Table of contents for Wednesday, September 2, 2020 in Post

Vegetable and fruit prices soar NADIA KHAN AND THANDEKA MGQIBI FROM cabbages to green beans, pumpkins, potatoes and more, vegetables will form part of the staple diet for Hindus during Pitri Paksha, which starts today, and the upcoming fasting month of Purattasi. Pitri Paksha, when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors, especially through food offerings, will be observed until September 17. Purattasi, a festival celebrating the Hindu deity Venkateswara, will be observed from September 17 to October 16. With the demand for fresh vegetables over this time, consumers can expect to pay a few more rand at the till. Informal traders said they have already noted an increase in prices of certain vegetables and fruits in the last week. Duran Dharampal, who sells produce at the Millennium Market in Phoenix,…

A life committed to South Africa’s liberation Stalwart Veejay Ramlakan was in a class of his own AMI NANAKCHAND IOL AS THE first quarter of South Africa’s democracy was drawing to a close, Lieutenant-General Veejay Ramlakan in 2017 published a true story of former president Nelson Mandela’s last years, entitled Mandela’s Last Years. The book’s sales ended abruptly after Mandela’s wife, Graca Machel, interdicted the publishers, Penguin Books, from further print orders, despite his former wife, the late Winnie Mandela and some members of the Mandela family attesting to the manuscript. As surgeon-general of the SANDF, Ramlakan and a top-notch medical team were entrusted with Mandela’s health care in his final years. The death of Ramlakan last Thursday brought to an end a sui generis life of political engagement and…

AfriForum wants meeting with top cop on farm attacks, murders CHARLENE SOMDUTH OUPA MOKOENA African News Agency (ANA) Phando Jikelo CIVIL rights organisation AfriForum has written to national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Khehla John Sitole asking for a meeting to discuss strategies to combat farm attacks and murders. Ernst Roets, the head of policy and action for AfriForum, said they wanted the SAPS to treat farm attacks as priority crimes. The organisation represents more than 250 000 farmers in South Africa. “These crimes are unique and deserve a counter-strategy similar to how police handle and investigate gang violence or rhino poaching. We are concerned because these attacks happen frequently. In June we had more than 40 attacks across the country. “We believe there are, on average, at least two incidents a…

EDITOR’S VIEW Unity among our religions heart-warming EVERY once in a while, something happens that reminds us what a great country South Africa is. What makes us unique is our diversity and our respect for one another’s traditions. Recently, the Durban High Court ordered a mosque in Isipingo Beach to tone down its call to prayer. The judgment followed a complaint by a Hindu, Chandra Ellaurie, who said the call to prayer disturbed his peace. He lives about 20m from the mosque. Judge Sidwell Mngadi said Ellaurie was entitled to enjoy the use of his home and ordered that the call to prayer should not be heard within the buildings of his private property. Naturally, there was an outcry from the Muslim community. But equally loud voices of protest came…

Many still carry a moral compass YOGIN DEVAN Twitter ANSWERS usually follow questions. But there is one answer that became the question. That is the Indian community. When they arrived in then Natal from 1860 onwards, Indians were the answer to labour problems on sugar plantations. Years later, after completing their indenture, and joined by wealthy “passenger” Indians, they became the question. With the increase in and dispersal of the Indian population throughout Natal, many whites were unhappy about the inroads Indians were making into the hitherto exclusively white settler preserve of commerce. They began to complain about Indian “encroachment”. Complaints of “vice, uncleanliness and disorder” and the outcry from white storekeepers who found themselves unable to compete with Indian traders, were the order of the day. The white colonial…

Need for land makes poor easy prey for criminals THE desperation to own a piece of land on which they can build a place they can call home has made many South Africans easy prey for criminals. People should be wary of falling into the trap of illegally buying land from strangers who do not produce sufficient tangible proof that they have the authority to sell it. Our brothers and sisters should do thorough research before they are duped into giving their hard-earned cash to these criminals. The rise of land invasions and illegal occupations in places like Rosslyn, Soshanguve and others across the country leaves a bitter taste. It should be a cause for concern for authorities and citizens alike because such occurrences eventually lead to violent protests, injuries…

