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Canada’s Trudeau Pledges New Emissions Reduction Target Of 40-45%

Elizabeth Williams
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Canada’s Trudeau Pledges New Emissions Reduction Target Of 40-45%

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the global climate summit Thursday that Canada will make deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

The new target is to cut those emissions by 40-45 percent below 2005 levels, Trudeau said, upping the previous goal of 30 percent under the Paris climate accord.

“We must take action now. Because there’s no vaccine against a polluted planet,” Trudeau told the virtual summit being hosted by US President Joe Biden.

He said his government will enshrine this new goal in a law as Canada works to become carbon neutral by 2050.

As it presented a budget Monday the government had already raised Canada’s emissions reduction target to 36 percent below 2005 levels.

In his speech Trudeau said Canada had adopted one of the strictest carbon taxes in the world. It will go from $50 per ton of CO2 — the main greenhouse gas — to $170 a ton by 2030.

If major economies in the room were to follow Canada’s lead and adopt a rising price on pollution and commit to phase out coal plants, we would accelerate our global path for a safe, prosperous net-zero future,” Trudeau said.

Radio-Canada said Wednesday that a minimum 40 percent target was the “price of entry” to the summit, which marks the United States’s return to the climate table.

On Tuesday, former US vice president Al Gore urged Trudeau in a Twitter message to try for a reduction of at least 50 percent by 2030.

Japan Strengthens 2030 Emissions Cut Target

Elizabeth Williams
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Japan Strengthens 2030 Emissions Cut Target

Japan Prime minister announced Thursday ahead of a key US-hosted climate summit his country aims to cut emissions 46 percent by 2030, significantly more than previously pledged, the country’s

“We aim to cut greenhouse gas (emissions) by 46 percent in fiscal 2030 from fiscal 2013,” Yoshihide Suga told a meeting hours before the discussions called by US President Joe Biden begin.

Japan’s fiscal 2030 will begin in April of the calendar year.

The new target revises a previous goal of cutting emissions 26 percent from 2013 levels by 2030.

Japan is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels, in part because many of its nuclear reactors remain offline after the Fukushima meltdown a decade ago.

Suga last year set a 2050 deadline for Japan to become carbon-neutral, putting it on the same timeline as the European Union and ahead of China’s 2060 goal.

Environmentalists have urged nations to take more immediate action ahead of the two-day virtual Earth Day summit organised by Biden.

Suga is one of 40 leaders attending the talks that kick off later Thursday, heralding a US return to the climate front lines after Donald Trump’s term.

Several other countries have also announced revised targets for slashing emissions and more pledges are expected at the meeting.

Speaking before Suga’s announcement, Ken Tanaka from conservation group WWF Japan said a reduction target of 45 percent was an “absolute minimum”.

“Now it has set a 2050 net-zero goal in October, it is important for Japan to have an ambitious interim target” to achieve its long-term aim, he told Newsmen.

Climate activists want to see Japan, which was the sixth-biggest contributor to global greenhouse emissions in 2017, reduce its reliance on coal.

Mother arrested for locking up, starving daughter for 10 years in Kano

Cleopatra Okohai
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Mother arrested for locking up, starving daughter for 10 years in Kano

A mother, identified as Rabi Mohammed, has been arrested by operatives of the Kano State Police command for locking up and starving her daughter, Aisha Jibrin, for 10 years in Darerawa Quarters, Fagge Local Government Area of the state.

Rabi and her husband, Mohammed Jibrin, who is now at large, allegedly locked up their 15-year-old daughter inside a room (solitary confinement) within their house for about 10 years without proper feeding and health care.

Spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, who confirmed the development, yesterday, said efforts were in progress to also arrest the father of the victim.

Haruna said good Samaritans reported the act to the police, leading to the rescue of the victim, adding that the victim was rushed to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano.

According to him, “On Monday, at about 1100hrs, the Kano State Police Command received information, which revealed that one Aisha Jibrin, 15 years old of Darerawa Quarters, Fagge LGA, Kano State was solitarily confined for 10 years in a room by her biological parents, one Mohd Jibrin and Rabi Mohammed of the same address inside their house without proper feeding and health care.

