News 09:00

BULLETIN 2 April 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Road Freight Association is concerned about the impact of the diesel price increases
# Four suspects are killed and two arrested in a shootout with the police in Soweto
# And golf: Tiger Woods won’t serve as the 2027 US Ryder Cup captain

# The Road Freight Association says road freight operators are under immense pressure due to the latest fuel price increases. Surging global oil prices due to tensions in the Middle East and a weaker rand have sparked the fuel price increase. Both grades of petrol have gone up by 3-rand-06-cents per litre, while both grades of diesel have increased by between 7-rand-37-cents and 7-rand-51-cents per litre. The association’s CEO, Gavin Kelly, says this will have a significant impact on the operational running costs of operators:

# According to the Competition Commission’s second cost of living report, prices for essentials such as electricity, water, food, healthcare, and education have risen faster than overall inflation since 2020. Electricity is up about 85-percent and water 68-percent, while staple foods like eggs, chicken, maize meal, and sunflower oil remain high even when production costs fall. The commission’s Siyabulela Makunga says more transparency is needed in pricing to help reduce pressure on consumers.

# Four suspected criminals were killed in a shootout with police, while two others were arrested in Mofolo, Soweto, on Wednesday. A multi-disciplinary team, which included the Hawks, Badboyz Security and Gauteng Police Highway Patrol, acted on intelligence regarding a planned robbery at a local business. Hawks spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, says the team identified the suspects and the vehicles described near the location where the robbery was going to occur:

# President Donald Trump says the US’s core strategic objectives in Iran are nearing completion. He delivered a primetime televised speech from the White House, where he touted the military’s successes in Tehran in the last several weeks. Trump defended his decision to go to war, describing Iran as a murderous regime that should have been handled long before he arrived in office. He added that they will hit Iran extremely hard over the next two to three weeks:

# Golf: The PGA of America says Tiger Woods has taken himself out of consideration to be the 2027 US Ryder Cup team captain. The 15-time major champion was arrested last Friday on suspicion of driving under the influence during a car crash near his home in South Florida. Before this incident, it was widely reported that Woods was the favourite to lead the US team at Adare Manor in Ireland. The PGA of America says it supports Woods as he steps away to focus on his health and well-being.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-96-cents and the euro at 19-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-46-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-551-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-681-dollars-36-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 104-dollars-20-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….