NEWS ANALYSIS

  Paris, France | AFP | The Premier League has marked its return to prominence on the European stage in a week punctuated by spellbinding drama with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur set to meet in just the second all-English Champions League final next month. Chelsea and Arsenal then ensured the …

New York, United States | AFP | One of the co-founders of Facebook called on Thursday for the social media behemoth to be broken up, warning that the company’s head, Mark Zuckerberg, had become far too powerful. “It’s time to break up Facebook,” said Chris Hughes, who along with Zuckerberg founded …

Washington, United States | AFP | The US seized a North Korean freighter in a further escalation of tensions Thursday after Pyongyang fired what was believed to be two missiles and President Donald Trump said Kim Jong Un was not ready to negotiate denuclearisation. The launch of the projectiles — identified …

Amsterdam, Netherlands | AFP | After all that, why exactly would you want to change it? Just as moves are being stepped up that threaten to change the Champions League into more of a closed shop than ever, along comes the drama of this week at Anfield and in Amsterdam of …

Vancouver, Canada | AFP | A senior Chinese telecom executive whose arrest in Canada on a US warrant triggered a diplomatic row between Ottawa and Beijing appeared in court Wednesday to fight for her release. Canada’s justice department said the court was to set the next key dates in an extradition …

Three party leaders battle it out in S.Africa election Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa goes to the polls Wednesday with the leaders of the three main parties vying for votes in a race that could test the ruling ANC’s long-held dominance. Here is a look at the …

Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | After a day of abstaining from food and drink, Sudanese protesters Monday broke their fast on the first day of Ramadan with chicken soup and vowed to press their campaign for a civilian rule. As the call for the sunset prayer rang out, crowds gathered …

Paris, France | AFP | What lies behind the arrests of the powerful brother of Algeria’s deposed president Abdelaziz Bouteflika and two former intelligence chiefs? The three have long been considered among the most powerful men in Algeria, but they are now facing charges including “conspiring” against the state. – Who …

Paris, France | AFP | Ajax warmed up for their Champions League semi-final return against Tottenham Hotspur by lifting their first silverware of the campaign, while some surprise names remain in the running to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition next season. Here, AFP Sport takes a look at five main …

: But if freedom is weakening, so is popular demand for it | PETER PENAR AND CAROLYN LOGAN | In recent months, persistent protesters in Algeria and Sudan have faced down government repression to depose long-time political leaders. Unfortunately, these two countries are the exception rather than the norm. More …