Prayer offerings As Pitra Paksha starts on the Hindu calendar today, with Purattasi commencing on September 17, food blogger Denisiya Hemraj shares some traditional prayer offerings. You can follow her on eatmeerecipes.co.za or www.youtube.com/denisiyahemraj Milk Ladoo 250 g butter / margarine / butter ghee 2 cups icing (confectionery) sugar 2½ cups milk powder 1 tsp elachi (cardamom) powder ¼ cup desiccated coconut ¼ cup ground almonds or nuts of your choice Make sure the butter or margarine is at room temperature. I have used butter for this recipe. Add the butter to a mixing bowl. Add the icing (confectionery) sugar. Cream the butter and icing sugar using a wooden spoon or an electric mixer. Add the elachi (cardamom) powder, ground almonds and desiccated coconut. Finally, add the milk powder (I have…

Sthalekar’s rise to top EVERY success has a story to tell! The famous saying goes hand-in-hand with most of the athletes. Many past and current sports stars come from very humble origins from where they have found a place in the sun, despite all odds being stacked against them. One such shining star is former Australian cricketer Lisa Sthalekar, pictured. She was recently inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. But that is her achievement; her journey was more interesting or rather eye opening. It was the year 1978 and Sthalekar was just three weeks old when her foster parents adopted her from an orphanage in Pune. Yes, you read it right. She is an Indian by birth. In fact her real name was Laila. Her biological parents could not…

Study reveals how pupils view race POST REPORTER Supplied. YOUNG South Africans are being socialised into a highly racialised society and experience severe disparities. This is according to a three-year research project by two senior academics in Durban. Dr Kira Erwin, a senior researcher at the Urban Futures Centre at Durban University of Technology, and Dr Kathryn Pillay, a senior lecturer in Sociology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, have found that young people are deeply aware of inequality in South Africa and believe racial discrimination and racism should be eradicated in order for the country to move towards a better future. Their research challenges schools to think about how classroom conversations on race, class, culture and privilege are needed in South Africa. Their findings are published in a book titled…

Gang of robbers pounce on Clare Estate family NADIA KHAN A CLARE Estate family are living in fear after five armed robbers stormed into their home and robbed them of valuables last Thursday morning. Moments before Amritha Bauchoo, 44, of Morewood Road, was about to sit down for breakfast, she heard her mother, 67, scream for help. Seconds later Bauchoo was facing a gunman. “It was before 8am and my husband had just returned from dropping off our son at work. He told me to have my breakfast and then he’d take me to the hospital as I had an appointment. “I was about to sit down, when I heard my mom scream my name. She lives on the second storey of our home. I thought something happened to my…

A patriot who dedicated every drop of his blood to a democratic and free country DR RESHMA R BADAL IOL I HAVE lost my commander, my friend and a true patriot, Dr Vejaynand Ramlakan. He was a surgeon general, comrade and partner to the beautiful and intelligent Dr Sandy Afrika, loving father to Kiran, Anisha and Rosa. Brother to Geetha, Shanrita, Sharmamand, Surianand and the late brothers Devnand, Vishwanand and Shanilnand. Dr Ramlakan was an intern at RK Khan hospital, the place where we collided, an apt way to describe our meeting. We both came from very humble backgrounds, were descendants of slave indentured labourers, brought to South Africa on false pretences by the colonial British Empire to work the sugar cane plantations, whereby the whites enjoyed the spoils of…

