NEWS UPDATES: THIS WEEK

James Foley -US JOURNALIST


"He will be remembered as great American", said Foley's parents.
James Foley was captured in 2012 by terrorists operation known as ISIS in Syria. US reveals special forces rescue mission failed within Syria. The Journalist was murdered-beheaded on Wednesday at unknown location by Islamic militant.


A gruesome video of Foley circulated on social networking media for past 3 days. "A man of incredible bravery"- Friends&Colleagues. Saudi King: Terrorists have distorted the image of Islam with its purity and humiliation. Now, the hunt is on for Foley' executioner.

MISSOURI SHOOTING: FERGUSON

Michael Brown,18, unarmed African teenager was shot by a police officer on the 9th of August in Ferguson. This has sparked violence on the streets and became a flash point for race in America. On Saturday 16, police fired smoke bombs and tear gas to disperse an angry crowd.
                                                               

                                                               Michael Brown

Adequate revelation shows that Africa people are mistreated by police officers in Ferguson. They are harassed, stopped on the streets and searched in their homes more often than Whites. This has been happening quite often; reported as well but in vain delegation failed to accommodate and acknowledge the matter.

 Protesters seek justice by marching again throughout the week, whiles police fails to keep calm.

HEALTH: EBOLA Virus Affects Tourism Industry in Africa

Death toll reaches 1 350- over 2 000 confirmed case. Liberia's mortality rate climbs to 466.

"There is no need to panic", says SA Health Ministry. A budget of 3,2 million dollar have been set aside for ebola virus equipment. "The virus is not airborne"- Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. Fruits bats are considered to be virus natural host.


BUSINESS SA: IN BRIEF

ESKOM appointed Tshidiso Matona as their new CEO. Four biggest banks were downgraded this week by the rating agency.  Namely, ABSA, FNB, Standard Bank and Capitec Bank.

Nelly Portia'~

News Rap: Sports Updates

Winning is the science of preparation and preparation can be defined in three words, 'Leave nothing undone'. No detail is too small. No task is too large. Most of the time, difference between winning and loosing; success and failure, can be the smallest detail. -Reggie Jacksons-

MotoGP: Pedrosa ends Marquez's streak

Dani Pedrosa claims his first win of the season at the Czech Republic GP ahead of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi. Marc Marquez,21, only manage 4th place. The Honda Rider failed in his attempt to win a record 11 consecutive races in season. Marquez continues to lead the Championship by 77 points over Pedrosa with Rossi a further 13 off the pace.    

                                                
Tennis: Roger and Serena crowned King&Queen of Cincinnati

Roger Federer won his 80th career title and sixth at the Cincinnati Masters, beating David Ferrer 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 on Sunday in the last key US Open tune-up event.




The world number three is unbeaten in six final at the Midwest venue, also winning the tournament in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012. "I finally got a big trophy for kids," said Federer on Sunday. "I've been bringing home some smaller ones. I keep telling them they are still trophies, but this one should satisfy them, he added.

Queen_ Serena Williams won her first Cincinnati title by defeating Ana Ivanovic, just a week out from the defence of her US Open crown.

World number 1 Williams,32, now has 62 career WTA titles, but lifted the trophy in Cincinnati for the first time in her sixth attempt. "It truly feels good. I didn't expect to come here and win or have such a good summer. I've just been trying to go with the flow and be positive and it's working out,"she said.

Cricket: SA beat Zimbabwe in the 1st ODI Match

Hashim Amla produce another heroic performance. He batted through the innings to finish on 122 from 132 balls as the Proteas posted 309/3. Zimbabwe failed to capitalize the core and where bowled out for 216. "Unfortunately we lost too many wickets early on and to bring it back from there is always hard especially against a team like South Africa," Zimbabwe captain Elton Chingumbura said.

"There was talk of 250 at one point, and even when Hash came off he said that he never thought we'd get to 300-plus," capt De Villiers said.

Sources: News24&SuperSport BLITZ

Nelly Portia

SPORTS: FRIDAY EXTRAS

FOOTBALL

Luis Suarez's back on the training pitch. Suarez trained with his Barcelona teammates for the first time on Friday after getting the green light from the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The club said on their website; "Luis Suarez was the centre of attention this Friday morning at the first team training session at the Ciudad Deportiva Joan Gamper. On Thursday, the CAS upheld Suarez's four-month ban from playing in competitive games as well as his nine-match International suspension, but it did allow him to train and play in unofficial matches.


Tomorrow It's Going Down MTN8(fixtures)

Platinum Stars v Kaizer Chiefs time 20:15pm at Royal Bafokeng Stadium. Meanwhile on the 17th of August- Orlando Pirates v Bidvest Wits at Bidvest Stadium time 15:00pm

Tennis: Early Exit For Djokovic

Well, well!!! Tommy Robredo defeated world No1 Novak Djokovic on Thursday at the Cincinnati Masters. Two times in a row; Djokovic was beaten in the third round at Toronto.

"I have to keep on working and trying to get better for the US Open. I just don't feel comfortable. That's it."

Roger Federer seems to be getting it... He avoided an upset against French man Gael Monfils. "I'm just happy the way I'm playing right now", Federer said. And Andy Murray advances to the next round. Who will reign supreme? Will it be Federer for men's side or Murray who hasn't been winning lately and in search of his first title since Wimbledon in 2013.

