal with people who have no regard or respect for them.

Other reports on the state of PDP are trending in social media, including twitter.

Tunde Adeniran: Why I left PDP with my supporters

TODAY (@todayng)

Some tweets say that SDP may have emerged as Third Force
OBJ
IBB
APC Faction
PDP faction
36 parties
6Governors
10 Ex Governor
15 Senators
Jerry Gana, Tunde Adeniran Defect To SDP, The last-ditch effort by politicians sympathetic to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Breaking News

SDP emerges as Third Force
OBJ
IBB
APC Faction
PDP faction
36 parties
6Governors
10 Ex Governor
15 Senators
26reps
More loading
Jerry Gana, Tunde Adeniran Defect To SDP, The last-ditch effort by politicians sympathetic to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Nura Othman (@NuraOthman2)

Source:with additional reports

Source: NAN

Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, popularly known as Andy has declared his interest to run for gubernatorial race in Enugu State on the platform of All Progressives Party (APC) in Enugu state.

Okonkwo said at the state APCs enlarged State Executive Council and stakeholders meeting held at the partys secretariat in Enugu on Sunday.

He told newsmen that he joined the race following calls from his people.

The ace actor said he was also moved by the fact that the incumbent, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who hails from same Enugu North Senatorial District and Nsukka Cultural Zone, had failed to deliver people-oriented governance to the people.

According to him, as it stands today, Gov. Ugwuanyi cannot boast of any enduring legacy in Nsukka land, and that is why I want to unseat him in 2019, so as to provide the needed democracy dividends for our people and state in general.

My people started the move; it is their move. I will be the governor of Enugu State in 2019.

He also alleged that Ugwuanyis administration has a penchant for rehabilitation of roads; pointing out that since inception the government has not embarked on the construction of a brand new road in any parts of the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki on Sunday flew aboard an Arik Air flight to Ghana for the 25th Anniversary of the Ghanaian Parliament.

Saraki who would be delivering a paper at a symposium to mark the celebration, departed on board the local flight in solidarity with other Nigerians who fly indigenous airlines.

Speaking with our Correspondent on Sunday, Bamikole Omishore, SA to Saraki on International relations said that the Senate President left the comfort of the usual presidential airplane he travels in for Arik.

@SPNigeria who usually commutes with Presidential Air fleet chose to fly a Nigerian operated commercial flight to encourage trade between both countries.

According to Omishore, Saraki chose the indigenous flight to promote trade relations between Nigeria and Ghana and also to see firsthand areas that require interventions in the Nigerian Aviation industry.

With reference to the recent Dana Air near-mishaps, Omishore said that Saraki had promised to take a look at the happenings in the aviation industry so as to find the ills that will require legislations to correct.

Saraki also took to his official twitter handle @SPNigeria to share some of the pictures and videos of his departure, arrival and reception by the Speaker of Ghanas Parliament.

I just arrived in Ghana.

As part of activities to celebrate 25 years of uninterrupted parliamentary democracy in Ghana, I will be addressing the countrys Parliament.

Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki)

The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, is now departing Abuja, Nigeria to Accra, Ghana, aboard Arik Air.

The Senate President (@SPNigeria)

I thank the Speaker of the Ghanaian Parliament, Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Mike Ocquaye, for the invitation and the gracious reception at the airport in Accra this evening.

Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki)

The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, being hosted by the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Olufemi Abikoye.

The Senate President (@SPNigeria)

Source: NAN

The Virgin Mary smells of roses and is returning to Upper Bavaria. The mother of God is set to appear in the small St Lawrence Chapel in Unterflossing on March 17 at half past four, sharp (1530 GMT).

That is according to Otto Masszi, a man who, a few years ago, bought and renovated the chapel in the village of 100 souls at his own expense.

He denies any personal interest. Whether or not this becomes a place of pilgrimage is of no concern to me, he says.

The virgin has appeared here twice in the past, most recently in September. Hundreds made the pilgrimage, along with a self-appointed prophet named Salvatore Caputa. Some of them insist they could smell her.

There was this unmistakeable scent of roses, says Erich Neumann, chairman of the association of friends of the St Lawrence Chapel, who organized the gathering.

Masszi, who works as an engineer for city of Munich and is also organist and choir leader in several parishes says a woman even saw the mother of God, describing her as having brown hair and being dressed in a blue velvet robe.

The archdiocese of Munich and Freising, under the jurisdiction of which Unterflossing falls, have refrained from commenting on the phenomenon, which has generated debate among the faithful and others in the region, saying matters outside the churchs purview were involved.

The archdiocese instructed its clerics not to become involved in order to avoid lending any legitimacy to the phenomenon.

Even before that, Father Armin Thaller, the local priest, had maintained his distance, saying the church first had to test the reports. He spoke of walking a line so sharp that one could cut ones feet to pieces.

Reports of Marian apparitions are not uncommon among devout Catholics. Some of the more famous were in Lourdes in France, where a series of appearances were reported in 1858, and another in Fatima in Portugal, where the Mother of Jesus is said to have revealed herself in 1917. Both are places of pilgrimage for Catholics to this day.