A picture of a humble man who lived life to the fullest Tribute to legendary Durban photographer Rakesh Baliraj Panday NADIA KHAN HAVING started his career on the streets of the Durban CBD to later owning studios across the country, Rakesh Baliraj Panday was no stranger to the world of photography. Panday, 56, who was fondly known as “Pops”, of uMhlanga, died in hospital last Wednesday of lung failure. He had tested positive for Covid-19 last month. Panday, who was married to Anila and has two children, Yasheen and Tashmeve, opened Panday’s Studio in 1985. “My dad’s name was synonymous with the term photography, an industry he dominated until his untimely death due to Covid-19 complications,” said Yasheen. “He was such a humble, self-made man, full of energy, life and…

OPINION Pioneers driving on the road to success Indian community played huge role in developing city’s bus transport systems ZAINUL DAWOOD Zainul Aberdeen IN 1919 Jack Sidhoo converted a Dodge truck into a bus by placing two benches lengthwise at the back. He did so to cater for the poor and marginalised black community living on the banks of the Umgeni River, in an area now called Riverside. In the same year, brothers Moonsamy and Dharmalingham Marimuthoo bought an old, World War I army truck and placed benches lengthwise in the back to cater for black people on the Bluff and in Clairwood. Whites, Africans and coloured people referred to these privately owned buses as “Indian Buses”. It stemmed from the fact that some (African) passengers could not pronounce the…

MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT RAPE THERE are countless myths or untruths about rape and sexual assault. here are few of them, together with the facts that dispel them: Myth: Rape is a crime of passion and lust. Fact: Rape is a crime of violence and aggression. Rapists feel a sense of power by dominating their victims. Myth: Rape is an act of impulse. Fact: Evidence on rapists suggests that most rapes are premeditated and planned. Myth: A woman “asks for it” by the way she dresses and behaves. Fact: Regardless of what a person says, does or wears, they do not cause the sexual assault nor are they responsible for it. Many convicted rapists do not even remember what the victim was wearing. Myth: Rape is not serious for the…

Think before you speak IN THE past week, you either sided with eNCA news anchor Shahan Ramkissoon or KwaZulu-Natal public servant and prolific writer Kiru Naidoo. The drama had its origins in an interview Ramkissoon did with KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala. Whether rightly or wrongly, Zikalala felt disrespected and belittled. It prompted Naidoo to pen an opinion piece, published in The Mercury, apologising to Zikalala for the pain Ramkissoon had caused. Ramkissoon responded that he had nothing to apologise for – he was merely doing his job. And so, the battle lines in the mainstream media and on social media were drawn. Anyone who has been involved in a physical fight will tell you the rules are simple – there are no rules. Do whatever you need to do to…

Gargantuan effort needed to restore the poor economy AS the lockdown eases, people will be sighing with relief. There have been lamentations about restrictive movement and curtailment of privileges that have become part of life. The cigarette and alcohol bans had citizens in a quandary. While the alcohol ban was justifiable, the cigarette ban seemed to open the doors to the black market, with cigarettes being sold informally and never in short supply on the streets and at shopping centres. The monitoring of the sale of cigarettes was limited or non-existent. The South African fiscus was the biggest loser in terms of revenue from the informal sale of cigarettes. As a sense of normality starts to prevail, with many of the lockdown restrictions relaxed, let us not become complacent by…

Judgment is a blight to religious harmony THE best years of my life (1993 to 2008) were spent at the seaside town of Isipingo Beach, where I resided in a flat overlooking the ocean. I had a host of friends, including many Muslim brothers, and was well-known in social circles for my swashbuckling profligacy and hedonistic pursuits. But now my memories are being shattered. A resident has won a court ruling calling for an end to the daily (morning and evening) Muslim call to prayer. The mosque and the madrasa are in Inner Circuit Road. Does this particular individual have the requisite to put such a sensitive and delicate case before the judiciary? I know he has the constitutional right to do so. And, worse still, has the judge been…

