Headline

Brazilian Football Legend, Mario Zagallo Is Dead

Published

2 years ago

January 6, 2024

Editor

Brazilian football legend and the first person to win the FIFA World Cup as both a player and coach, Mario Zagallo, has died at the age of 92.

Zagallo was as instrumental figure as any in Brazil’s rise to prominence as a global football power.

Zagallo, who died on Friday, was the only surviving member of the Brazilian team that lifted the 1958 World Cup trophy, the country’s first title and one that eased the pain of a traumatic defeat by Uruguay at the Maracana eight years prior.

“I was at the Maracana for that fateful loss to Uruguay. I was a soldier and it was my job to keep people off the pitch,” said Zagallo, of a result that prompted national mourning.

“I’ll never forget the silence, the sadness and the disappointment of that defeat,” he noted.

His legendary teammate, Pele, died in December 2022.

While that memory remained vivid, Zagallo would do his utmost to relieve the anguish by leaving his fingerprints on four of Brazil’s five World Cup triumphs.

Emerging from the amateur ranks during the 1950s, Zagallo, a diminutive left winger, embodied Brazil’s quest to blend attacking flair with defensive solidity, combining his exquisite technique with admirable commitment.

He won five Rio de Janeiro state championships with Flamengo and Botafogo. He only made his Brazil debut at the age of 26, shortly before the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, but became an integral member of the team, winning 37 caps.

Brazil’s run of success

The tournament, which launched 17-year-old sensation Pele on the world stage, ended with Brazil beating the hosts 5-2 in the final. Zagallo scored his team’s fourth and then set up Pele for the final goal.

Four years later, Zagallo played every single minute as a Garrincha-inspired Brazil overcame an injury sustained by Pele in the group stage to retain their crown, coming from behind to beat Czechoslovakia 3-1 in Santiago.

After retirement, Zagallo returned to the game as a manager, taking over former club Botafogo and leading them to two more state titles in a country under a military dictatorship.

Joao Saldanha had guided the national team to the 1970 World Cup in Mexico but was cast aside before the tournament in favor of Zagallo. Saldanha fell out with Pele and refused to bow to demands of then-president Emilio Garrastazu Medici on squad selection and, as a known Communist sympathizer, his fate was sealed.

Zagallo, just 38 at the time, inherited an exceptionally gifted squad — including Pele, Carlos Alberto, Jairzinho and Rivelino — and oversaw six wins from six games as Brazil captured the title for a third time in four attempts.

Years ahead of his time as a player, Zagallo quickly demonstrated his merit as a coach. He later reflected on the fabled 1970 World Cup, dominated by a spectacular Brazilian display, as his “greatest memory as a manager”.

A counter-intuitive type who believed in the number 13, Zagallo’s unabating hunger for success brought further domestic titles with Fluminense and Flamengo before he ventured abroad to Kuwait, winning the Gulf Cup in 1976 and reaching that year’s Asian Cup final.

Tireless pursuit of glory

After taking the United Arab Emirates to Italy in 1990, Zagallo was called on by Brazil for a final time, as technical director for the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Together with his protege, Carlos Alberto Perreira, he guided the side to another world title after a dull final against Italy led to a penalty shootout.

His tilt at a fifth success fell agonizingly short in 1998 when Ronaldo, the pre-eminent player of his generation, suffered a mysterious fit before the final and Brazil slumped to a 3-0 defeat to hosts France.

Zagallo’s durability and lasting aura ensured he was a natural choice to stand in briefly for the departed Luiz Felipe Scolari following Brazil’s fifth World Cup victory in 2002.

“He was one of the greatest Brazilian players of his generation and, after winning the World Cup four times, he has left a permanent mark on Brazilian football,” said Ronaldo of the man nicknamed “The Professor”.

His wife of 57 years, Alcina de Castro, passed away in 2012.

AFP

Headline

Zelensky Responds To Putin’s Invite To Russia For Peace Talks

Published

37 minutes ago

September 6, 2025

Editor

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to visit Moscow for peace talks over the ongoing Russian-Ukraine war.

According to the Russian government, President Putin is preparing to host Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, in Moscow.

Presidential aide Dmitry Peskov confirmed the meeting during an interview with TASS at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) on Friday.

The Kremlin spokesman said Putin’s invitation to the Ukrainian leader was “to talk, not to surrender.”

Peskov noted that efforts to resolve the 42-month conflict are ongoing but declined to predict the outcome. He quoted Putin as saying, “There is light at the end of the tunnel.”

The Russian government says it aims to achieve its objectives in Ukraine through peaceful means but will continue its special military operation if no truce is reached.

When asked about a possible follow-up conversation between President Putin and President Donald Trump after their meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, Peskov said, “There are no developments yet.”

He also spoke about US-Russia relations, saying “the process of bringing our relations out of complete paralysis will take time.” Peskov added that “much damage has been done to the architecture” of both countries’ ties, referring to years of diplomatic standoff under the previous US administration.

Responding to the open invite during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron after the Coalition of the Willing meeting, Zelensky said he can only be invited when Russia wants there to be no meeting.

