News 07:00

BULLETIN 3 February 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The National Assembly speaker denies subpoena requests for Mogotsi and O’Sullivan
# Donald Trump says the US and India have reached a trade deal
# And motorsport: George Russell says he is ready to fight for a world championship

# National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza has declined to grant the request of parliament’s ad hoc committee to subpoena businessman Brown Mogotsi and private forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan. The committee had sought to compel both men to appear physically for testimony. Didiza highlighted that both individuals raised security concerns, warning that denying O’Sullivan’s application for virtual testimony without a sound reason could lead to legal trouble. She added that subpoenas cannot be issued arbitrarily and must serve the specific aims of the inquiry.

Meanwhile, EFF leader Julius Malema has slammed the speaker for her deliberate failure to protect the image and integrity of Parliament. Malema says Mogotsi and O’Sullivanhave failed to provide prima facie evidence of any security concerns, yet Didiza continues to dance to the tune of these individuals:

# The GOOD Party says more than 18 months after the George building collapse in May 2024, there is still no justice for victims and their families. The party is demanding clarity on the investigation, including whether criminal charges will be pursued and who is accountable for regulatory failures. GOOD’s Chantelle Kyd warns that ongoing delays could make negligence seem acceptable, stressing that the public deserves answers. Kyd calls for accountability until justice is achieved:

The Absa purchasing managers’ index shows signs of recovery at the start of 2026, after a weak end to last year. The index rose by 8.2 points to 48.2 points last month, still below the neutral 50 mark but a notable improvement. Business activity moved back into growth territory, suggesting manufacturing production may improve in the first quarter. New orders also increased, driven by stronger local demand, while exports remained weak. Business confidence stayed relatively high, although companies report cautious trading conditions. 

# US president Donald Trump says after a call with India’s prime minister Narendra Modi, they have agreed to lower tariffs between their countries. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump says that as part of the agreement, Modi has agreed that India will halt purchases of Russian oil, commit to reducing tariffs on US goods to zero, and commit to purchasing American products at a much higher level. In return, Trump stated that a reduction of reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25-percent to 18-percent effective immediately.

# Motorsport: George Russell believes Mercedes has this season handed him a car capable of winning the F1 World Championship. The 27-year-old Briton is entering his eighth season in Formula 1 and has five Grand Prix race wins under his belt since joining the Silver Arrows in 2022. Russell says he hopes to find himself in a title fight with four-time world champion Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who is aiming to regain the title after losing out to McLaren’s Lando Norris last season.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-1-cents and the euro at 18-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-802-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-851-dollars-92-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-24-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….