Ruling party is failing the people who are suffering SOUTH Africa must have the most disgraceful government in the world. Many of the politicians are shameless. They are thieves. Some erstwhile leaders have left a legacy of their exceptional ability, knowledge and passion for this country. Now their ideologies are being destroyed. Blame must lie on the political parties who have competed among themselves to see who could appoint clever criminals, who served sentences in prison, or those who escaped imprisonment. This is their criteria of choice. Disgraceful. Many brilliant articles have been written by some great writers, such as Professor George Devenish, Narendh Ganesh and Farouk Araie et al. It is sad that their energies were wasted. The motto of government: Let the people suffer. Let us continue colluding…

Easy ways to grow vegetables and herbs Spring is also the perfect time to get your home veggie garden going. If you were not one of the many who did so over the lockdown, it’s not too late. Start with these veggie and herb planting tips Vegetables: ♦ Spinach and chard: Grow in small beds or plant boxes grown from seeds/seedlings in 10cm to 15cm potting planting soil. Needs full sun. Plant seed in trays or ice-cream containers. Make holes for drainage, fill with planting soil three-quarters full, sprinkle seeds and cover with about 2.5cm of soil. Water lightly. ♦ Cabbage: Plant by seeds or buy seedlings fom the nursery. Do not over-seed (plant too many in one area). Once big enough to handle, plant roughly 20cm to 30cm apart.…

Detox heals the mind and body PRATHIKSHA NAIDU BEING on lockdown alert level 2 has seen life, by and large, return to normal for most of us – with the added Covid-19 lifestyle adjustments of course. With many families now also back to the daily grind of having to juggle being back at work and school, after five months of mostly being at home, stress levels and anxieties are at a high, especially given that all this has to take place within a heightened health risk environment. Navigating the necessary hygiene and social distancing protocols during the pandemic is a regular way of life for now. Whether you are back in the office full-time with more people around, or juggling working from home and back to school at the same…

getting HOOKED THE shad have been keeping the rock and surf scene busy. As we get closer to the end of the season, the fish will keep getting bigger, so remember to bring your biggest catches in to be weighed at your nearest Kingfisher branch. The North Coast has been a great place to head if you are after edibles. The bigger seas have made many spots difficult but the abundance of spots with protection from these bigger swells have meant a lot more fish are accessible during these conditions. The sandies are starting to make an appearance with some smaller specimens being landed over the past few weeks. As soon as we start getting some consistent north-east wind, we will be able to target these beasts properly. Those looking…

MY SPORTING MEMORY A lifetime’s service to sport ESHLIN VEDAN DURING his high school years, Johnny Sitaram did not get a chance to participate in sport apart from inter-school soccer matches at Currie’s Fountain (the hub of non-racial football) as he had to rush to catch a bus in the afternoons. The difficult circumstances in which he grew up prevented Sitaram from playing the game at a high level. Even though he was elected captain of his school team in primary school, he often had to practise with tennis balls and never had access to adequate training facilities. “While in university, I studied part-time while working as a technician at the Medical School in Umbilo Road. I had very little time for any sports. “Now and then, I went with…

COVID BITES SHARKS MIKE GREENAWAY THERE have been a handful of positive Covid-19 tests in the Shark Tank but this will not prevent the unaffected players from returning to full contact training today. Over 100 players, management and administration staff underwent testing on Monday at Jonsson Kings Park – an instruction from SA Rugby in line with their agreement with the government for a return to action – and a “small number” of tests returned as positive, according to Sharks chief executive Eduard Coetzee. “It was almost to be expected given the large number of tests done, and we are talking about a small number of positives,” Coetzee said. “The players concerned are asymptomatic and have gone into self-isolation. The rest of the players have been cleared for full-contact training.”…

