News 12:00

BULLETIN 5 January 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Oil prices may absorb president Maduro’s capture amid abundant global supplies
# Cricket: Joe Root stars for England in the fifth and final Ashes Test
# And Capetonians are treated to the traditional minstrels’ festival

# Global oil markets may shrug off recent geopolitical turmoil following the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, with crude prices staying relatively stable despite the crisis. Analysts say Venezuela’s current output makes up a small share of global supply. Ample inventories are keeping prices in check. Forecasts indicate a continuing oversupply, with benchmarks near 989-rand a barrel, limiting sharp price spikes from the political upheaval. Markets remain alert as long-term impacts unfold. 

# The Presidency has denied reports that president Cyril Ramaphosa’s holiday trip to Mauritius on board a South African Air Force Beechcraft King was kept secret, and no acting president was appointed. The president and his family went to the island over the Christmas period. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the trip was not secret and minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, was in charge of the country. He adds Ramaphosa personally paid for the trip.

# The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment says mass shellfish deaths at St Helena Bay and Elandsbaai along the West Coast remain confined to those areas. Spokesperson Thobile Zulu-Molobi says red tides are also visible in Walker Bay, Hermanus, though no mortalities have been reported there. She adds the Hartenbos estuary fish kill is due to sewage discharge. Zulu-Molobi advises against eating any washed-up marine animals:

# Cricket: Joe Root scored 160, his 41st Test century, to steer England to a first innings total of 384 on the second day of the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia in Sydney. It’s his second century on the tour. Root also shared a 169-run fourth-wicket partnership with Harry Brook. He is now level with former Australian captain Ricky Ponting in third place in the all-time men’s Test century list. At stumps, Australia reached 166 for two, still trailing England by 218 runs, with eight wickets remaining.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-47-cents and the euro at 19-rand-25-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-12-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-584-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-429-dollars-31-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-7-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The City of Cape Town says several roads in the CBD are closed today for the traditional Tweede Nuwejaar minstrels festival. Tens of thousands of spectators are set to line the street parade route. The metro’s traffic spokesperson, Kevin Jacobs, says road closures will be implemented along Main Road, Green Point, between Buitengracht and Three Anchor Bay Road, as well as along Helen Suzman Boulevard and Granger Bay Boulevard:

Stay tuned for more news………….