Former South Africa captain Francois Pienaar says he is "probably the luckiest player ever" given the significance of his team's 1995 Rugby World Cup triumph.

Image source, Getty Images

A proposal to pay Emmy-winning comedian Trevor Noah 33 million rand ($1.7m, £1.3m) to promote South Africa as a tourist destination has caused a storm in the country.

South Africa’s Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille informed parliament of plans to pay Noah to feature in a five-minute video advertising South Africa’s tourism.

Many MPs have opposed the suggestion, but Ms de Lille says that the South African comedian and TV host will not be paid using public funds.

She said that he would be paid using private funds from the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, an umbrella organisation representing the country’s travel and tourism stakeholders.

Some South Africans have also criticised the planned deal via social media saying the deal is futile. While others claim its timing is insensitive as many South Africans are struggling financially.

“We expect the government not to waste money we don't have on useless things. We don't care what he is, the country is in shambles. No electricity, no employment but they have 33 million to give to Trevor Noah. What has Trevor Noah contributed to the betterment of this country,” one Twitter user asked.

However, other South Africans argue that Noah’s Hollywood star power could boost South Africa’s tourism.

In March this year, Noah and tennis legend Roger Federer, who both have joint South African and Swiss nationalities, starred in a campaign promoting Switzerland as a travel destination.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, AFP

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) group has denounced US sanctions against two of its leaders, describing them as "unfair and shocking".

On Wednesday, the US imposed financial sanctions on RSF deputy leader Abdel Rahim Dagalo and a travel ban on the group's commander in West Darfur state, Gen Abdul Rahman Juma, over alleged rights abuses.

Both Mr Dagalo and Gen Juma have denied the US accusations as "lies and misleading".

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, the RSF described the US sanctions as "shocking, unfortunate and unfair".

It said they "will not help achieve one of the core goals that should be focused on, which is to find a comprehensive solution to the crisis in our country".

The group accused the US of ignoring "heinous crimes" committed by Sudan's regular army, which it said included the indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas and the torture of anti-war activists.

The paramilitary group said the sanctions would complicate US-led efforts to "bring about lasting peace in our country".

In June, Washington also imposed sanctions on firms owned by the warring Sudanese military factions.

BBC Arabic's Sudan Lifeline radio

The survivor of the catastrophic fighting to have recently hit the city of Nyala in Sudan’s Darfur region has told the BBC about the terror of being caught up in a bombing raid.

Darfur is the birth place of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been in a bitter power struggle with the army for control of the country since April.

It fighters, along with allied Arab militias, have been hiding out in residential neighbourhoods of Nyala - sometimes drawing fire from the military. Residents have been caught in the crossfire.

“We woke up at 6am to the sound of drones and anti-aircraft guns,” the woman, who asked not to be named for her own safety, told the BBC about the morning in late August.

“Then we heard sounds of clashes at a very close distance at about 7am. We live in a central neighbourhood, where the first bomb fell next to my grandfather's house, then the second fell on the next street, killing a man and wounding one of the residents. Another bomb fell on a house, but no-one was hit.”

She explained how residents, mainly women and children, would go to hide from the fighting under the Taiba Bridge. They did so that morning.

“We left our homes and sought refuge near the north-west section of the bridge, then a bomb fell in the southern direction as some women were running towards the shelter," she said.

“This bomb hit and killed them."

Part of the bridge was destroyed - and she described terrible scenes of mangled bodies.

“I broke down when I saw people cut into pieces by bombs which killed 28 people in one moment. Most of these victims were women and children, I know them well because they were living in the neighbourhoods near my district.

"They were buried in a mass grave.”

By the next morning, the death toll had reached 31, she said.

Image source, Phaneroo Ministries

A Ugandan church has set the Guinness World Record for the longest applause after its members clapped non-stop for more than three hours.

“The congregation clapped for a total of three hours and 16 minutes, maintaining an average sound level of 88.5 dB. For the attempt to be valid, they had to remain above 80 dB for the entire duration,” Guinness World Records said in a statement, external.