Toffees eye attackers James, Allan ESHLIN VEDAN THE transfer of American Weston McKennie from Schalke to Juventus was somewhat surprising. The 22-year-old showed potential in Germany but has yet to show the level of consistency which would warrant a move to a so-called elite club in world football. One has to question if the next trend in world football will be to invest in American talent? Chelsea, who signed US international Christian Pulisic in January 2019, are not only benefiting on the field but are also reaching a new market in the US. Other clubs across Europe will surely take notice of this. In another somewhat strange transfer, Matt Doherty joined Tottenham Hotspur from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Not only was the right back sold to a rival club, but he was…

Hindus, Christians and more unite to show support for the Muslim call to prayer CHANELLE LUTCHMAN DOZENS of people from various religions gathered on Sunday in solidarity with the Madrasah Taleemuddeen Islamic Institute in Isipingo, holding a drive-through protest in the area. This was in response to a court ruling last week that placed limitations on how the institution would be permitted to sound the Azaan (call to prayer). Last week, a Durban High Court judge ruled in favour of Chandra Ellaurie, an Isipingo Beach resident who said the call deprived him of the enjoyment of his property rights. In his judgment, Judge Sidwell Mngadi issued a court order that the mosque must ensure that calls to prayer made from its property were not audible within the buildings of Ellaurie’s…

Pensioner and son, 18, assaulted during robbery Number of home invasions rising in the area, says Inanda resident CHARLENE SOMDUTH Reaction Unit South Africa A NORTH Coast pensioner was punched in the face and her teenage son assaulted during a robbery at their home in Tea Estate, Inanda last Thursday evening. Feroza Sayed Ebrahim, 68, was alone in her home waiting for her 18-year-old son, Saheel, to return from the shop with her supper and medication. “I was feeling unwell. I heard Saheel’s car come into our driveway, so I went to our kitchen door to wait for him. “There were two men at the entrance of the driveway and three others were at the back of our property. I believe they were keeping watch. The men pointed their guns…

WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT VEEJAY RAMLAKAN ♦ President Cyril Ramaphosa “He will be remembered not only for his noble contribution in the struggle for liberation, but for the many years of great work as the physician to the father of our nation, former president Mandela.” ♦ Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, former KZN MEC of Health “I met him in 1982 when I was a medical student and he was already qualified, but furthering his studies. He soon introduced me to the MK soldiers and I got closer to him. “One thing that got to me was his humility and respect. He respected everyone, even the leaders in the KZN command who were younger than him but of higher rank. “He was so passionate for our fight. He was wise and extremely…

Car buyer in a spin after DJ fails to deliver the vehicle CHANELLE LUTCHMAN SIBONELO NGCOBO African News Agency (ANA) “I thought that with the vehicle, I could take her out and take the baby for her doctor appointments. “I also wanted to start a lift club to earn more money, so I could save and move out of the informal settlement and into a proper home. But without the vehicle I lost everything. I have not yet been paid because I took an advance on my salary. “My baby is now two months old and I can hardly afford nappies and food. My father was helping me but he has since moved to Germany. We live a hard life and I regret giving them my hard-earned R13 000.” Andrade…

Murderous attack on his family haunts father CHARLENE SOMDUTH WATCHING four men enter his home, terrorise his family and then kill his pregnant wife haunts Ayoob Ismail. In July, his wife, Zakkiyya Ismail, 26, had her throat slit in the bathroom of their farmhouse in Weenen, near Estcourt. She was four months’ pregnant and was expected to give birth in December. Their children, Hajra, 8, was strangled, and Hamza, 2, was kicked several times. They survived the attack. Ismail, a cattle farmer, ran his family’s abattoir which he inherited from his father. He has not been to the farmhouse since the attack and has been living with family. His cousin, Ally Jamaloodeen, said life had changed for the family. “All their hopes and dreams were shattered that night. My cousin…

