Lionel Messi now has the 3 most-liked sports images on Instagram

Aug 16 2021

Following his earth-shattering move to Paris Saint-Germain, Lionel Messi’s social media momentum shows no signs of slowing down as the Argentinian football star currently occupies the 3 most-liked sports images on Instagram.

In third place with a whopping 20.8 million likes is Messi’s FC Barcelona press conference snap, with one of the player’s first photos in Le Parc de Princess coming in second with 21.5 million likes.

The most liked sports photo on Instagram is Leo’s emotional Copa America snap which is Argentina’s first major trophy since 1993.

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The 34-year-old football superstar shocked the world with his move from boyhood club FC Barcelona to Parisian side PSG, definitively making it one of the most-followed football transfers in recent history.

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WATCH: Hundreds on runway to prevent US Air Force plane from leaving Afghanistan

Aug 16 2021

After the Taliban took over the capital in Afghanistan, hundreds of Afghans fled to the airport to secure a flight and flee the country. As some clung desperately onto access-ways to planes, hundreds of people ran on the tarmac of the international airport and attempted to stop a US military aircraft from taking off. News portal Al Jazeera also reported how shots were heard amid the chaotic scenes at the airport, with witnesses telling the newsroom that US troops are firing in the air to control the situation.

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New Zealand have stated that a military plane will be sent to evacuate citizens as other airlines have rerouted to avoid Afghanistan’s airspace. With Taliban troops allegedly occupying every checkpoint, the group stated that the situation is ‘normal’ as its fighters are attempting to provide ‘security’. This is a developing story.

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Photo Source: Al Jazeera

Malta secures third place finish as local basketball player makes tournament top 5

Aug 16 2021

Yesterday the Maltese basketball team sealed a 3rd place finish in the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries. The Maltese team beat San Marino and Gibraltar to reach 3rd.

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A post shared by Peter Shoults (@petershoults)

Losses to Ireland and Andorra meant that retaining their 1st place finish was impossible. The hosts Ireland, won the tournament for the first time in the country’s history. They beat everyone in the tournament quite comfortably.

Maltese player Aaron Falzon was selected to be apart of the best starting 5 of the tournament. He had the best scoring stats in the competition. Other Maltese players like Kurt Cassar, Tevin Falzon and Jack Zammit all impressed with Kevin Cassar having one of the best rebounds percentages in the competition.

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43 COVID-19 cases registered with 80 recoveries

54 COVID-19 cases registered with 57 recoveries

Aug 16 2021

Malta has registered 43 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours from 2,822 swab tests, while 80 patients have recovered. 1 death was registered in the past 24 hours. This information was announced by the official Facebook page of Malta’s Ministry for Health.

As of Sunday 16th August 2021, 784,729 vaccine doses were administered of which 407,985 were 1st doses. 404,760 people are currently fully vaccinated.

To date, Malta has registered 35,380 COVID-19 cases in total, of which: 33,944 have recovered, 431 died and 609 are still active.

Mater Dei Hospital is currently treating a total of 43 COVID-19 positive patients, five of whom are in the ITU. The average age of yesterday’s cases was 37.

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