Indholdsfortegnelse for 2023-08-14 i Mercury

International Energy Agency forecasts global oil demand may reach an all-time high FUEL PRICES in South Africa could increase dramatically over the next month, possibly pushing consumer inflation back above the upper limit of the target range, as the global demand for oil is expected to reach an all-time high. This comes as the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Friday revised upwards its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2023, which could also potentially push prices even higher. In its August report, the IEA said demand was “scaling record highs” on the back of a sharp reduction by oil producing countries such as Saudi Arabia and Russia. The IEA said the world oil demand hit a record 103 million barrels per day in June, and August could see yet…

THE Jacob Zuma Foundation said it was not surprised at the mixed reaction regarding the special remission programme which allowed for the release of the former president. Zuma was given a 15-month sentence in June 2021 for refusing to testify at the state capture inquiry. The move sparked violence and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Just under two months into his sentence, he was released on medical parole by former Correctional Services Department commissioner Arthur Fraser. This decision was challenged and last year the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruled that Fraser’s decision to place Zuma on medical parole was unlawful. The SCA said it was up to the current commissioner to determine whether the time Zuma spent on parole should be considered as part of his sentence. In July,…

“Spirituality” is hard to define and to pin down. What does it really mean? Who is really spiritual, who is not? What does it mean to say “she is a really spiritual person”? When I hear things like, “Mary is dating this really spiritual guy”, I can’t help imagining someone who floats or speaks in soothing tones about things eternal and does so with dreamy, distant eyes. I’d suggest our spirituality, yours and mine, may be focused upon matters eternal, but if it is authentic, it will be anchored firmly in the immediate. Our “spirituality”, like it or not, becomes evident in all of our relationships, from intimate to platonic. It is seen and felt and known, here and now, in all of our relationships and attitudes. You know you…

It has been said that in a world of propaganda, truth is always a conspiracy. In the light of unfolding developments, the extent to which the doctrine known as “the narrative” has been exposed as propaganda should inspire alarm. In recent years challenges to prescribed narratives have been censored or denigrated or simply dismissed as “conspiracies”. Acceptance of that dogma has been premised on repetition by institutions and the mainstream media. The arrogance of the narrative doctrine was epitomised by Jacinda Ardern. In her capacity as prime minister of New Zealand she declared on March 19, 2020, that “the government is the single source of truth”. Yet if coerced narratives of the recent past are subjected to revision and review, their integrity leaves much to be desired. Covid was declared…

Supermarkets, vendors and businesses were hit hard by the week-long taxi strike, but authorities said the greatest loss was that of the five people who died. The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) strike, which came to an end late on Thursday, was listed as a high-level security threat for UK tourists visiting South Africa following the death of British citizen Dr Karhao Teoh, who was shot dead in Nyanga. Others killed during the violence included Law Enforcement Advancement Plan officer Zanikhaya Kwinana, Arthur Mlandeli, Makhosandile Joseph Mkhela and one other person whose name has not been released. Kwinana, 32, was driving with two colleagues in Miller Road, en route to Bishop Lavis, when suspects opened fire last week. The strike arose after a new municipal law gave local authorities…

The Gupta-linked Mediosa fraud case against the former head of the Department of Health in the North West, Dr Andrew Lekalakala, was postponed to February next year. The North West High Court postponed the case to February 12, 2024. “The matter had to be adjourned following an objection by Lekalakala’s attorney on evidence that was presented by the deputy director general of the North West Department of Health, Konred Motlhabane,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson in the North West division, Henry Mamothame. Lekalakala is facing two charges of fraud, one of contravening the Public Finance Management Act and another, in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act. The charges relate to the alleged fraudulent awarding of a contract for mobile clinics to Mediosa Health Pty (Ltd) in…