                                                              Roger Federer

Murray: "It's a very important match for me to win," he said. "I had lost a few close matches over the last few months. It was important for me to come through."

                                                                Andy Murray

Sources: SuperSport BLITZ

Nelly Portia

EBOLA: THE DEADLIEST DISEASE

Are we safe in South Africa? Ebola virus is haunting Africa in large, the hope of finding solution is lessening by a day. From Nigeria to Kenya what ought to do; 1 013( one thousand and thirteen)death toll.

The virus is transmitted to humans through direct contact with blood, secretion, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animal. Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous systems damage. Species which are commonly known to spread the Ebola virus in Western Africa are bats.

Meanwhile, Canada to donate Ebola vaccine to WHO(World Health Organization) 1 000 doses of experimental Ebola vaccine to help battle the disease's outbreak in West Africa. This comes after WHO approved the experimental drug known as Zmapp.

Serum is another option to be used from individuals who have survived the virus; this is a part of the blood that may contain particles able to neutralize the virus. "It is ethical to use untested drugs on Ebola patients", said World Heath Organization . Zmapp maker Mapp Biopharmaceutical said on Tuesday, "The available supply to Zmapp has been exhausted. We have complied with every request for Zmapp that had the necessary legal/regulatory authorization".

NB: Drug has been provide at no cost in all cases.

It is confirmed that Zmapp has been used on two US aid workers who shown signs of improvement, although it is not certain what role the medication played in this.

EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE: OUTBREAK IN WESTERN AFRICA

Guinea 373 deaths Sierra Leone 315 deaths
Liberia 323 deaths Nigeria 2 deaths.


Sources: BBC News-Canada
By Nelly Portia

COMSA 14 ANNUAL MEDIA CONFERENCE

On Friday, 8 August I attended the above initiative at UNISA(University of South Africa). COMSA(Communication Students' Association) College of Human Sciences was celebrating 21 years of "Building Leadership of High Integrity".

                                                      Me and a friend(Tshepiso)

The theme was about innovation of media and the role of its participants. Tshwane University of Technology- TUT in short were invited as well; and various organizations which forms part of Media in South Africa. The keynote speaker was Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Prof. Hlengiwe Mkhize. A blessed day it was...I met individuals with certain passions in life, in particular about media as cooperate. Due to high graduates unemployment it is difficult to convince stake holders and media house to hire all graduate. Fundamentally speaking, we are all job seekers supposedly when you're not where you belong(dream job).

                                               COMSA President Maria Mohlala

Quote of that day "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow". -Melody Beattie-

 

                                                                           COMSA

Lastly "Communication doesn't make sense if it's not communicated clearly" Nelly Portia*

PROTEAS ON TOP

Mother nature helped the Proteas win the match!!! The Proteas reclaimed the number 1 ranked in the world by beating the Sri Lanka 1-0 series win.  The match was drawn on Monday in Colombo, Sri Lanka.  Captain Hashim Amla excelled throughout the series and collected his first win.

Meanwhile, former coach Gary Kirsten was recalled to assist with the batting line-up in the final test match.  Amla said when he took over from the retired Smith that he wanted to take South Africa back to the top of the International Cricket Council's test rankings, and it has taken him just two matches to do so.  He scored 139 n/o in the first innings.  ''We have had challenges like this before and have managed to do some special things as a team in the last two years, and today was another example of the characters we have in the team'', he said at the press conference.

Cricket: England
England's captain Alastair Cook  is trying #sscricket

The following Cook's quotes after 95 runs score:

''I am delighted that I got 95 but frustrated that I didn't get a hundred''

''It was an amazing reception and I have never experienced anything like that.  It was a great feeling''

''You never silence everyone, that's the nature of the beast, but it has given me some confidence that my batting is going in the right direction and hopefully I can carry on scoring runs''.

Cricket: Jacques Kallis retired from International Cricket.  The 38-year-old announced yesterday, meanwhile Cricket SA thanked Kallis for the role he played throughout his career in particular with the Proteas squad.

Rugby

The Cell C Sharks have appointed loose-forward  Tera Mtembu as their captain for the Absa Currie Cup season.  Mtembu becomes the 72nd captain of the Sharks, and the province's first  African captain.  ''He will communicate diplomatically with the team and referee'', said Sharks CEO John Smith.



By Nelly Portia

Long Waited Call: SAFA named Mashaba Bafana coach...

South Africa Football Association waited for the Carling Black Label Cup to kick-off Between two rivals on Saturday 26.  Orlando Pirates beat Kaizer Chiefs on penalties 6-5 that's how the match ended.

Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba was named new Bafana Bafana coach, finally the they heard us' South Africans.  The Soweto-born mentor is no stranger to Bafana camp.  Mashaba coached Bafana Bafana team from 2002-2004 and this will be his second stint with the national tea. The 63-year-old is currently with the U\20 in Mali.  ''I will do my best to bring back the winning mentality within Bafana Bafana. With the support of all South Africans, the goal of taking Bafana Bafana back on the top is very achievable'', said Mashaba.   

His first assignment will be the African Cup of Nations qualifier for Morocco 2015 against Sudan on the weekend of 5\7 September 2014 in Khartoum.

Q: Do you think 'Bra Shakes' Factiously known, will be able to bring changes and instill discipline to the National Team?

Sources- SuperSport Blitz

By Nelly Portia