NEWS ANALYSIS

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 …

Athens, Greece | AFP |  As the longest-serving prime minister of the Greek bailout era, and also the youngest in 150 years, Alexis Tsipras found himself applying unpopular austerity cuts dictated by the country’s creditors after a stunning policy U-turn in 2015. But over four years, his government also sought …

Belo Horizonte, Brazil | AFP |  Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino scored the goals as Brazil beat arch-rivals Argentina 2-0 on Tuesday to qualify for the Copa America final. Jesus and Firmino netted a goal apiece in each half to give Brazil a victory which ensured Lionel Messi’s frustrating wait …

Lyon, France | AFP |  She was determined to give the credit to other members of her team, but Alex Morgan stepped up on the big occasion with the winning goal against England to take the United States through to the final of another women’s World Cup on Tuesday. The …

Athens, Greece | AFP |  Greece is holding its first post-bailout general elections on Sunday after a campaign focused on middle-class tax complaints, the Macedonia name deal and security. Here are profiles of the two main contenders: – Tsipras: leftist austerity PM – On the back foot after four nearly …

Athens, Greece | AFP |   Greeks head to the polls on Sunday in a snap ballot that could bring an end to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s leftist government. Here are five things to know about the vote, the third in Greece since May following European and local elections. – Greeks …