“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, Sama’ila Dikko, raised and instructed a medical team and a team of detectives to proceed to the scene, rescue the victim and arrest the culprits.

The teams immediately swung into action. The victim was rescued and rushed to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano and was admitted.

 “One suspect named Rabi Mohammed, 35 years old, a mother to the victim, was arrested while efforts are in progress to arrest the father of the victim who is currently at large.

Nigeria Ranked Number One Importer In Africa By WTO

Angel Gimalo
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Nigeria Ranked Number One Importer In Africa By WTO

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ranked Nigeria as the number one importer of commercial services in Africa.

This was disclosed in WTO’s data on the ‘Leading Exporters and Importers of Commercial services excluding intra-EU Trade 2020’, released.

The data stated that Nigeria ranked 25 largest importer of commercial services in the world, while Egypt emerged second in Africa and number 28 globally in 2020.

However, Nigeria was not found on the list of top exporters of commercial services in the world, but Egypt and Morocco made the list of top 30 exporters worldwide among African countries.

Egypt and Morocco emerged number 26 and 27 respectively as the list of largest exporters of commercial services worldwide.

The United States (US) ranked first as the top commercial importer and exporter of goods, the United Kingdom (UK) followed as the second largest exporter of goods with China, India and Singapore.

China, UK, Japan and Singapore joined US as the top countries for importation of goods in 2020.

WTO said: “The impact of the pandemic on merchandise trade volumes differed across regions in 2020, with most regions recording large declines in both exports and imports.

“Regions rich in natural resources saw the largest declines in imports, including Africa (8.8 percent), South America (9.3 percent) and the Middle East (11.3 percent), probably due to reduced export revenues as oil prices fell around 35 percent.”

According to the trade organization, there’s a projection that Africa’s export will grow by 8.1 percent in 2021 and 3.0 percent in 2022, but this depends on travel expenditures picking up over the course of 2021, which would strengthen demand for oil.

WTO also projected 5.5 percent growth in Africa’s import by 2021 and 4.0 percent in 2022, while the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) market exchange rate will grow to 2.6 percent and 3.8 percent this year and next year respectively, after a decline of 2.9 percent in 2020.

China’s Belt And Road Deals Used For Propaganda – Australia Minister

Elizabeth Williams
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China’s Belt And Road Deals Used For Propaganda – Australia Minister

China’s Belt and Road Initiative deals are “used for propaganda”, a top Australian official said Thursday as he defended Canberra’s decision to scrap a state government’s deals with Beijing.
Australia on Wednesday overruled Victoria state’s decision to join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) — the flagship of President Xi Jinping’s geostrategic vision for the Asia-Pacific region –
saying the agreement was inconsistent with Australia’s foreign policy.
As relations between the two countries continue to nosedive, Defence Minister Peter Dutton said Canberra was “worried” about local governments entering into such agreements with Beijing.
“We can’t allow these sort of compacts… to pop up because they’re used for propaganda reasons and we’re just not going to allow that to happen,” he told local radio.
Dutton said the government’s problem was not with the Chinese people but rather “the values or virtues or the outlook of the Chinese Communist Party”
Australia last year enacted new powers — widely seen as targeting China — that allow it to scrap any agreements between state authorities and foreign countries deemed to threaten the national interest.
Canberra’s first target was the BRI, a vast network of investments that critics say is cover for Beijing to create geopolitical and financial leverage.
In a statement released early Thursday, the Chinese embassy in Australia called it a “unreasonable and provocative” move.

Lagos State Launches A 5-Year Agricultural Development Roadmap

Elizabeth Williams
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Lagos State Launches A 5-Year Agricultural Development Roadmap

With the Theme developmental agenda, Lagos State Government on thursday, 22nd April, 2021 launched a 5-Year Agricultural Development Roadmap.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya explained that the Roadmap would help the State achieve its goal of making Lagos a 21st Century Economy.

