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Roger Federer says "now is the time" for the men's and women's governing bodies to merge while tennis is in limbo because of the coronavirus. The 20-time Grand Slam champion floated the idea in a series of Twitter posts. He said a merger of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and the men's Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) "probably should have happened". "We can come out of this with two weakened bodies or one stronger body," Federer said. Later on Wednesday ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi appeared to back the idea saying: "Our sport has a big opportunity if we can come together in the spirit of collaboration and unity. "Recent cooperation between governing bodies has only strengthened my belief that a unified sport is the surest way to maximise our potential and to deliver an optimal experience for fans on site, on television and online. To that end, I welcome the views of our players." WTA chairman and chief executive Steve Simon said the organisation had been "regular contact with the ATP" during the coronavirus pandemic, adding: "I have long stated that we are at our best as a sport when we can work together, and the recent weeks have highlighted that fact. "We look forward to continuing discussions on how we can effectively work together to deliver the greatest value to our fans and to our many stakeholders." BBC Sport understands preliminary discussions have taken place between the two tours about greater collaboration in certain areas. While many high-profile tennis players have backed Federer's plan, Australia's Nick Kyrgios tweeted on Thursday to say: "We shouldn't merge." On Wednesday, the world number 40 had posted: "Did anyone ask the majority of the ATP what they think about merging with the WTA and how it is good for us?" In a series of social media posts on Wednesday, Federer added: "I am not talking about merging competition on the court but merging the two governing bodies that oversee the men's and women's professional tours. "It's too confusing for the fans when there are different ranking systems, different logos, different websites, different tournament categories." American tennis legend Billie Jean King, one of the prime movers behind the founding of the WTA, said a merger "has long been my vision for tennis". "The WTA on its own was always Plan B," added King. "I'm glad we are on the same page. Let's make it happen." Spanish 19-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal added: "It would be great to get out of this world crisis with the union of men's and women's tennis in only one organisation." Reigning Wimbledon champion Simona Halep, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, Argentine Diego Schwartzman and two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza are among the other high-profile tennis players to voice their agreement on social media.

The fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has urged the Premier League to block the takeover of Newcastle United by Saudi Arabia. Khashoggi, a dissident Saudi columnist, was killed in 2018 inside Saudi Arabia's consulate in Turkey. Western intelligence agencies believe Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered his death - which he denies. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, led by the prince, looks set to acquire an 80% stake in the club. But lawyers speaking on behalf of Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi's fiancée, said the takeover should be blocked over the killing.

Volleyball England are hosting their Go Spike Big Weekend this Bank Holiday weekend, giving beginners the chance to get their first taste of volleyball. Free events are being held in leisure centres, parks and beaches across the country from 27-29 August. GB Beach volleyballer Jake Sheaf said: "The Go Spike Big Weekend is a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages and levels to get involved in this exhilarating sport! "Take your friends, family or just yourself to one of the events and I guarantee you'll have a great time."

A minute's silence will be held across the UK later to commemorate the key workers who have died with coronavirus. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who returned to work on Monday, will join the tribute, which starts at 11:00 BST. More than 100 NHS and care staff have died with the virus, as have many transport and other key workers. NHS England medical director Stephen Powis said he hoped "the whole nation" would show how much their "contribution is remembered and appreciated". Chief nursing officer Ruth May added: "Every death is a tragedy but we feel the loss of fellow health and care workers particularly keenly." It comes as hospitals in England start planning to restore some NHS services that had to be postponed because of the pandemic. Remembering the NHS staff who have died 'Living legend' doctor dies after contracting virus Nurse, 84, 'gave her life to the NHS' UK failed to stockpile crucial protective kit The latest daily figures show a further 360 people died with the virus in UK hospitals, taking the total number of deaths to 21,092. This number includes 82 NHS staff and 16 care workers who were confirmed to have died in hospital in England. Last week, BBC analysis of the published figures found that at least 103 health workers had died with the virus across the UK. The overall UK deaths figure does not include people who died in the community - for example in care homes, or people who have died in their own homes.

Saudi Arabia will no longer impose the death penalty on people who committed crimes while still minors, the country's Human Rights Commission says. The announcement, citing a royal decree by King Salman, comes two days after the country said it would ban flogging. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - which Riyadh has signed - says capital punishment should not be used for offences carried out by minors. Activists say Saudi Arabia has one of the world's worst human rights records. They say freedom of expression is severely curtailed and critics of the government are subject to what they say is arbitrary arrest. A record 184 people were executed in the kingdom in 2019, according to human rights group Amnesty International. At least one case involved a man convicted of a crime committed when he as a minor, the rights group has reported. Saudi Arabia 'executed record number of people in 2019' Reform and repression go hand in hand in Saudi Arabia In a statement published on Sunday, Awwad Alawwad, president of the state-backed commission, said a royal decree had replaced executions in cases where crimes were committed by minors with a maximum penalty of 10 years in a juvenile detention centre. "The decree helps us in establishing a more modern penal code," Mr Alawwad said. It was unclear when the decision - which was not immediately carried on state media - would come into effect. The kingdom's human rights record has remained under intense scrutiny, despite recent changes, following the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018, while many civil rights and women's rights activists remain in prison. Earlier this week, the most prominent Saudi human rights campaigner died in jail after a stroke which fellow activists say was due to medical neglect by the authorities.