Other places where the virgin is believed to have appeared are Guadelupe in Mexico and Filipov in the Czech Republic.

But even if these apparitions are acknowledged by the church, this merely means that they do not conflict with the faith. The faithful are not compelled to believe.

The question being asked is why Mary should appear in Unterflossing, of all places. There are a few theories.

First, Benedict XVI, the pope emeritus who retired five years ago, was born some 30 kilometres away and went to school in the area. There is also Altoetting, with its famous Black Madonna dating back to the 14th century. It is nearby and already an established place of pilgrimage.

Masszi has his answer ready: Our Lady simply chose to make an appearance in strongly Catholic Upper Bavaria. She had previously tried at a place where she was unwelcome a farmers private chapel in Walpertskirchen a little to the west, where Caputa was awaiting her with his retinue.

According to Masszi, Caputa has close links with the virgin and goes ahead of her when she wishes to appear, along with hundreds of pilgrims. That didnt sit well with the son of the farmer who owned the channel and he chased the group off the farm.

He even put his manure cart in the way, Masszi says in disgust. A tragedy. You cant pull the rug out from under the Mother of God. He then took the decision to invite Mary to his chapel, appealing to Caputa to pass on the invitation.

The fact that the Mary will appear at 4:30 pm on the dot does not surprise Masszi. She knows the time of day. But he warned guests to come early, as those who have not prayed have little chance of seeing her.

Prayers will start around noon. Following the ban imposed by the archdiocese, an afternoon service will be conducted without a priest.

Masszi says he is opposed to commerce done in the name of Mary, at nearby Altoetting for example. That does not please the mother of God.

People in the area are preparing for a surge in interest. You are the 300th caller, says Hans Soehl, owner of a metalworking company in nearby Obertaufkirchen, whose phone number has mistakenly been linked to the apparition.

We have nothing to do with the Marian apparition, apart from the wrong phone number.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

Italys national election produced no outright winner on Sunday, according to exit polls that pointed to possible political gridlock, with voters backing anti-establishment and far-right parties in record numbers.

A rightist alliance emerged with the biggest bloc of votes, ahead of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, the largest single party, polls showed. The ruling centre-left coalition came third, hurt by anger over poverty and mass immigration.

Full results are not expected for several hours, and Italian exit polls have previously given misleading initial readings.

Heavily indebted Italy is the third largest economy in the euro zone and prolonged political stalemate could make it the focal point of market concern now that the threat of instability in Germany has receded thanks to the revival on Sunday of a grand coalition under Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The euro edged marginally higher in Asia early on Monday, with investors awaiting clearer results from Italy.

A poll for RAI state television said a bloc of centre-right and far-right parties would win 33-36 percent of the vote, short of the 40 percent analysts have said is the minimum needed to secure a majority under Italys new electoral law.

Within the alliance, former prime minister Silvio Berlusconis Forza Italia (Go Italy!) was seen winning 12.5-15.5 percent, the same as the League, which has allied itself to anti-immigration, anti-Islam parties across Europe.

The 5-Star, led by 31-year-old Luigi Di Maio, was forecast to take 29.0-32.5 percent, which would be a remarkable result for a group that was only formed in 2009. It has fed off public fury over entrenched corruption and economic hardship.

We will be a pillar of the legislature, said a smiling Alfonso Bonafede, a close ally of Di Maio, told La7.

A centre-left alliance dominated by former prime minister Matteo Renzis ruling Democratic Party (PD) was projected to win 25-28 percent, but pollsters said the PD itself might end up only the fourth-largest group in the lower house of parliament.

Source: NAN

South Africas Kevin Anderson moved one step closer to capturing his second consecutive title with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over American qualifier Jared Donaldson at Acapulcos ATP Mexican Open.

Anderson, of Johannesburg, won the New York Open crown two weeks ago.

The world No. 8 Anderson has plenty of confidence heading into Saturdays final where he will face Argentinas Juan Martin Del Potro.

It just feels great to win tonights match, Anderson said. When youre out there, youre not really thinking about finals and what happened before. In the heat of the battle, I thought it was a really tough match.

Since last January, when he plunged to 80th in the world, Anderson has made five finals comprising Washington D.C., the US Open, Pune, New York and now Acapulco. He was runner-up at the 2017 US Open.

Anderson saw his ranking fall of as a result of a variety of injuries and health issues.

In the other semi-final, Del Potro blasted six aces and broke Alexander Zverevs serve three times en route to a 6-4, 6-2 win on Friday night.

Del Potro, who is seeded sixth, won 78 percent of his first-serve points and 55 percent of his second serves in the one hour, 31 minute match.

Zverev, of Germany, hammered 10 aces but had two double faults.

On the womens side of the draw, defending champion Lesia Tsurenko earned a ninth straight victory at this event as she held off a late charge from Daria Gavrilova to return to the WTA final with a 6-2, 6-4 win.

Tsurenko will have the opportunity to play for her fourth career WTA title against Swiss Stefanie Voegele who cruised past Swedish qualifier Rebecca Peterson 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).