Enhanced security measures are imperative at popular tourist destinations to prevent the tragic loss of foreign visitors’ lives in South Africa. This threat has the potential to severely damage the country’s vital tourism industry. A recent violent taxi strike in Cape Town resulted in the death of a well-regarded British doctor. Dr Kar Teoh, a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, was travelling with his family when the incident occurred. Allegedly, Dr Teoh took a wrong turn from Cape Town International Airport into the Nyanga township amid the turmoil of the taxi strike. Suspects reportedly approached his vehicle and shot him dead on Ntlangano Crescent. Similarly, last year, a German tourist named Jorg Schnarr, aged 67, was shot and killed while driving on the Numbi…

West Africa’s regional bloc kept up its search yesterday for diplomatic ways to overturn last month’s coup in Niger, while retaining the threat of military intervention amid a crisis that has sucked in global superpowers. The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) said that it aimed to send a parliamentary committee to meet the coup leaders, who have imprisoned Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum and dissolved the elected government, in the seventh coup in West and Central Africa in three years. While the Ecowas parliament made no firm decisions, it set up a committee that plans to meet Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. Tinubu holds the bloc’s revolving chairmanship. Parliament wants to get his permission to go to Niger, its spokesperson said. The coup leaders, headed by General Abdourahamane Tiani, have…

Ecuador transferred a powerful gang leader, accused of threatening a presidential candidate before he was slain, to a maximum security prison via a massive military and police operation, officials said. At dawn, around 4 000 heavily armed agents entered Prison 8 in Guayaquil in south-western Ecuador, where the head of the powerful Los Choneros criminal group, Jose Adolfo Macias, alias “Fito,” has been held since 2011. Images shared by security forces showed a bearded man in his underwear, with his hands on his head in some shots and lying on the floor with his arms tied in others. Ecuadoran President Guillermo Lasso announced on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, that Fito had been transferred to La Roca, a 150-person maximum security prison that is part of…

TOKYO: Japanese authorities yesterday warned residents in much of the country to prepare for a strong, slow-moving typhoon set to hit during the peak summer travel week. Typhoon Lan is on course to make landfall tomorrow on Japan’s main island of Honshu, bringing heavy rain and violent gusts, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Some areas may see as much as 50cm of rain in 24 hours to 6am on Tuesday, followed by more rain as the typhoon churns across the nation, the agency said. “The slow speed of the typhoon could mean that its impact may last for a long time,” Shuichi Tachihara, chief forecaster at the agency, told a media briefing. | AFP…

Washington: The Miss Universe Organisation has cut ties with its Indonesia franchise, it announced days after allegations of sexual harassment, and will cancel an upcoming Malaysia edition. In the complaint, more than a half dozen women said all 30 finalists for Miss Universe Indonesia were unexpectedly asked to strip for a supposed body check for scars and cellulite two days before the pageant’s crowning ceremony in Jakarta. Their lawyer said Tuesday that five of the women had their pictures taken. “In light of what we have learned took place at Miss Universe Indonesia, it has become clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards.” | AFP…

SOUTH Africa will aim to put its best foot forward in a bid to convince the BRICS member states that the country is open for business, thus hoping to attract investment into the infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. This comes as the country hosts the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg next week where government leaders, State-owned companies and private sector businesses from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) will discuss partnerships for mutually accelerated growth. In preparation, the BRICS Business Council has held a number of stakeholder engagements with working groups from the South African Chapter. Co-chairperson of the Infrastructure Working Group Zodwa Mbele on Friday said they wanted to share knowledge with BRICS member countries and industry experts to see how South Africa can benefit. The BRICS Infrastructure…

South Africa is facing a concerning trend as office workers spend an average of 17 hours a day sitting or lying down. This sedentary lifestyle has been linked to physical and mental health issues, with only high volumes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity offering protection against its harmful effects. A study conducted in 2021 involving 794 577 participants found a significant increase in the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular disease mortality among people with predominantly sedentary lifestyles compared to those who were least sedentary. Gary Arenson, a physiotherapist and founder of Ergotherapy, a company specialising in ergonomic office furniture, warns that this sedentary lifestyle, combined with improper sitting posture, can have detrimental effects on health and back alignment. What are the sedentary activities that consume the average South African’s…