According to Olusanya, the Roadmap is focused on the development of agricultural value chains where the State has competitive and comparative advantages to ensure that the State attains its food security goals.

The Agricultural Development Road Map was conceived by the Ministry of Agriculture as a direct outcome of the present administration’s THEMES developmental agenda particularly the 4th pillar of Making Lagos State a 21st Century Economy by ensuring that the Agricultural Sector plays the role of ensuring sustainable food security.

“Its focus is on the development of agricultural value chains where the State has competitive and comparative advantages to ensure that the State’s self-sufficiency in food production moves from 18% to 40% of food needs in the next five years and thus ensure that Lagos State achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as it relates to the sector,” she noted.

According to her, the road map highlights intervention areas by the Ministry to boost agricultural productivity at the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of seven value chains and services  bearing in mind the comparative advantages Lagos State has in these sectors.

Sex enhancement drugs expose users to cardiovascular diseases- Experts

Cleopatra Okohai
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Sex enhancement drugs expose users to cardiovascular diseases- Experts

The usage of sex enhancement drugs has been said by some medical experts to have both positive and negative implications on human health.

Newsmen in Lagos were told that though, the drugs have benefits to human health, their negative implications far outweigh their benefits.

According to reports, sex enhancement drugs also known as “Erectile Dysfunction Medication” are majorly patronised and used by men than women.

Reports also say that Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is the inability to get or keep an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse.

Commenting, Dr Ayodele Ademola, a Consultant Gynaecologist, said it was not advisable to use sex enhancement drugs, except when it became exceptionally necessary, and must be used under strict medical prescription and supervision.

Ayodele, also the Medical Director, StrongTower Hospital and Advanced Fertility Centre, a Lagos-based private medical facility, said that usage of sex enhancement drugs could cause cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, heart failure and other related diseases.

According to him, there are many instances where people who used sex enhancement drugs ended up losing their lives.

“I have had a situation where two elderly couple who took erectile dysfunction drugs simultaneously had heart attack and died.

“Also, a young man of about 45 years of age, who took an overdose of tramadol with the aim of enhancing his sex performance, also died in the course of having sexual intercourse.

Read Also: Consumption of animal skin (Ponmo) dangerous – vice-chancellor

“If anyone has potency problem, it is advisable that such person seeks medical attention, rather than using sex enhancement drugs, because it has many underlying side effects which may result to complete loss of life,” Ayodele said.

The expert, therefore, advised people who have potency problem to avoid self-medication or usage of enhancement drugs, urging them to seek medical attention for proper diagnosis and treatment.

He said that hypertensive, diabetic and aged people were at higher risk to the usage of sex enhancement drugs, advising them to completely avoid using it, saying that they might drop dead in the process.

Contributing, Dr Joseph Akinde, Chairman, Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SGON), Lagos Chapter, advised people to desist from abusing drugs with the aim to enhance sexual performance.

Akinde said some people abuse drugs to take excessive amount of it in order to enhance sexual performance, noting that most of the drugs sometimes were not specifically made for potency improvement.

He decried the use of tramadol, intake of excessive alcohol, over-the-counter sex enhancement drugs and other toxicants to boost sexual drive, adding that such approaches were typical drug abuse and could result to more harm than good.

Akinde listed some health implications of over-the-counter male enhancement drugs to include damage to the urethra, permanent difficulty maintaining an erection, permanent problems with urination, penis “fractures” causing bleeding and requiring surgery and dangerous drops in blood pressure.

In his comments, Dr Patrick Omogbohun, a General Physician, urged people to be more conscious of what they eat, saying diet and lifestyle could contribute to potency problem.

Omogbohun, also the Medical Director, MercyWay Medical Centre, Ejigbo, said diets high in saturated fats were linked to heart disease, adding that men with heart disease were more likely to experience erectile dysfunction.

He said changes to diet, exercise, reduction in smoking and alcohol consumption could reduce the risk of developing conditions such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases that could lead to erectile dysfunction.

“Healthy lifestyle habits like getting regular exercise, eating a varied and nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption and avoiding tobacco use should be maintained,” Omogbohun said.

