House price inflation rose by 10,4% year-on-year (y/y) in July, down from 18,8% jump in June and the 10,9% increase May, the Standard Bank’s residential property gauge showed on Wednesday. The growth brought the median house price to R585 000 from R620 000 in June and R600 000 in May.
South African cyclist Ryan Cox (28) died in the Kempton Park Hospital at about 5am on Wednesday. Cox, who rides for Team Barloworld, although he was not part of the team for the Tour de France, underwent a vascular lesion operation in Europe three weeks ago. He returned to South Africa to recuperate, but his condition deteriorated on Monday.
Niggling injuries of the kind that needed time to heal kept six Springbok rugby players sidelined on Tuesday evening as the World Cup squad continued its strenuous build-up to the World Cup in France. Sitting it out while their teammates sweated were Bryan Habana, Wikus van Heerden, Ashwin Willemse, Francois Steyn, Danie Rossouw and the latest addition to the side, Bismarck du Plessis.
The controversy surrounding former Australia coach Eddie Jones advising the Springboks looks set to grow after it was revealed on Tuesday he had held talks with a view to staying on until the end of the South Africans’ campaign. Andy Marinos, rugby manager of the South African national teams, confirmed that there were ongoing talks with Jones.
As Cristiano Ronaldo shielded his eyes from the blinding explosion of flashbulbs, it was clear the Manchester United winger’s transition from pride of Old Trafford to global phenomenon was complete. After a magnificent season in which his dazzling array of feints and flicks bewitched defenders and fans in equal measure, Ronaldo has become one of the game’s new icons.
The JSE was down sharply at midday on Wednesday as United States sub-prime issues and low quality mortgage loan concerns led the Dow lower, which had a knock-on effect on the rest of the world. At 12.03pm, the JSE all-share index fell 2,79%, with resources dumping 3,25%, and the gold and platinum mining indices tumbling 3,75% and 4,63% respectively.
A California transplant surgeon has been accused of hastening the death of a severely disabled patient in order to harvest his organs. If found guilty, Hootan Roozrokh faces up to eight years in prison. Dr Roozrokh was part of a team preparing to operate on Ruben Navarro (25) who had been on a life support machine and was found to be unresponsive.
The United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, increased pressure on Iran on Tuesday when she identified it as the biggest strategic challenge to the US and the target of a proposed -billion arms package. US officials portrayed Iran as a growing spectre that was engaged in expansion and destabilising the region.
Russian explorers readied for an historic descent to the bottom of the Arctic Ocean under the North Pole on Wednesday as part of an expedition to claim the area for Russia, expedition organisers said. The dive is believed to be the first of its kind and is part of an epic voyage that aims to advance Russian claims to a swathe of Arctic seabed thought to be rich in oil and gas.
News Corp said on Wednesday it would buy Dow Jones for ,6-billion after gaining enough support from the family that controls the Wall Street Journal‘s publisher. The deal helps Rupert Murdoch achieve his decades-long dream of running the financial daily.