Friday 1,500m heats – 9.40 pm (Esther Chebet) 10,000m final – 11.20pm (Cheptegei, Toroitich, Kurong) Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei has all it takes to be crowned a World Athletics champion. At 20, he’s already tested glory as world junior champion, has one of the world’s top …

In the Independent this week: Inside Museveni’s long game for life presidency COVER STORY Inside Museveni’s long game for life presidency: Members of President Yoweri Museveni’s inner circle know something is serious if Lt. Col Michael Katungi is involved. He is a very quiet officer who likes to keep a …

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 …