World soccer talk

MUSLIMS across the globe have been taking part in coronavirus safe celebrations for Eid al-Adha. While some countries, like Kosovo and the United Arab Emirates, have closed mosques for Eid prayers, others have chosen to allow celebrations to go ahead. This year's celebrations began yesterday evening and finished on August 3. The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque was hosed down with the threat of coronavirus still a major global concern. The cleaning process followed a big congregation at the Mosque sharing noon-prayers ahead of the holy day. In Indonesia - home to the worlds’ largest population of Muslims - people were allowed to attend Eid prayers in mosques under strict health guidelines. Worshippers were required to bring their own prayer mats and pray several feet apart from one another. They must wear masks and are not allowed to shake hands or hug. Authorities also ordered that the traditional meat for the poor be delivered door-to-door to avoid long lines. … [Read more...] about Eid al-Adha celebrations underway as millions of Muslims around the world take part in Covid-safe festivities

RUSSIANS are snubbing the country’s own Sputnik V vaccine out of distrust for Vladimir Putin’s government. The Sputnik V jab has been sent around the world with Germany the latest country to consider using it but just 3 per cent of Russians have taken it. Russia's tiny vaccine uptake compares to 32.1 per cent in the UK and 17.1 per cent in the US, according to Our World in Data. Recent polls show that less than a third of Russians are willing to get the Sputnik V vaccine amid mistrust of Vladimir Putin's government. Lingering distrust of the authorities from the Soviet Communist era means that as many as three quarters of Russians believe Covid is a man-made biological weapon, reports the Wall Street Journal. Vadim Ivanov, a 55-year-old driver for St. Petersburg’s city maintenance department: “I’m not getting a vaccine because I don’t believe in the coronavirus. “It’s all about deception. People say it’s all nonsense, it’s all far-fetched, it’s all … [Read more...] about Massive blow to Putin as Russians SNUB vaccine with just 3% taking jab because they ‘don’t trust him’

Oprah Winfrey has supported Meghan Markle in her decision to break royal protocol by opting to keep the birth of her baby a secret. The US talk show host said she was impressed by the Duchess of Sussex's courage in choosing not to pose for pictures straight after the birth. Speaking to a reporter at The Hollywood Reporter's Empowerment in Entertainment Gala, Oprah said: "Oh my God. I'm so proud of her decisions. "To be able to stand up and say this is what I really want for my baby and my family and now I'm going to do it a different way when it's been done that way for a thousand years? I'm just so proud of her. "Who is ready to walk out and stand before the world and put that face on, you know, a day after you've had a baby?" Oprah also said the Meghan 'perceived' by the public is not the 37-year-old's whole self. She told CBS This Morning she thought Meghan was being portrayed unfairly in the media, according to Entertainment Tonight . "I feel that if people really … [Read more...] about Oprah reveals what public DON’T know about Meghan Markle – and why she’s ‘proud’

CAGED Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has overtaken Vladimir Putin as Russia's most talked-about politician for the first time, according to new analysis. The 44-year-old was said to have been mentioned on social media 1.3 million times more than Putin after being detained at a Moscow airport on January 17, having recovered from a Novichok nerve agent attack. Navalny was later sentenced to two-and-a-half years in a prison labour camp. This was punishment for failing to report to police in August while he fought for his life in a hospital in Germany after falling ill on a plane in Siberia — in a widely suspected attempted Kremlin-assassination. Before he was jailed, Navalny released a bombshell video revealing a secret Black Sea pleasure palace allegedly built by Putin at a cost of £1 billion, which has now been viewed more than 100 million times. Anger over his jailing and the palace claims sparked angry demonstrations involving tens of thousands of angry citizens … [Read more...] about Putin facing biggest ever threat as enemy Alexei Navalny is ‘now MORE POPULAR’ than him for the first time

Bayer Leverkusen finally on the right path The women's Bundesliga table isn't always the most surprising; most of the time, it's the same teams in the title race. But this week, it's a little different, with Bayer Leverkusen sitting fourth with 23 points after 14 games. This weekend, the team secured a dominant and impressive 4-2 victory over Turbine Potsdam, thanks in part to a hat trick from top scorer Milena Nikolic, who now has 10 goals in 13 games. Bayer Leverkusen may be a big name in men's football, but the women's team has often failed to unleash its full potential in the past. Introduced back in 2008 after taking over nearby sports club TuS Köln, Leverkusen's women have only been established in the Bundesliga since 2018, albeit usually in a relegation battle rather than challenging at the top. But they are aiming higher now, with coach Achim Feifel stating recently that their goal is sixth place. So, what's changed? First, most of their key players have remained at … [Read more...] about Women’s Bundesliga roundup: Bayer Leverkusen on the march