NEWS ANALYSIS

London, United Kingdom | AFP |  London summoned Beijing’s ambassador for a dressing down Wednesday in a rapidly escalating diplomatic feud over protests in Hong Kong as China told Britain to keep its “hands off” the city and “show respect”. The demonstrations sweeping the former British colony have also revived tensions …

SUAKOKO, Liberia | AFP |  A young woman lies in intensive care at Liberia’s Phebe Hospital. Her mother comes running in with the drugs she needs, but the doctor shakes his head. It is too late. “When patients come, we are obliged to send (family members) out to get drugs. …

Tripoli, Libya | AFP |  Outrage and calls for an independent probe mounted Wednesday as 44 migrants were killed in an air strike on a detention centre in Libya that the UN said could constitute a war crime. UN chief Antonio Guterres denounced the “horrendous” attack and demanded an independent investigation, …

Porto Alegre, Brazil | AFP |  Peru stunned defending champions Chile 3-0 to reach the final of the Copa America for the first time in 44 years on Wednesday. Goals from Edison Flores, Yoshimar Yotun and Paolo Guerrero handed Peru a deserved win which sends them into a final against …

Rome, Italy | AFP |  Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Rome Thursday for a lightning visit including talks with the pope and Italy’s populist government, which has called for an easing of sanctions despite Moscow’s ongoing crisis with the West. Rome’s historic centre is on security lockdown for the visit …

Lyon, France | AFP |  The Netherlands’ rise as a force in women’s football continued on Wednesday as Jackie Groenen’s extra-time strike saw them edge out Sweden 1-0 in a gruelling World Cup semi-final in Lyon, taking the European champions through to this weekend’s final against the United States. After a …

Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudan’s protest leaders and ruling generals resumed talks Wednesday over forming a new governing body, the first such negotiations since a deadly crackdown on demonstrators last month. The dialogue came after African Union and Ethiopian mediators called on the two sides Tuesday to resume long stalled …

Athens, Greece | AFP |  Greeks vote on Sunday in a general election that is the first in the country’s post-bailout era, which looks set to oust leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras after a record-setting four years in power. Greece’s first avowed atheist and longest-serving crisis premier, as well as …

Mantasoa, Madagascar | AFP |  Madagascar, renowned for its unique wildlife and vanilla production, has a new claim to fame — the island nation is Africa’s first and only source of caviar. The business is an unlikely project in a country beset by grinding poverty, but its owners are determined …

Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | African Union and Ethiopian mediators Tuesday invited Sudan’s ruling generals and protest leaders to resume talks, as they seek a breakthrough on creating a new governing body for the country. The call to attend talks planned for Wednesday comes as tension remains high between the two …