Pope Francis had a private meeting with a gay couple last week in Washington. A former student of his, Yayo Grassi, told the BBC the Pope agreed to meet him to “give him a hug”. Mr Grassi and his boyfriend Iwan were received at the Vatican Embassy where they discussed his business but did not discuss gay issues. Earlier this ...

The medical charity MSF says at least three of its staff were killed in the Afghan city of Kunduz after a clinic was hit by an air strike on Saturday. US forces were carrying out air strikes at the time. The Nato alliance has admitted the clinic may have been hit. MSF says more than 30 staff are unaccounted for. ...

Under-fire Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is in pressing need of a positive outcome as his side prepare to welcome Premier League leaders Manchester United to the Emirates Stadium this Sunday. Fourth-place Arsenal are only three points below United, but Wenger’s methods have once again fallen under scrutiny following the London club’s abject 3-2 home defeat by Olympiakos in the Champions ...

The 2015 Barclays Cup semifinals have been brought forward by a week to October 11 in Lusaka. This year’s Barclays Cup semifinals were earlier scheduled for October 17. The Football Association of Zambia said the date has been moved because of the 2016 African Nations Championship (Chan) final round, first leg qualifier to be played on October 17. Zambia will ...

UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema says his party is against calls by some stakeholders for the government to reintroduce legislation that contributed to damaging the country’s economy, as a way to help the Kwacha regain lost ground. Mr. Hichilema says he does not see, for example, any value in reintroducing the Bank of Zambia Statutory Instrument No. 55 of 2013 which ...

The Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes has appealed to government to be very sensitive to concerns being raised by Zambians over its expenditure. SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe says government has an obligation to explain to the Zambian people some of the decisions it makes so that there is appreciation on why government undertakes certain decisions. ...

The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) has encouraged politicians not to shun the national day of prayer and fasting declared by President Edgar Lungu. EFZ Executive Director Reverend Pukuta Mwanza says politicians should instead use this as an opportunity to settle all their differences. He says there is no justification for political players to shun this month’s national day of ...