The JSE was sharply weaker just after noon on Thursday as a series of explosions in London rocked world markets. Trade was brisk — over two billion rand worth of shares had changed hands. By 12.14pm, the all share index was down 2,05%. Industrials and financials slid 2,26% and 2,1% respectively.
They came for Nabras Hamid just after sunset, one car blocking the entrance to Dabbash street, the other two stopping outside his shop. Witnesses did not hear the gunmen say anything before opening fire. There was no need. Hamid’s crime was self-evident: he was a barber.
South Africans in London spoke to the <i>Mail & Guardian Online</i> immediately after Thursday’s series of blasts that hit the city’s underground railway system and a double-decker bus, describing the chaos and confusion that ensued as news of the explosions spread through the city.
Steven Gerrard changed his mind and made his peace with Champions League winners Liverpool on Wednesday. If he signs a new deal on Friday and plays when Liverpool begin their defence against Welsh champion Total Network Solutions next Wednesday, then Chelsea and Real Madrid may as well put away their chequebooks.
Believe it or not — as Ripley would have chronicled it — another Bafana Bafana player has ”vanished” on the hazardous road to Los Angeles for Concacaf’s Gold Cup tournament. Bafana general manager Stanley ”Screamer” Tshabalala on Wednesday revealed that Thando Mngomeni has ”disappeared from the face of the earth”.
Lance Armstrong could afford to show his charitable side after the fifth stage of the Tour de France in Montargis on Wednesday, where Australian Robbie McEwen finally got to show his sprinting prowess ahead of Belgian Tom Boonen. However, he will be hard pushed to be as calm when the race goes over some tricky terrain this weekend.
Big-hitting schoolgirl Michelle Wie will hope to take advantage of some notable absences this week as she takes on the men of the PGA Tour in the John Deere Classic. The 15-year-old amateur will make her third PGA Tour start when the -million tournament starts on Thursday at the TPC at Deere Run.
Irish fullback Geordan Murphy and English wing Mark Cueto will make their Lions Test debuts against the All Blacks in the third Test in Auckland on Saturday, with coach Clive Woodward producing a new-look backline in a final effort to win one Test on tour. Woodward has dug deep into his bag of tricks to conjure up a competitive squad.
Chelsea have confirmed that Argentine striker Hernan Crespo will return to Stamford Bridge for the new Premiership season. Crespo had been expected to extend his stay with AC Milan, either on a new year-long loan or permanently, but negotiations between the two clubs broke down.
Japan and South Africa agreed on Thursday to consider a pact to promote trade, raising the possibility the fast-growing nation will become the first African country to have a free trade pact with Japan. Japan’s exports to South Africa surged 33,9% to 314,4-billion yen (,8-billion) in 2004, with growing shipments of automobiles and auto parts.