High levels of poverty and a lack of access to information on available help are among the reasons that child marriages continue to be rife in rural KwaZulu-Natal communities. This is according to the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), which has challenged government departments, community members and structures to live up to their responsibilities and curb the marriages. Statistics SA recently revealed that the country recorded 207 child marriages in 2021, and there are fears that the figure could rise. The CGE said the practice of child marriages and traditionally linked abductions remained high in Umzimkhulu in southern KZN and other rural parts of the province. CGE’s Zanele Ncwane cited a combination of a lack of information on the forms of assistance available from the state, to poverty and abuse…

The Cape Town taxi strike is finally over. The destruction and loss of lives must be condemned by all law-abiding South Africans. Our rainbow nation suffers from a raft of lawlessness that is eroding social cohesion and democratic ideals. The rule of law underpins vital components of a free and democratic society. Our democracy is in a serious crisis, unruly elements ride roughshod over all of us. South Africans, regardless of political party backgrounds, demand that anarchy in our land be stopped and elite lawlessness in our institutions do not go unchecked. Tyranny will overwhelm us if we continue to mock and violate the laws of the land. Brazenly defying the law will make us slide into a dysfunctional state. Accountability for all is essential to maintaining our democracy. The…

The political arena in South Africa is plagued by the ongoing feuds and divisions within the ANC. The local government election results were a wake-up call for the party, as it lost all metros. The ANC is facing a tough challenge in the upcoming 2024 elections, with its support base dwindling by the day. The Zuma faction has had a significant impact on Ramaphosa’s presidency. The consensus among Zuma supporters is that Zuma is a victim of the outcome of Nasrec, where the Ramaphosa faction won over Zuma’s. They believe that Ramaphosa is using state apparatus to purge the ANC of Zuma allies. Zuma has proven to be Ramaphosa’s biggest headache. The narrative that Zuma is a victim and that he is being forced out of the ANC by Ramaphosa…

THE sad truth and reality is that children often become collateral damage in divorce proceedings. A teenager who is not spared this fate realised this, as his dreams to complete this year’s racing season in his category, was shattered by his parents’ bickering. The youngster, said to be one of the top competitors in the country in his class, will – for now – have to forgo his ambitions following an order made by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. His parents are divorced, but when they were still on speaking terms, both agreed to contribute equally towards his racing passion. Things became sour when the father’s new love entered the arena and the mother struggled to cope with this. The father had set an ultimatum that he would continue to…

Police in Limpopo have welcomed the sentencing of two men who were arrested and linked to a gruesome farm attack incident which happened in August 2020 in the Mogwadi policing precinct. During the violent attack, Aaron Mabena and Nicolus Tlou were among the four assailants who robbed the 80-year-old farm owner, and severely assaulted him before his wife was raped by the intruders. The duo was sentenced by the High Court in Polokwane. “The court heard that four male suspects stormed the farm and found an elderly couple inside the house,” Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba narrated. “They assaulted an 80-year-old farm owner until he became unconscious and later two suspects raped the farmer’s 65-year-old wife.” After the ordeal, the assailants took one hunting rifle and a pistol from…

RATEPAYERS are not backing down in their dispute with the eThekwini Municipality over their decision to boycott the paying of rates. City officials, led by mayor Mxolisi Kaunda and speaker Thabani Nyawose, met the ratepayers, led by the Westville Ratepayers’ Association (WRA), on Thursday in an effort to resolve the dispute. Several ratepayers have joined the action first launched by the WRA. The WRA said last week that ratepayers had withheld R400 000 in rates payments for July and diverted the money to a trust account. Thursday’s meeting achieved little by way of a resolution, with ratepayers accusing the City officials of arrogance. They were especially offended by Nyawose’s decision to close the meeting while the residents still had things to say. WRA chairperson Asad Gaffar said: “The meeting was…

I RECENTLY attended the 14th International Interdisciplinary Conference that was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from June 26 to 30. The conference was held under the general conference theme: “The Global West, North, East and Africa.” The theme was centred around increasing concern on how the Global West and North have influenced Africa over the years, and the recent rise of Asian giants such as China and India in contesting the monopoly of the traditional powers. This conference sought to bring new research that has been conducted on the African continent, covering many themes. My paper was titled: “We want agri-preneurship, but where’s the land? The issue of land as an enabler for agri-preneurship for female agri-preneurs in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa.” It was influenced by viewing agri-preneurship…

