Lusaka, Zambia | AFP |  Zambian police on Thursday detained the leader of a small opposition party who is a fierce critic of President Edgar Lungu, in the latest sign of a crackdown on dissent. Savior Chishimba, leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP), was held by plain-clothed police shortly …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP |  A new video of a black South African labourer being forced into a coffin was presented in court Thursday at the trial of two white farmers accused of the attack. The two-minute clip showed the alleged assailants shoving Victor Mlotshwa into the wooden coffin …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP |  Jailed Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius was taken to hospital Thursday for overnight observation, an official said, as local media reported he was suffering chest pains. Pistorius, 30, is serving a six-year jail term for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, …

  Washington, United States | AFP |  US President Donald Trump claimed relations with Russia had hit an all-time and “very dangerous” low Thursday, putting the blame on Congress after he reluctantly approved sanctions against Moscow. After Moscow called the sanctions a declaration of “economic war” that had exposed the …

Washington, United States | AFP | Special counsel Robert Mueller has impaneled a grand jury to investigate Russia’s interference with the 2016 presidential election, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday — a step toward possible criminal indictments. The newspaper, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the matter, reported that the …

Banjul, Gambia | AFP |  The Gambia has revoked the diplomatic passports of ex-leader Yahya Jammeh and his associates, the foreign ministry said Thursday, as the new government pursues former regime figures it believes embezzled state funds. Jammeh plundered an estimated $50 million before leaving for exile in Equatorial Guinea …

  Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP |  With the anticipated transfer of football phenomenon Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain, Qatar is hitting back at its Gulf rivals with a high-profile soft power play. Paris Saint-Germain — owned by sanctions-hit Qatar — are poised to sign Brazilian forward Neymar from Barcelona …

Sredojevic named coach of struggling Pirates Soweto, South Africa | AFP |  Serb Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic was confirmed Thursday in Soweto as coach of popular but underachieving South African club Orlando Pirates. “There is huge room for improvement,” said the 47-year-old of a team that has won just one trophy …

Neymar signs five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain  Paris, France | AFP |  Neymar completed his world record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday when he signed a five-year contract, the French club announced. The 25-year-old Brazilian earlier broke his contract with Barcelona by paying a 222 million-euro ($264 million, £201 …

Berlin, Germany | AFP |  Ukraine’s former world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko announced his retirement from boxing on Thursday to scupper any hopes of a November rematch against Britain’s Anthony Joshua. Hamburg-based Klitschko, 41, hangs up his gloves as one of the all-time greats of the ring after a nine-and-a-half …