Also, a General Physician, Dr Tunji Akintade, said that use of sex enhancement drugs for men and women was normal and could increase their bonding.

Akintade advised people with heart challenges to desist from using sex enhancement drugs, saying that such drugs portend dangers, which could be deadly.

He said that such medication could cause their blood pressure to “dangerously drop to low level’’.

The expert also warned people with severe liver impairment or end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis to avoid sex enhancement products.

He said that continuous use of such medications might lead to chronic fatigue syndrome or erectile dysfunction for men and women.

In his remarks, Dr Adeniyi Adelodun, a Medical Parasitologist, said that the most common side effects of sex enhancement drugs were headaches, upset stomach, nasal congestion, muscle pain, and facial flushing.

Adelodun said that most of these symptoms were relatively mild and go away after few hours.

“ED drugs can make blood pressure to temporarily drop; so, never use them, if you also take medications that contain nitrates.

“Priapism (long-lasting and sometimes painful erection) low blood pressure, if Viagra is taken with certain other medications.

“Cardiovascular problems, such as heart attack, irregular heartbeat or stroke occur mainly in people with heart disease,” he said.

Adelodun said that there was no particular reason for men and women to take it, but based on individual decision.

Also, Dr Olamide Olowoyo, a Consultant Physician and Nephrologist, advised individuals with erectile dysfunction to seek medical help instead of taking concoctions and medications for sexual enhancement.

Olowoyo, who works at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Meta in Lagos, said that concoctions or medication to enhance sexual performance could result to unpredictable health hazards.

“We have seen a lot of cases of people, most especially men taking range of products to enhance sexual performance.

“Some take herbal concoctions and dedication without prescription, and this is very worrisome because of the adverse effect on their body.

“For some people it increases their blood pressure, causes angina (chest pain), frack heart attack and for some it affects their kidney because of the toxin and others.

“For the kidney, toxins in these herbal concoctions affect the kidney and shut the kidney down and some of these individuals will have to go for dialysis to flush out this toxin.

“Even, after going through dialysis, due to the injury to the kidney, it can progress to acute kidney diseases.

“In Nigeria, young people are coming down with advanced kidney diseases, because some of them have been taking herbal concoctions for a long time,” she said.

According to her, causes of erectile dysfunction can be hormonal, due to co-morbidities such individuals have or psychological effect.

Olowoyo called for regulation that would help regulate the usage of medication in the country.

“We don’t really enforce regulation for drugs, people can just walk on, and say I want to buy a particular medication and get it over the counter without any prescription from the doctors.

“This is a call for concern that should be tackled urgently,” she said.

Commenting, Mr Remi Gbadebo, a Businessman, said many people used sex enhancement drugs or concoctions, not because they have erectile dysfunction, but to impress their partner(s).

“One of the main reasons I know why people take sexual enhancement drugs is to impress their partners during sex.

“It is not that most of them can’t perform, but they want to leave a lasting memory in the minds of their partners,” Gbadebo said.

Also, Mr Samuel Adeolu, an auto mechanic, said he used to take herbal concoctions once in a while to boost his sexual performance.

“I use to take herbal drugs, but not always, and I don’t see anything wrong in it,” Adeolu said.

Also, Mr Michael Olaitan, a Businessman, said that he was forced to take sex enhancement drugs the night his wife complained of sexual satisfaction.

Olaitan, however, said he was conscious of the side effects of the drugs, hence his resolve to take it sparingly based on medical advice.

Oil Spillage In Shell’s Pipeline In Bayelsa, Pollutes 1.34 Hectares Of Land

Emenike Agu
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0
Oil Spillage In Shell’s Pipeline In Bayelsa, Pollutes 1.34 Hectares Of Land

An oil pipeline spillage has occurred at the Okordia-Rumekpe 14-inch crude truckline, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), discharging about 213 barrels of crude oil into Ikarama community in Bayelsa State.

This is as the report indicates that about 1.34 hectares of land were polluted by the spillage which followed a rupture on the pipeline.