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE GENDER-based violence (GBV) refers to any crime or action directed at a person or group of persons on the basis of their perceived or actual gender or sexual orientation. This includes domestic violence, dating violence, sexual harassment, assault, verbal and physical abuse, and stalking. All these types of violence can be – and almost always are – gendered in nature, because of how gender power inequalities are entrenched in our society. GBV can be physical, sexual, emotional, financial or structural, and can be perpetrated by intimate partners, acquaintances, strangers and institutions. Most acts of interpersonal gender-based violence are committed by men against women, and the man perpetrating the violence is often known by the woman, such as a partner or family member. GBV manifests itself in various practises…

RAPE ADVICE REPORT the attack to the police whether or not you plan to file charges. Reporting a rape does not commit you to filing charges. You can make that decision later. have someone to go with you. Although there is no time limit for reporting a rape, the sooner you do it, the better. Rapists rarely attack one woman only. If they are not reported, they may continue to attack other women. If you report the rape, you could break the pattern and save someone else from being assaulted. If you report the rape, and then decide to file charges at a later stage, the case can still be prosecuted. however, the successful prosecution of a case depends largely on the evidence gathered by the police during their investigation.…

The Azaan must continue at the same volume Tolerance is important when living in a multi-cultural country AMAN MAHARAJ I WRITE this article just after reading an opinion by Professor Pierre de Vos, a lawyer who is an expert on the Constitution, regarding the verdict of a Durban Court on the volume of the Azaan and the call to prayer in Isipingo Beach, south of Durban. Just to provide some context, I did use Prof de Vos’s expert opinion in my own case when I fought the board of directors at the gated estate where I live for banning fireworks. They eventually backed down on the basis of his professional view provided to me. Diwali isn’t quite a complete celebration without a few sparkles and the night sky being lit,…

Temple’s destruction a sad day for all I WAS dismayed after reading the story “105-year-old temple bulldozed to the ground” (the POST, August 19-23). It is a sad day, not only for the community of Port Shepstone but for all Hindu organisations and communities. Many of our elders toiled selflessly to provide our community with a place of worship. This immoral degeneration can only be resolved by God-fearing leaders. Senior stalwarts like Johnson Naidoo, Bob Pillay and Saths Chettiar should be involved. The community must charge the property owner and take him to court. Your silence will be tantamount to complicity. I am a firm believer in the law of karma and love the saying: “No harm shall ever come to one who never strays into evil.” DHAYALAN MOODLEY Mobeni…

Combat corruption and learn from our history LAWLESSNESS, corruption and the abuse of public office for personal gain is not just about the mishandling of public wealth. It also hurts and undermines the ability of the government to provide essential services to all citizens, create jobs and to grow the economy. As Covid-19 continues to disrupt households and businesses, citizens should demand transparency and strict anti-corruption measures to prevent or mitigate potential mismanagement of the coronavirus-related emergency relief programmes. Combating corruption, in public and private sectors, should be a top priority. Every procedure must be tracked to ensure the Covid-19 emergency relief reaches the most vulnerable citizens and frontline workers. As the economy and schools are reopening, and we reconstruct our lives, we also need to build mechanisms, structures and…

A year that changed everything THE year 2020 arrived. It was expected to be a year of mixed emotions, with my eldest son going through his final year of school. There was excitement about the matric dance and stress for their first quarterly tests. Then March 18 arrived with chaos and fear. Schools shut down completely. We had one week to do our essential needs, then the country went into lockdown. Covid-19 was taking over the world. This was a silent war, with an invisible enemy. Our honourable president asked us to stay home. The new normal was masks, hands sanitisers and personal protective equipment. Teachers started online teaching. Shopping was done once a week. Our temple group joined forces with other temple groups and reached out to many hungry…

Your Stars Aries (March 21 – April 19) Your integrity may be challenged this week and dishonesty may become an issue, especially in the workplace. Try and be objective and don’t take anything personally. Use your discretion. If the dishonesty is on the home front, then you may need to forgive and forget in order to move on. Don’t burn your bridges. Lucky number: 2. Taurus (April 20 – May 20) This week is all about finding joy. It is important to take time out and do the things you love. If you have been under stress and are worried, then try to find peace by distracting yourself. Perhaps start a new project or finish off something that you have already started. Take extra pride in what you do this…