A Russian warship fired warning shots with automatic weapons yesterday on a Palau-flagged dry cargo ship in the south-western Black Sea as it made its way towards Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry said. Russia last month scuppered a UN-brokered grain deal that ensured Ukraine could get its agricultural produce to market via the Black Sea and Moscow cautioned that it would deem all ships heading to Ukrainian waters to be potentially carrying weapons. Russia said in a statement that its Vasily Bykov patrol ship had fired automatic weapons on the Sukru Okan vessel after the latter’s captain failed to respond to a request to halt for an inspection. The Sukru Okan was making its way towards the Ukrainian port of Izmail, the defence ministry said. Refinitiv shipping data showed the…

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling coalition thwarted a challenge by an opposition alliance in state elections, official results showed yesterday, with analysts saying the win would buy him time to consolidate power in the largely Islamic south-east Asian nation. Saturday’s vote in six states had been the toughest political challenge yet to Anwar, who was appointed prime minister in November last year to head a unity government after an indecisive general election. The election of state assembly members does not affect Anwar’s current two-thirds majority in parliament. | AFP…

Quetta: Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants yesterday attacked a convoy carrying Chinese engineers to the Beijing-financed Gwadar Port in Pakistan’s south-west, the group said. “BLA Majeed Brigade today targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers in Gwadar. The attack is still ongoing,” the separatist group said. Security sources confirmed an attack on a convoy carrying Chinese engineers. In the past, various Baloch separatist groups have claimed attacks on projects linked to the massive China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, with thousands of security personnel deployed to counter threats against Beijing’s interests. | AFP…

DUBAI: A US-led naval coalition in the Gulf has warned ships in the region to stay away from Iranian waters to avoid possible seizure, the US Navy said. The warning shows tensions remain high in and around the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran seized tankers in late April and early May, while Washington and Tehran finalise a deal to free five US citizens detained in Iran and the US allows $6 billion in Iranian funds held in South Korea to be unfrozen. “The International Maritime Security Construct is notifying regional mariners of appropriate precautions to minimise the risk of seizure based on current regional tensions,” said Commander Timothy Hawkins. | Reuters…

RULANI Mokwena is human after all! Such has been the Mamelodi Sundowns’ coach’s rise to the top of South African coaching circles that he has quickly become associated with perfection and success. This, after all, is a coach who fraternises with the likes of Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and other top football technicians and tacticians the world over. He has been nicknamed the South African Mourinho, remember? That’s a massive compliment given the Portuguese Jose Mourinho’s incredible achievements as a coach. And the moniker fits. Mokwena is, lest you were not aware, yet to lose a Premiership match since taking sole charge of Sundowns midway through last season, having helped the Brazilians set all kinds of league records. This is a coach who took the club to their first Caf…

Kylian Mbappe was reinstated into Paris Saint-Germain’s first team yesterday, a day after being omitted for the Ligue 1 season opener against Lorient and reportedly being frozen out of the main squad for weeks amid an ongoing contract stand-off. PSG began their title defence at home to Lorient on Saturday, with Mbappe watching the goalless draw from the stands alongside new signing and fellow World Cup winner Ousmane Dembele, who had completed his transfer to Paris earlier in the day. Relations between Mbappe and PSG have been tense since the France captain said he would not renew his contract, which expires at the end of the 2023-24 season when he could leave Paris for free. “Following very constructive, positive talks between PSG and Kylian Mbappe before the game vs Lorient,…

Minister of Electricity Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has left it to the system operator to decide whether the City of Johannesburg will be exempted from load shedding during the crucial BRICS Summit next week. Heads of State of BRICS nations, government ministers and private business executives will descend on Johannesburg from Tuesday to attend the first in-person, three-day summit since the outbreak of Covid-19. The summit comes as power utility Eskom is implementing daily power cuts of two hours at a time to protect the national grid from collapsing due to “long-standing insufficient energy generation capacity” amid rising demand. The government usually requests the Eskom system operator to exempt the country from load shedding on special occasions, and it was expected this would be the case to avoid a possible embarrassment…