Dubbed "Clap For Jesus", the event at a hall in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, was organised on 30 July by the Phaneroo Ministries church in celebration of its ninth anniversary.

Grace Lubega, the church’s leader, told the Guinness World Records that the event aimed at uniting people in thanksgiving and celebration.

The 926 participants were required to clap continuously and stewards ejected those who paused.

The event was livestreamed and monitored by observers from the Uganda’s standards agency and national basketball governing body.

The group toppled the previous record of two hours and five minutes, set by Clark Stevens and The Festival of Awesomeness in the United Kingdom in 2019.

Nichola Mandil
BBC News, Juba

Image source, AFP

Humanitarian agencies in South Sudan have been forced to reduce aid amidst a funding crisis and aggravated humanitarian situation, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) says.

A total of 7.76 million people face catastrophic levels of need, but resourcing shortfalls mean emergency food assistance will now be prioritised for 3.2 million people who face the highest levels of food insecurity.

This means only those on the brink of starvation will be helped - and even their rations are being cut.

“The simple fact is that there are not enough resources available to the humanitarian community to meet the needs in South Sudan,” said Makena Walker, acting country director for the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP).

“Extreme levels of food insecurity and malnutrition affect two-thirds of the country’s population, making it one of the worst food insecurity emergencies in the world.”

The UN had requested $1.7bn (£1.3bn) but only 46% of the funding has been received.

More than $300m is also urgently needed to provide support to people fleeing over the border from the civil war in Sudan.

Image source, Getty Images

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has urged Ugandans to be vigilant in the wake of terrorism threats, asking that all visitors be checked before entering places of worship and recreational facilities.

In a televised address to the nation on Thursday evening, President Museveni asked Ugandans not to allow any “strange” people to churches and mosques and report them to the police.

"Don't allow anyone you don't know to enter your church, to enter your mosque. No strangers should enter your church. They must be challenged, isolated and reported to the police," he said.

“For the hotels and the lodges, take the particulars of people who come there. Make sure they show you their identity cards with their pictures,” he added.

He asked people to be calm amid terrorism threats linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants, saying the security forces were hunting for them.

Uganda has heightened security surveillance following increased attacks by ADF militants.

Mr Museveni’s remarks come days after Ugandan police foiled a bomb attack on a church in the capital Kampala on Sunday and recovered five more explosives a day later.

Our proverb of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

A selection of the best photos from across Africa and beyond this week.

Ghana's 2-1 victory over Central African Republic sees the Black Stars book their spot at next year's finals in Ivory Coast, with Angola also progressing from Group E.

The National Drug Authority found anti-retrovirals in pork and chicken in 2014 but didn't tell the public.

That's all from the BBC Africa Live team for now until Friday morning.

There will be an automated news feed here until then, plus you can get the latest updates at BBCAfrica.com and find out about stories behind the news on the Focus on Africa podcast.

A reminder of Thursday's wise words:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

And we leave you with these shots of Senegalese wrestlers recently training on a beach in the capital, Dakar.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Teklemariam Bekit
BBC News Tigrinya

Hundreds of people have been detained in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region as a banned demonstration was brutally dispersed by the security forces.

Four political parties had called for the protest in Mekelle, the region’s main city, to highlight the continued suffering in Tigray following the end of a two-year civil war last November.

They have been angered by the interim leadership’s handling of affairs since the African Union-brokered agreement to end the conflict was signed.

The protesters were calling for more to be done to help the return of the thousands of people who fled during the war and to deal with the alleged fraud that has hampered the distribution of humanitarian aid – among other issues.

But the interim authorities banned the protest, saying the timing was inappropriate and aimed at causing chaos.

Individuals who gathered at Romanat Square in Mekelle to join the rally were promptly arrested. Subsequent attempts to regroup and demonstrate were dispersed by security forces.