Speaking about the coalition meeting amid ongoing effort for peace in Ukraine, Zelensky said the meeting is necessary and “not about desire, but a real need.” He added that he supports any format for the talks—trilateral or bilateral—but believes Russia is trying to delay it.

“The meeting is needed, this is not about desire, but it is needed. We supported it in any format: both trilateral and bilateral. I believe that Russia is doing everything to delay it. Our American partners told us that Putin invited me to Moscow. I think that when you want there to be no meeting, then you should invite me,” Zelensky said.

Headline

Surfer Dies After Suspected Shark Attack In Sydney

Published

53 minutes ago

September 6, 2025

Editor

A man has died following a suspected shark attack at Long Reef Beach in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, police in New South Wales have confirmed.

Emergency services were called shortly after 10:00 am local time on Saturday after reports that a surfer had suffered critical injuries about 100 metres offshore.

Despite being pulled from the water by fellow surfers, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said two sections of a surfboard were recovered from the water and have been sent for expert analysis. The victim, described as an experienced surfer, had been in the water for only about 30 minutes when the incident occurred.

In a statement, the police said the man had been pulled out of the morning surf onto the shore at Long Reef Beach, but he “died at the scene”.

“Two sections of a surfboard have been recovered and taken for expert examination,” the statement read.

At a news briefing later on Saturday, the police described the victim as an “experienced surfer” who had been in the water with his friends.

They said he had been surfing for only about 30 minutes when he was attacked some 100m (328ft) off the shore, losing “a number of limbs”.

Rod McGibbon, a duty officer from Surf Life Saving, said the victim had been brought to the beach by other surfers.

He said he expected the beaches to remain closed for between 24 and 72 hours.

The victim’s name has not been publicly released.

Local police officers and experts were now working together to “determine the species of shark involved”, the police added.

The last deadly shark attack in the Sydney area in 2022, when Simon Nellist, a British diving instructor, was mauled by a great white shark.

Prior to that, there had not been a fatal attack since 1963.

Australia typically records about 20 shark attacks each year, with most in New South Wales and Western Australia.

Historically, dying from a shark bite is uncommon. In over a century of records, Australia’s shark attack mortality rate is 0.9 – less than one person per year.

(BBC)

Headline

David Lammy Appointed UK’s Deputy PM

Published

13 hours ago

September 5, 2025

Editor

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a major cabinet reshuffle following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, in a move that could reshape the direction of his administration.

As part of the shake-up, David Lammy, a senior Labour figure and former Foreign Secretary, has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, taking over key roles previously held by Rayner.

The cabinet reshuffle comes at a politically sensitive time for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose leadership is under growing pressure from both within the Labour Party and the broader electorate.

The sudden resignation of Angela Rayner, a high-profile figure with strong working-class support, has exposed internal tensions and sparked concerns over the party’s unity and electoral strategy.

According to BBC News on Friday, the reshuffle is seen as a crucial test for Starmer’s leadership, especially as Rayner had been a prominent and working-class figure whose departure may weaken his appeal to core Labour voters.

Key Cabinet reassignment

-Lammy transitions from Foreign Secretary to Deputy PM and Justice Secretary.

-Yvette Cooper moves from Home Secretary to Foreign Secretary.

-Shabana Mahmood is promoted from Justice Secretary to Home Secretary.

Other notable appointments include:

-Steve Reed as Housing Secretary

-Pat McFadden as head of a newly expanded Work and Pensions department

-Douglas Alexander as Scotland Secretary

-Liz Kendall moves to Science and Technology

-Emma Reynolds becomes Environment Secretary

-Peter Kyle appointed Business Secretary

-Jonathan Reynolds named Chief Whip

-Alan Campbell becomes Leader of the House of Commons

Meanwhile, Lucy Powell and Ian Murray were removed from their cabinet roles.

Political Fallout and Internal Tensions

Labour now faces mounting political pressure. Observers note Rayner’s exit leaves a vacuum for constituents drawn to her working-class credentials, possibly intensifying internal party divisions.

Her resignation also triggers a deputy leadership contest, opening up a battleground between the party’s centrist and left-leaning factions.

Moreover, Labour’s popularity has waned, with opposition to policies on welfare and immigration increasing support for Reform UK.

Starmer’s government’s handling of economic pressures and an upcoming £40 billion budget shortfall deepen the political stakes.

Lammy Steps into Key Role at a Crucial Juncture

Lammy’s appointment is viewed as strategically significant. Known for his reform credentials and advocacy for criminal justice reform, his new position comes as Parliament prepares for the Sentencing Bill.

The Prison Reform Trust welcomed his appointment, noting the timing offers “an important opportunity to move away from the failed cycle of overcrowding and crisis management.”

This reshuffle represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of Keir Starmer’s administration. With Labour under heightened scrutiny and internal frictions rising, the effectiveness of the newly configured cabinet will be a litmus test of Starmer’s leadership, particularly as the party approaches a difficult budget season, rising populist pressures, and internal power shifts ahead of the next deputy leadership election.