News 14:00

BULLETIN 18 August 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Oil prices rise as hope fades for a peace deal in the Middle East
# Motorists must brace for fuel price hikes in September
# And rugby: Peyper dismisses suggestions that the Springboks deliberately slow matches down

# Oil prices rose for a third consecutive trading session today as hopes for a lasting US-Iranian peace deal weakened, raising concerns about global energy supplies. Iran says it would adopt a more offensive military stance after negotiations stalled, while Washington ruled out extending a temporary ceasefire. Brent crude reached a peak of 91-dollar-76-cents a barrel. Disruptions to tanker traffic through the strategically-important Strait of Hormuz continue to support prices and heighten supply concerns.

Meanwhile, South African motorists could face higher fuel prices in September, according to mid-month data from the Central Energy Fund. Ninety-three octane petrol’s price is showing an under-recovery of 66-cents per litre, while 95-octane could rise by 77 cents. Diesel users may be hit hardest, with increases of between two-rand-73 and two-rand-90 per litre projected. Experts say the hikes are driven by rising global oil prices and ongoing tensions in the Middle East, despite a relatively stable rand against the US dollar.

# Madlanga commissioner Sesi Baloyi has called for suspended police Sergeant Fannie Nkosi to be held accountable after evidence suggested he used police letterheads for private dealings. Chief evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson presented WhatsApp messages involving Nkosi and slain taxi boss Jothan Msibi. He says they allegedly show Nkosi agreeing to place a draft letter concerning a demonstration of dual-use goods in South Africa on the letterhead:

# Western Cape police have arrested a 16-year-old Malmesbury teenager linked to an international child sexual abuse network. This followed a joint intelligence operation involving the US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation, SAPS’ National Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations team, the US embassy, and the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. Police spokesperson Amanda van Wyk says they confiscated the suspect’s devices containing explicit images and videos:

# Rugby: The Springboks’ technical adviser, former Test referee Jaco Peyper, says the narrative about slowing down the game comes whenever teams play at altitude. The All Blacks have been accusing South African teams of deliberately slowing down the game to undermine attempts to speed it up. Peyper says players have 30 seconds from the moment the referee puts his foot down to make a mark for a scrum or a lineout:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-22-cents and the euro at 18-rand-77-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-107-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-394-dollars-97-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-88-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….