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13. 11. 09. - 14:00

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13. 11. 09. - 14:00

Alive and kicking

Simple Minds fans have been given a chance to score free tickets for their world tour - by turning up in Celtic shirts.

Singer Jim Kerr is such a fan of the Scottish club that promoters in Croatia told fans that they could get in for free at tonight's (fri) show by turning up in the distinctive green and white hooped strip.

"We wanted to give Jim a surprise. We know he supports Celtic and would like to make him happy by having his club's colours in the crowd," said a spokesman for Split's Spaladium Arena.

But the stunt could backfire if fans turn up in Celtic's new yellow and black away strip.

In a recent Twitter exchange the singer branded the jersey the worst of all time and said: "Our opponents may be so busy laughing they might not be able to stand up, never mind play well."

Austrian Times

Higher cigarette prices on tap
Austria Tabak reported today (Fri) that the price of its 35 brands of cigarettes would increase by 10 to 20 cents a pack at the end of March.

RI's Croat subsidiary gets €30mn credit
Raiffeisen International’s (RI) Croatian subsidiary Raiffeisenbank Austria d.d. received a 30-million-Euro credit by the German Investment and Development Society (DEG), it was announced.

Austrian Catholics turn on church
Austrian Roman Catholics are up in arms over sex scandals involving local priests and children with increasing numbers threatening to quit the church.

Wolford's earnings up in first three quarters
Vorarlberg textile firm Wolford reported today (Fri) that its earnings before interest and taxes (Ebit) had increased in the first three quarters of its 2009/2010 business year.

More foreign holidays planned this year
More Austrians are planning on holidays abroad this year after 2009 saw a drop in numbers, according to a study by public opinion research agency Karmasin.

Siemens Austria to lay off 500 to 600
Siemens Austria said today (Fri) it would lay off 500 to 600 of 2,000 workers in software division SIS (IT solutions and services) in the near future.

Graz police smash drug ring
An Iranian asylum seeker thought to be the boss of a drug-dealing gang has been arrested along with 11 cohorts, police said today (Fri).

Verbund could lose interest in French Poweo
Austrian energy provider Verbund’s 46 per cent interest in French electricity provider Poweo may become less valuable if the firm makes good on its threat to stop providing service to end customers.

Kasabian roll into Vienna
British indie rock giants Kasabian will return to Austria this summer, it has been revealed.

Paraglider crashes against bus
A 34-year-old paraglider escaped with bruises after smashing into a moving bus in Eben, Tyrol, yesterday (Thurs).