The spillage was confirmed by the Media Relations Manager for SPDC, Mr Bamidele Odugbesan, who said that the probe into the incident had been concluded.

A Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) report on the incident on Thursday confirmed that the incident took place on April 7, while the investigation was concluded on April 12. JIV is a statutory probe into the cause of any recorded spill incident involving the oil firm, regulators, host communities and state ministries of environment.

The JIV report concluded that the spill was an operational mishap traced to equipment failure which impacted nearby palm trees and fish ponds and subsequently recommended remediation of the site.

The JIV report also states that out of the 213 barrels of SPDC’s bonny light crude stream leak, some 110 barrels are recoverable from the ongoing recovery exercise at the site, leaving an estimated spilled volume at 109.12 barrels.

The JIV report, which anticipated that oil recovery would be concluded before the end of April, also recommended the replacement of sections of the pipeline to restore its integrity.

What you should know

This new leakage is the latest in a series of oil spillages by Shell which has put the multinational oil firm in conflict with the host communities.

A report has suggested that Shell has reported over 1,000 spills with about 110,535 barrels of crude or 17.5 million litres lost since 2011, although some experts and stakeholders believe that the figure could be more in reality.

It can be recalled that a Dutch appeals court ruled that the Nigerian branch of oil giant Shell is responsible for damage caused by leaks in the Niger Delta and therefore ordered Shell Nigeria to pay compensation to Nigerian farmers, while the subsidiary and its Anglo-Dutch parent company were told to install equipment to prevent future damage.

Consumption of animal skin (Ponmo) dangerous – vice-chancellor

Cleopatra Okohai
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0
Consumption of animal skin (Ponmo) dangerous – vice-chancellor

The Vice-Chancellor of the Precious Cornerstone University (PCU), Ibadan, Oyo State, Professor Kola Oloke has warned against consumption of animal skin popularly known as ‘Ponmo’.

He identified the consumption of animal protein as the major cause of cancer that had led to the death of many, assuring that the disease was not only preventable but curable.

Oloke, a renowned Microbiologist who revealed this while speaking at a seminar titled; “Life Style, Diseases and Management”, held at the PCU Campus, Ibadan, on Tuesday, equally warned against the consumption of animal skin called ‘ponmo’.

“Consumption of animal protein can lead to diseases in the body. More importantly, it causes cancer. Runaway from meat, especially red meat. If you want to eat chicken, eat the local one. Animal skin known as ‘ponmo’ is harmful to the body; it has no nutritional value,” he said.

According to him, 60 per cent of chronic diseases mostly assailing the people could be prevented through healthy diet, adding “other lifestyle measures, must include managing stress, avoiding toxins (like alcohol and tobacco), regular exercise and ensuring adequate sleep”

Oloke who maintained that diseases such as cancer could be cured through nutrition, said lifestyle could determine the level of sicknesses individuals could be nursing in the body.

“One of the things that cancer cells thrive on is sugar. So if you can take off the consumption of sugar from any cancer patient, you would have helped the patient.

“Some foods and fruits are high in sugar content such as banana, apple, pineapple and carbohydrates. Also, cancer patients should avoid animal-based milk but can be consuming plant-based milk”, the VC further cautioned.

Read Also: 5 Common workout mistakes you might be making

According to him, “Beans are the best meal for those suffering from cancer; beans prepared with olive oil and not red oil.

“Others are snails, Croaker fish, cabbage and leafy vegetables. These are good and nutritious for cancer patients,’’ he added.

The vice-chancellor also said that with proper nutrition, cancer cells could be killed, noting that consumption of walnuts and Soya products, but not Soya oil could kill cancer.

“Soya milk is good for breast cancer cure,’’ Oloke stressed.

The professor of Microbiology who has won many local and international awards, further stressed that with a good diet, man could live beyond 100 years.

“Eating vegetables is one of the surest ways of staying healthy. Sugar or sweet things are the greatest enemies of man,’’ he stated during the seminar.