ALMOST every month there is something new in the social media archives to talk about. And recently, it’s water burgers. Contrary to what the name might suggest, these burgers are not some exaggerated diet version of the popular comfort food. Water burgers are regular burgers with their patties cooked, or rather boiled, in water instead of on a grill or seared in oil. The trend started on TikTok and migrated to Instagram, where Joshua Godfrey (@JoshandMomma) tried it and sent the internet into a frenzy. While this method for cooking meat is nothing new, using it for hamburgers might feel like they are coming out improperly. Critics argue that the technique may render the burger soggy instead of juicy, leaving a lot to be desired in terms of taste and…

POLICE are searching for gunmen who killed six people in uMlazi’s Q section on Friday. The deceased were identified as Maxwell Sibisi, Zweli Sibisi, Mlungisi Zuma, Phuphu Dlamini and Thabani Mbhele. The sixth victim has not been identified. Ward councillor Brian Sindane said he did not know the motive for the murders, but it was believed to be drug-related. “These killings make us feel unsafe. We are pleading with the community to come forth and share details as to what happened so that the culprits will get arrested. During the week we will meet with the families to discuss how they will prepare for the funerals,” he said. He added that there had been a report of a shooting on Saturday in the area in which two other people…

It is essential that all citizens submit their comments on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill. The bill has far-reaching implications with the potential to drive our already compromised public health service into greater crisis. It was also abundantly clear during recent parliamentary processes – which included public hearings on the bill across KwaZulu-Natal – that submissions from a wide range of stakeholders were ignored. This distortion should not stop anyone from commenting. Our democratic process can only be strengthened by using it to the full and not being dissuaded by the arrogance of those currently in government. The proposed so-called money bill also has massive tax implications that may drive our already limited number of health professionals to seek greener pastures. Nor does the bill imply any of the…

There has been mixed reaction to Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel’s notice to impose definitive anti-dumping duties on imported chicken. The duties – approved by the minister in 2022 after a recommendation by the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) – had been suspended for 12 months but are now set to come into operation. While the move has been welcomed by the SA Poultry Association, the DA has raised concern about rising chicken prices. The notice published in the Government Gazette on August 2 said the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa initiated an anti-dumping investigation on frozen bone-in portions of fowl of the species originating in or imported from Brazil, Denmark, Ireland, Poland and Spain in 2021. “After considering comments, the commission made a final determination…

THE acting head and deputy head of the City’s Durban Solid Waste Unit (DSW) are apparently at loggerheads. Acting head Noluthando Magewu placed the deputy head: operations, Qaphile Gcwensa, on precautionary suspension amid accusations that include insubordination, according to the suspension letter seen by The Mercury. Magewu has been acting head for a few months since the resignation of former head Raymond Rampersad. Issues over authority in the unit seem to be at the heart of the dispute. The issues come amid concerns that refuse in some parts of the City was not being collected at the scheduled times. Westville is one of the suburbs that has experienced problems with collections. Municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said: “The collection of refuse in Westville was inconvenienced by a breakdown of three trucks…

Note of sanity in international discourse India took over the presidency of the more than two-decades-old Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) in September, and that of the G20 in December 2022 for a year at a time. This when global tensions due to the Eurasian War and devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic were defining the not-so-flattering contours of the global transitional order or disorder, depending from which pivot one looked at it. It was expected to be a very difficult period since superpower competition is really at its peak and global goods, commons and welfare have been given short shrift. India, with an avowed principled policy of strategic autonomy, dialogue, diplomacy and peace, emerged not only as a voice of the Global South, but also a voice of sanity in…

China yesterday condemned a brief US visit by Taiwan Vice President William Lai, saying he was a separatist and “troublemaker through and through” and Beijing would take strong steps to protect its sovereignty, drawing a rebuke from Taipei. Lai, front-runner to be Taiwan’s next president at elections in January, arrived in New York late on Saturday for what is officially a transit on his way to Paraguay for the inauguration of its president. China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has repeatedly denounced Lai’s trip, which includes another stopover in San Francisco on Wednesday on his way back to Taipei. In a statement issued shortly after Lai landed in New York on a scheduled flight from Taipei, China’s foreign ministry said it opposed any form of visit…