One of the co-ordinators told the BBC: "We arrived at the peaceful demonstration site in the morning, but a significant deployment of soldiers was in place, apprehending anyone who approached and sending them to prison."

Several armed groups have been patrolling the city on foot and in vehicles, meaning normal business activities have closed.

Witnesses have told the BBC how people were beaten by the security forces, sending photos of backs marked by whip lashes.

Some of them allege that they have been denied access to hospitals for treatment.

The whereabouts of some of those arrested was not known, sources said.

Those detained include journalists, university lecturers, activists, members and leaders of the opposition parties.

Ali Bongo has been under house arrest since the military seized power last week.

Nkechi Ogbonna
BBC News, Lagos

Nigeria has secured pledges worth nearly $14bn (£11bn) from Indian investors at the Nigeria-India economic roundtable in New Delhi.

The country’s President Bola Tinubu is there to attend the G20 summit - a meeting of the world’s largest economies.

The new investments include $8bn towards the production of fertiliser and petrochemicals and $3bn for steel.

"We are ready to give you the best returns for investment possible, there's nowhere else like our country. Nigeria offers the best returns for investment today, so invest now," Nigeria's leader told them.

Paul Njie
BBC News

Image source, AFP

Gabon's military leaders have appointed Raymond Ndong Sima as the country's new interim prime minister.

The 68-year-old economist was a staunch opponent of deposed President Ali Bongo, even though he had served as the country's prime minister in the past - from 2012 until 2014.

He had wanted to run in this year's presidential election but decided to back the main opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa.

Earlier, the junta said it had freed deposed Mr Bongo from house arrest, where he has been since they seized power last week.

The coup was led by Gen Brice Oligui Nguema, leader of the Republican Guard, who is now president and head of state.

The prime minister usually oversees the day-to-day running of the country.

Richard Hamilton
BBC World Service newsroom

Image source, Getty Images

Nigerian opposition presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar says he will not accept the ruling of an election tribunal that has upheld President Bola Tinubu's victory in February.

He said he would ask his lawyers to appeal against the judgment in Nigeria's Supreme Court.

On Wednesday, the tribunal rejected petitions brought by Mr Tinubu's two main rivals, Mr Abubakar and Peter Obi.

The two maintain there were irregularities in the poll.

You may be interested in:

• Who is Atiku Abubakar of the PDP?

Nomsa Maseko
BBC News, Johannesburg

Image source, Getty Images

The firearm used to kill one of South Africa's leading rappers, popularly known as AKA, has been found, police have confirmed.

Kiernan Forbes was fatally shot in February along with his close friend, the chef and entrepreneur Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, outside a restaurant in the coastal city of Durban.

Reports that the murder weapon had been found started circulating in May but police dismissed them as malicious and unsubstantiated.

Kwa-Zulu Natal’s police chief refused to give further information about where and when the gun had been discovered, saying that would jeopardise their investigations that were at a "sensitive stage".

No-one has yet been charged with the two murders that were captured on CCTV and caused national outrage.

More on AKA:

• The murdered rapper from South Africa 'destined for greatness'

Coach Allister Coetzee wants Namibia to aim higher than earning a historic first win at the tournament when the Rugby World Cup begins.

Image source, AFP

Five African players are vying to win the Ballon d'Or, one of the most prestigious awards in the football world.

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Cameroon’s Andre Onana and Morocco’s Yassine Bounou have dazzled their way to the 2023 men's shortlist, after impressing football fans and pundits over the past season.

They are up against global favourites such as Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi.

Asisat Oshoala, a forward for the Nigerian national women’s football team and the Spanish club FC Barcelona, is the only woman from the continent nominated in the female category.

She has won the Confederation of African Footballer's African Women's Player of the Year award a stunning five times.

The Ballon d'Or is an annual celebration of the most exceptional footballing talent of the season and the winners this year will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on 30 October.

To date, Liberian President George Weah remains the only African to have won the Ballon d’Or, which he did as an AC Milan player in 1995.