News 09:00

BULLETIN 17 August 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The national dialogue is a foundational step and does not provide all the answers
# The KwaZulu-Natal  premier says Ithala Bank’s operations must be protected
# And Mixed Martial Arts: The Russian Khamzat Chimaev dethrones the UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis

# National Dialogue Convention co-deputy chairperson, Lindiwe Mazibuko, says the National Dialogue inaugural Convention was never intended to provide all the answers. Mazibuko delivered the closing speech at the National Dialogue in Pretoria. She says it is a foundational step, setting the agenda for the long journey ahead. She adds that it is a powerful example of inclusivity and the beginning of a process that truly belongs to citizens in every community:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa is attending the Southern African Development Community 45th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in Madagascar today. The summit will be held under the theme, Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC. Presidency spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the summit will focus on accelerating regional integration through key pillars, strengthening industrial capacity and regional value chains, modernising agriculture, and promoting an inclusive energy transition:

# KwaZulu-Natal premier Thamsanqa Ntuli says his government remains committed to ensuring that Ithala Bank continues to serve customers, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The Pietermaritzburg High Court has ruled that the powers of the repayment administrator, Johan Kruger, are limited only to the preservation and repayment of deposits and do not extend to interference with Ithala’s non-deposit-taking operations. Ntuli says Ithala Bank’s operations must be protected:

# The United Nations has reiterated its warning that without an urgent and unrestricted flow of aid, Gaza’s already dire humanitarian crisis could deteriorate further. This week, of 12 aid missions requiring coordination with Israeli authorities, five were facilitated without impediments, four missions were cancelled, and three were impeded. These included the collection of food aid from Zikim and Kerem crossings. The UN’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric says its humanitarian partners must be enabled to deliver aid at scale:

# And sports news:

# Tennis: Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will clash in today’s Cincinnati Open final after the world’s top two players won their respective semi-finals yesterday. The world number one from Italy, Sinner, and second-ranked Alcaraz from Spain will meet in a repeat of the French Open and Wimbledon finals earlier this summer. Sinner easily beat the Frenchman Terence Altman in two sets, and Alcaraz also brushed off Alexander Zverev in straight sets, winning the German 6-4, 6-3.

# And Mixed Martial Arts: Russian Khamzat Chimaev dethroned UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, winning by unanimous decision in dominant fashion at the United Center in Chicago. The 31-year-old Chimaev controlled the fight with more than 10 takedowns and spent most of the bout on top of Du Plessis, while delivering knees and punches. Du Plessis said he could almost taste that victory. But big ups to Chimaev, he beat me fair and square tonight, he was the better man, du Plessis conceded.

Stay tuned for more news………….