Time to clean your system with simple, nutritious and delicious liquids Pay attention to what you put into your body too. During the lockdown, many of us gained unwanted kilos through unhealthy eating. Here are a few of Naidu’s tried and tested recipes to help with detoxing Tomato soup Tomatoes are healthier when cooked. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from damage, helping prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease. Boil the tomatoes for 10 minutes and add 2 sprigs of thyme. Once cooled, peel off the skin and slice in halves. Add 2 pods of garlic, a piece of ginger, a pinch of turmeric, salt and pepper. Add the chilli, coriander and 2 sprigs of thyme. Place in a blender and purée until smooth. I use the Nutribullet, the…

Patience pays off for De Gouveia DAVID THISELTON DIEGO DE GOUVEIA had a Grade 1 double at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday with the Stuart Pettigrew-trained Anything Goes and the Candice Dawson-trained Sentbydestiny, both bred by Varsfontein Stud, and said he owed his current progressive profile to Pettigrew. He said, "He has helped me a helluva lot. He has helped fine tune my riding especially in being patient and waiting for the false rail and he has stuck with me through bad rides and good rides, he has been really loyal." De Gouveia said the unbeaten Var filly Anything Goes was undoubtedly the best horse had ever ridden in a race and elaborated, "It's not just because I have won a Group 1 on her, she is really top class and…

Big bio-bubble test for IPL YAJURVINDRA SINGH PREPARATIONS for India’s premier cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League (IPL), are in full swing. The eight franchise teams seem to be doing a remarkable job as organising and executing the transportation, stay and travel of their players and support staff must be quite an arduous task. To do so in the limited time they had is even more credible, as planning for a major tournament normally requires several months of brainstorming and preparations. The players participating in the IPL are going through a novel experience. They need to travel clad in a protective suit and face gear, masked underneath, and their photographs have shown them as a team ready to embark on a journey to outer space rather than to the modern…

Barca set for Messi divorce? Ronaldo commits future and outlines European and global ambitions FC BARCELONA have begun their training under new coach Ronald Koeman but as expected, star striker Lionel Messi, pictured, was missing. The Argentinian did not return along with the rest of his teammates for the start of pre-season training on Monday, after he refused to take a PCR test for Covid-19 on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency. Messi’s decision is another step in his plan to leave the club where he has spent the last 20 years, with the striker and his advisers taking the stance that his contract with Barcelona allows him to leave the Camp Nou on a free transfer this summer. This opinion is not shared by Barcelona or the Spanish Football League…

WOMEN ON THE RISE IN WWE Sexy stars pin down more storylines than before NOW more than ever, WWE fans have a myriad female superstars to root for when watching their favourite WWE shows. The WWE brand has seen the presence of women in various roles increase since the ’80s. The introduction of the term “Divas” in the ’90s was used to refer to all WWE women, highlighting women in various roles including superstars, managers, ring announcers and interviewers. During Wrestlemania 32, the brand decided to drop the term “Divas”, to refer to all performers equally as WWE Superstars. This was a step in the right direction by the brand as it was a declaration of WWE’s commitment to moving women from the sidelines toward centre stage, and they now…

Hamilton, Verstappen call for race rule changes FORMULA One world championship leader Lewis Hamilton, pictured, led calls for races with more pit stops and an end to “tyre management”, after a Belgian Grand Prix described by his Red Bull rival Max Verstappen as boring. The Briton led each of the 44 laps on his way to a pole-to-flag victory in Sunday’s race in which the top four finished in the order they started. Most of the field made one pit stop during the race, earlier than planned due to a safety car, and had to nurse their tyres to the finish, effectively neutralising the battle at the front. “It’s not particularly exciting, as Max said, but it’s a medium-high speed circuit so there’s a lot of force that goes through…