Oloke also noted that while plant-based foods lowered diabetes and liver risks, consumption of vegetables helped a great deal in controlling sugar levels.

The don listed some other foods that could decrease the possibility of heart attack, stroke and cancer to include avocado pear, green tea, and natural orange juice.

He warned, however, that consumers should moderate their intake.

“In Europe during World War II, the death rate caused by heart disease fell as people were forced to eat less cholesterol-ridden foods.

“In other words, it is better for your heart if you eat a low-fat vegetarian diet while bombs drop around you than to enjoy your steak in peace,’’ he mused.

Prof. Oloke enjoined people to work out their lifestyles stressing that “rhythmic activities of the mind and body, including hormones, circulation, digestion, brain waves and state of consciousness support healthy living.

“Realise that your next day begins when you go to sleep. Maintain a healthy Body Max Index, good nutrition, regular exercise and spiritual practice,’’ he advised.

Barcelona President Joan Laporta Leaked Super League Secret To Laliga Boss Javier Tebas

Emenike Agu
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1
Barcelona President Joan Laporta Leaked Super League Secret To Laliga Boss Javier Tebas
  • Joan Laporta told Javier Tebas about the Super League plans last Thursday 
  • Barcelona president told the head of LaLiga that around six clubs had signed up 
  • Tebas told executives across Europe including UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin 
  • Plans for European Super League were crushed after furious fan revolt this week

Barcelona president Joan Laporta revealed plans for the European Super League to LaLiga boss Javier Tebas at a celebratory lunch last Thursday, according to reports.  

Laporta was re-elected for his second term as FC Barcelona president last month and as a result, Tebas wanted to congratulate the businessman for his success. 

However, in details revealed by American media  Laporta leaked to Tebas about plans for the breakaway competition, telling the head of Spain‘s top-flight that around six teams had already signed-up. 

Barcelona president Joan Laporta revealed the Super League plans to LaLiga boss Javier Tebas
Tebas told officials across the continent, executives of Europe's biggest clubs and spoke with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin

Barcelona president Joan Laporta revealed the Super League plans to LaLiga boss Javier Tebas

Wanyama, who spent over a decade playing in Europe, believes football should always be about the fans.

The report details that other teams were being asked for a decision by the weekend, prompting panic amongst Europe. 

Tebas told officials across the continent, executives of Europe’s biggest clubs and spoke with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. 

Then, on Sunday, the proposals for the European Super League were revealed to the world, with 12 clubs signed up to the breakaway league. 

However, 48 hours later, the ‘Big Six’ in England had withdrawn, amid uproar across the football community which included supporter protests across the country, and plans for the Super League have thus been suspended. 

Ceferin today revealed the extent of deceit across Europe’s executives, attacking Juventus’ Andrea Agnelli, Manchester United’s Ed Woodward and Real Madrid’s Florentino Perez. 

Ceferin revealed that Andrea Agnelli initially said to him that it was 'bulls*** that the Super League was forming'

Ceferin revealed that Andrea Agnelli initially said to him that it was ‘bulls*** that the Super League was forming’ 

In an interview with Slovenian publication  Ceferin branded Agnelli, Woodward and Perez ‘liars’.  

‘Five clubs called me on Saturday saying they had to join so they won’t get left out,’ Ceferin, who is the godfather to Agnelli’s daughter, revealed.

‘Agnelli was saying it is bulls*** that the Super League is forming. I already knew it is so I said to him “Let’s give a PR statement then”. He said that is a great idea and told me to write it and send it to him to see. I did that, sent it and tried to call him again. 

Tebas believes English clubs will never re-join the project following protests this week

Tebas believes English clubs will never re-join the project following protests this week

‘He didn’t pick up his phone. After a long time he did and said it is not really OK and he will fix a few things. After that he didn’t pick up the phone.’

Speaking at a LaLiga conference, Tebas today insisted English clubs will never re-join the project, while he maintains Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will continue their opposition to it.

‘The Super League, as it is, is dead. Let’s be realistic, it is dead,’ Tebas said. It’s not over! Perez says Super League is ‘on standby’ 

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