Zlatan Ibrahimovic became the latest big name to desert Juventus when he moved to Italian rivals Inter Milan for ,95-million on Thursday. The Sweden striker signed a four-year contract, Inter said on their website after completing the most expensive incoming deal in Italy of the close-season.
South Africa’s economy will grow more slowly than expected in 2006 and 2007 but will weather a weaker currency, higher interest rates and emerging-market jitters, the Bureau for Economic Research said on Thursday. The independent research body lowered its latest quarterly growth forecasts for the continent’s biggest economy to 4,3% in 2006 and 4,1% in 2007.
Thousands of South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) members took to the streets on Thursday in a strike against Shoprite Checkers, the union said. Saccawu’s negotiator Thoko Mchunu said the action was a protected strike and involved 35Â 000 members and thousands of non-members who also shared the same view as the union.
Police said on Wednesday that a foiled plot to blow up aircraft flying from Britain to the United States was ”an attempt to commit mass murder on an unimaginable scale”. A spokesperson said: ”We believe that the terrorists’ aim was to smuggle explosives on to planes in hand luggage and to detonate them in flight.”
A suicide bomber killed at least 35 people and wounded over 90 near a sacred Shi’ite shrine in the southern Iraqi city of Najaf on Thursday, hospital sources said. They said the bomber blew himself up when he was stopped at a police commando checkpoint as he was heading to the Imam Ali shrine.
The appeal hearing for Durban business man Schabir Shaik in the Supreme Court in Bloemfontein has been postponed by more than a month, the court said on Thursday. The hearing was expected to take place from August 21 to 25, but has been postponed to September 25 to 29.
The JSE was weaker across the board in noon trade on Thursday, knocked by negative world markets and a stronger rand. There was an element of catch-up following the Women’s Day holiday on Wednesday and this exacerbated the bourse’s losses. By 12.01pm, the all-share and all-share industrial indices shed 1,49% and 1,07% respectively.
Police in the United Kingdom said on Thursday they have thwarted a plot to blow up aircraft in mid-flight using bombs smuggled on in hand luggage. A number of people were arrested in the London area. Britain raised its security-threat level to ”critical”, which means it expects an attack imminently. An immediate ban has been placed on carry-on luggage on planes.
The British Airports Authority said on Thursday it had requested that all in-bound flights from Europe into London’s Heathrow airport be cancelled temporarily. Police in the United Kingdom said earlier in the day they had thwarted a plot to blow up aircraft in mid-flight, arresting a number of people in the London area.
Once a simple fishing village, Hua Hin has evolved into one of Thailand’s bustling tourism gems thanks largely to the presence of a revered resident: King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Just a few hours drive from Bangkok, Hua Hin is an alternative to Pattaya, a nearby beach resort best known for its thriving sex tourism.