NEWS ANALYSIS

Zurich, Switzerland | AFP |  Heidi and Super Mario may not seem to have much in common but anime and video game aficionados will detect the signature style of Japanese character designer Yoichi Kotabe in both. Far from the Swiss Alps, the cherished 19th-century storybook character Heidi has played an unlikely …

Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Since ascending to power in 2014, Egypt’s general-turned-president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has imposed himself as an uncontested leader, stamping out opposition despite criticism by rights groups. His government has taken no chances and arrested over 600 people after hundreds of Egyptians protested his rule last week. …

Monaco, Principality of Monaco | AFP | Two days after a climate summit failed to deliver game-changing pledges to slash carbon emissions, the United Nations warned Wednesday that global warming is devastating oceans and Earth’s frozen spaces in ways that directly threaten a large slice of humanity. Crumbling ice sheets, rising …

Buea, Cameroon | AFP | The mood in English-speaking Cameroon is a mix of anxiety, resignation and fatigue as the clock ticks. On September 30, the government will start hosting a national “dialogue” on the future of the anglophone territories, where separatist violence and a government crackdown have cost thousands of …

Washington, United States | AFP | Top US Democrat Nancy Pelosi Tuesday announced the opening of a formal impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, saying he betrayed his oath of office by seeking help from a foreign power to hurt his Democratic rival Joe Biden. The dramatic move — the first …

Doha, Qatar | AFP | Qatar is preparing to welcome thousands of fans and competitors for the World Athletics Championships starting Friday, an event seen as a staging post towards the 2022 football World Cup. The 10-day event in the capital Doha will be a key test ahead of the football …

Brighton, United Kingdom | AFP | UK opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is a silvered-haired vegetarian cyclist who believes in “revolution” but has frustrated with his ambiguity about the biggest issue of his generation: Brexit. The 70-year-old socialist has energised leftist supporters and polarised public opinion in equal measure …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | The ruling by Britain’s Supreme Court that Prime Minister Boris Johnson unlawfully suspended parliament is a huge blow to his authority and complicates the already tortuous Brexit process. But it is not yet clear what impact it will have for Brexit. Here are some …

Cape Town, South Africa | AFP | Prince Harry on Monday urged South African men to turn their back on toxic masculinity as his wife Meghan applauded girls for “standing up for what’s right,” as the British royal couple launched their first official tour since becoming parents in May. The pair …

United Nations, United States | AFP | Will US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani finally hold a historic meeting during the UN General Assembly this week? All eyes are on the pair in New York, where France’s Emmanuel Macron is cautiously hopeful for a breakthrough. Building the suspense, …