The death toll from the Maui wildfires in Hawaii reached 93, according to the Maui County website, making it the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century, with the total likely to rise as cadaver dogs sift through the ruins of Lahaina. The scale of the damage came into sharper focus four days after a fast-moving blaze leveled the historic resort town, obliterating buildings and melting cars. The cost to rebuild Lahaina was estimated at $5.5 billion (R104bn), according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), with more than 2 200 structures damaged or destroyed and more than 850 hectares burned. Hawaii Governor Josh Green warned at a press conference on Saturday afternoon that the death toll would continue to increase as more victims were discovered. Dogs trained…

Vatican City: The number of migrants dying in the Mediterranean was an “open wound” for humanity, Pope Francis said yesterday after a week marked by a string of deadly shipwrecks. The 86-year-old pontiff offered his prayers for the 41 people reported missing on Wednesday by four survivors brought to safety on the Italian island of Lampedusa. He recalled “with pain and shame” UN figures showing more than 2 000 migrants had lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea since the start of the year. “It is an open wound in our humanity,” he told pilgrims. “I offer encouragement to the politicians and diplomats who are seeking to heal it.” He also hailed “the commitment of all those who work to prevent shipwrecks and rescue sailors”. Francis regularly urges better…

CAIRO: Explosions were heard in the vicinity of the Syrian capital Damascus early yesterday, state media said, adding that the cause was not known. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said the explosions hit and damaged warehouses storing rockets belonging to Iran-aligned groups. It said there were no confirmed deaths or injuries. Iran has been a major backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the country’s 12-year conflict. Iran’s proxy militias, including the Lebanese group Hezbollah and pro-Tehran Iraqi groups, hold sway in swathes of eastern, southern and northern Syria. Israel has for years carried out attacks against what it has described as Iran-linked targets. | Reuters…

Kaizer Chiefs (1)2 Du Preez 36, Castillo 90+4 Cape Town City (1)1 Van Heerden 23 Edson Castillo etched his name into the Kaizer Chiefs supporters’ hearts with a stoppage time winner for the mighty Amakhosi over Cape Town City in a rousing MTN8 quarter-final at Athlone Stadium yesterday. With the game deadlocked at 1-1 in the 94th minute, the Venezuelan forward found himself unmarked at the back post to deliver the strike that killed off the gallant City outfit. What local football may lack in quality at times, it certainly makes up for in high drama, excitement and passion. And that’s exactly what these teams delivered yesterday. The conditions were perfect for flowing football, maybe not so the cut-up turf, but both teams delivered high-octane entertainment in this end-to-end MTN8…

Scotland reckon their fitness could give them a real crack at World Cup glory next month after they stormed back against France for a second successive week and came agonisingly close to winning away in St Etienne on Saturday Their 30-27 loss at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard saw Scotland come from 27-10 down, scoring three unanswered tries in the last 20 minutes and losing the game only after conceding a late penalty. It came seven days after they had been 21-3 down at half-time at Murrayfield in the first of their two World Cup warm-up games against the French but, despite being down to 14 men, came back to win 25-21. “We can take loads of confidence,” said captain Jamie Ritchie. “I don’t know many teams in the world that can…

Women’s World Cup semi-finalists Spain might be defined by technique and a mesmerising passing game, but the player who gives them that precious something different is Salma Paralluelo. The 19-year-old took Spain to this stage of the World Cup for the first time with her brilliant winner against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals. The Barcelona ace, who was once a promising athlete before concentrating on football, struck on the counter-attack in extra time after coming off the bench. A starter in every round before that, she also played a big part in the 5-1 demolition of Switzerland in the last 16 with her deliveries from the left wing, two of which led to goals for Aitana Bonmati. With Alexia Putellas still recovering full fitness following a serious knee injury, midfielder…