Discarded fishing nets will be recycled into volleyball nets for local communities, the World Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has confirmed. Good Net is a joint project by the governing body and marine conservation group Ghost Fishing Foundation. About 640,000 tonnes of fishing equipment is found in the ocean every year, causing danger to marine life. "There are so many nets that are doing so much harm out of sight," Brazilian three-time Olympic medallist Giba said. "It was really hard to learn that. As volleyball players, nets are at the centre of our game and of our joy." The project was launched last weekend at Copacabana Beach, the location of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games' beach volleyball tournament. Ghost nets are lost, abandoned or discarded fishing nets, with an average of 70 large whales becoming entangled in them every year along the west coast of the United States. "As divers, we care deeply about the oceans," Ghost Fishing CEO Pascal van Erp said. "We understand just how ghost nets do a huge amount of harm to marine wildlife in places where only a tiny few can see that damage is being done." Good Net says they hope to spread the campaign internationally as part of the FIVB's global schedule of beach volleyball and volleyball competitions.

Josh da Silva has become the first player from England Handball's post-London 2012 performance programme to turn professional. The Great Britain international, 19, has joined AC Fafe, who play in Portugal's top division. "I'm really looking forward to the challenge. I'll be competing with some of the best in Europe," said Da Silva. England Handball has supported the programme since the GB team lost its UK Sport funding after London 2012. After a break of two years, and unable to go through the Rio Olympics qualifying process, GB men returned to the international stage in June 2015. The GB men's team is now overseen by England Handball and the women's side is run by Scotland Handball. England Handball CEO David Meli said: "Josh is an example of the great strides forward handball has made in this country over the last five years. "Legacy was a buzzword of London 2012 and Josh is a true example of that legacy."

British handball's biggest problem is finding venues to play in rather than a lack of funding, according to the coach of one of its leading teams. Miguel Puig Garcia's London GD will face Scottish side Livingston in the European Challenge Cup this weekend. British handball has had little UK Sport funding since the 2012 Olympics. "It's not a forgotten sport - but there are only three, maybe four, venues in London that can host a game," Puig Garcia told BBC Sport. "We are really struggling to find venues to train and organise games in," said Puig Garcia. "We've managed to get some help with training fees from Greenwich Leisure but we don't make that much money. "Obviously we can't just build a venue from scratch - that would cost millions." His view is echoed by Livingston captain Ross Gannon. "It's not ideal in Scotland," he said. "We're lucky because we've got a big sports centre we can use - the Oriam at Heriot-Watt University - but other teams do struggle to find places to play." The teams meet in Gillingham on Saturday and Sunday, with the first leg to be shown live on the BBC website and app, and Connected TV. The game has been dubbed a 'Battle of Britain'. A likely trip to Ukraine to face Donbas in the next round is the reward for the winners. London made the third round seven years ago after winning a qualifying tournament in Malta. "If we win we will - probably - be playing both games there," said Puig. "There are visa issues for them. If we win, we would have to travel there at the end of November." Another London club, Olympia, travel to Italy for the two legs of their tie against Pallamano Pressano this weekend.

Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès has announced a detailed plan to gradually lift the country's coronavirus restrictions. Under new rules, all shops will be allowed to open their doors again from 11 May, with schools reopening the following week - albeit with a cap on pupil numbers in each class. But Ms Wilmès cautioned that "nothing is set in stone". More than 44,000 people have tested positive for the virus in Belgium. Almost 6,700 deaths have been recorded in the nation of 11.4 million - the highest rate per capita in Europe. More than half the fatalities have been in care homes. Comparisons with other European countries may be somewhat misleading, however, as some countries are believed to be under-reporting deaths.

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A vaccine expert who says he lost his job because he disagreed with Donald Trump's claims about treatments for Covid-19 is to file a whistleblower complaint, his lawyers say. Dr Rick Bright led the US government agency trying to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus. He says he was ousted for questioning the potential of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug touted by Mr Trump. President Trump said he had "never heard" of Dr Bright. The president has previously mentioned the use of hydroxychloroquine and the related drug chloroquine as a possible "game changer" for Covid-19. However, many experts have cautioned that hydroxychloroquine could be ineffective, or even dangerous. "In our filing we will make clear that Dr Bright was sidelined for one reason only - because he resisted efforts to provide unfettered access to potentially dangerous drugs, including chloroquine, a drug promoted by the administration as a panacea, but which is untested and possibly deadly when used improperly," a statement from the doctor's lawyers said.

The 2020 European Athletics Championships in Paris have been cancelled amid the coronavirus crisis. The event was due to be staged at the French capital's Charlety Stadium from 25-30 August. Great Britain topped the medal table at the 2018 championships in Berlin. "We had hoped in these troubled times to offer European athletes a major event to aim for at the end of this summer," said European Athletics interim president Dobromir Karamarinov. "The health and safety of all athletics' stakeholders - including athletes, fans, officials, partners and everyone connected with the sport - is paramount." A statement on the European Athletics website said: "The decision to cancel was driven by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the associated risks linked to the current situation, which are far from being under control, as well as the existing ban on mass gatherings in France." The Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo have been postponed until next year, while the World Athletics Championships in Oregon have been moved to 2022 because of the global pandemic.