I just really like it here. I think all the conditions for the tournament are just great and I know that all the players enjoy to play here, the Ukrainian Tsurenko said.

Source: NAN

Nigerias Aruna Quadri and female compatriot Offiong Edem are into the semi finals of the 2018 ITTF-Africa Top 16 Cup, being decided in Nairobi.

Both the semi-finals and finals will be played today.

Places in the Liebherr 2018 Mens World Cup and 2018 Womens World Cup are at stake.

In the Mens Singles event Egypt is very much in evidence; in the penultimate round Omar Assar, the top seed, faces Congo Brazzavilles Saheed Idowu, Ahmed Ali Saleh, the no.3 seed, opposes Nigerias Quadri Aruna.

Similarly in the Womens Singles competition there is a strong Egyptian presence; at the semi-final stage Dina Meshref, seeded no.1, plays Nigerias Offiong Edem, the no.4 seed, Cameroons Sarah Hanffou confronts Algerias Lynda Loghraibi.

Listed at no.16 on the current Mens World Rankings, Omar Assar starts as the clear favourite against Saheed Idowu, named at no.311 but the two have never met in recent times on the international stage and it would appear Omar Assar has some concerns.

Im very happy to reach the semi-finals. Im also very happy for each win because here the conditions are not normal. Some players are playing well because they are used to playing in high altitude but the players who play at normal altitude cannot even put two or three balls on the table. So this makes it a little bit interesting. I really dont know, its very interesting that the organizers came here to play, the altitude is really very unique. Omar Assar

A first meeting for Omar Assar and Saheed Idowu; not for Quadri Aruna and Ahmed Ali Saleh; they are no strangers. Notably, in world ranking events, Ahmed Ali Saleh won the five encounters starting with the success at the 2010 African Championships in Yaound.

However, the most recent two engagements have gone the way of Quadri Aruna; he succeeded at the 2015 African Games in Congo Brazzaville and at the 2016 African Championships in Agadir.

Meanwhile, when past results are taken into account both Dina Meshref and Sarah Hanffou start as favourites. At the African Games in 2011 in Maputo, Dina Meshref lost to Offiong Edem but one must remember she was only 16 years when she experienced the defeat. Ever since that date, eight meetings in succession, Dina Meshref has won on each occasion.

It is not too dissimilar a situation for Sarah Hanffou; three contests against Lynda Loghraibi; she has won all three, the most recent being the 2016 Olympic Qualification tournament in Khartoum.

Past results point in certain directions but could they key be the player who can adapt, the player who can succeed at high altitude and reach the heights.

*Reported by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Source: NAN

Footballs lawmakers on Saturday approved video assistant referee technology (VAR) for this summers World Cup, in one of the biggest changes to the sport in years.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB, meeting in Zurich, rubber-stamped a move already backed by FIFAs top brass, including president Gianni Infantino.

We came to the conclusion that VAR is good for football, Infantino told reporters shortly after IFAB announced the decision.

He added that the final decision to use the technology at the World Cup in Russia will be made when the FIFA Council world footballs top decision-making body meets in Colombia later this month.

We will hope and encourage the council to take a favourable decision, Infantino said, voicing confidence that VAR will secure final approval.

IFAB said in a press release that the decision represents a new era for football with video assistance for referees helping to increase fairness in the game.

VAR can only be used when there is doubt surrounding any of four key game-changing situations: goals, penalty decisions, straight red cards or mistaken identity.

It has already been implemented in top European leagues including the German Bundesliga and Italys Serie A along with tests in multiple other leagues.

Spains La Liga on Friday began training officials ahead of the technologys expected introduction next season.

Opinion is still divided, players and managers have complained of referees being too eager to defer to technology, while fans in stadiums have been left in the dark as to why decisions are being made.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said this week that European footballs governing body would not introduce VAR in next seasons Champions League due to ongoing confusion surrounding its use.

Others have voiced concern about video assistance slowing down the game and possibly breaking a teams momentum.

That is an issue confronting major North American sports like baseball and American football, where different forms of video replay have been in use for several years leading to renewed calls to shorten the length of games.

Some sceptics also have reservations about implementing such a significant change at the World Cup, before all the kinks have been resolved at lower-profile competition.

But the desire to avoid disputed calls especially in a competition with such a large global audience tipped international football officials to support using VAR at this summers tournament in Russia.

One iconic example that VAR could theoretically have prevented is Diego Maradonas Hand of God goal that saw Argentina beat England in the 1986 World Cup.

For Infantino, international football had to ensure World Cup officials have access to the same images as fans.

In 2018 we cannot anymore afford that everyone in the stadium and everyone in front of a TV screen can see within a few minutes on his phone whether the referee has made a big mistake or not, and the only one who cannot see it is the referee, he said last month.

Representatives of the 32 teams that have qualified for the World Cup meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi this week voiced confidence that the expected VAR rollout would be a positive for the tournament.

This is the new life. This is modern life, said Iran head coach Carlos Queiroz.

It is obvious that football cannot go on with its eyes closed to the modern world.

AFP

Source: NAN