Bangui / AFP France will end its military intervention in the Central African Republic this year as it has achieved its objectives of restoring security to the country after three years of communal violence, the French defence minister said Wednesday. “I can confirm to you the end of Operation Sangaris during the course of 2016,” Jean-Yves Le Drian said in …

Naypyidaw / AFP Myanmar entered a new era on Wednesday as Aung San SuuKyi’s democracy movement took power after 50 years of military domination, with a close aide of the Nobel Laureate sworn in as president. HtinKyaw, a school friend and confidante of the democracy champion, succeeds former general TheinSein who has helmed reforms that have transformed Myanmar from hermit …

Ankara / AFP The European Union backs the European diplomats who attended a controversial trial of two Turkish journalists charged with espionage after their appearance was bitterly attacked by Ankara, an official said on Wednesday. Turkey issued a protest on Monday over comments on social media made by some diplomats present at the trial last week of the opposition Cumhuriyet …