IN BRIEF (Page 12)

11 candidates lock horns in TV debate

PARIS - The first televised debate for the French presidential campaign opened on Wednesday with intense discussions, as the top five candidates were trying to appeal to swaying voters.

Free movement could continue during Brexit implementation

LONDON - British Prime Minister Theresa May has not ruled out allowing the free movement of people between Britain and the European Union during "an implementation phase" after Britain leaves the bloc, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

In India, switching to vegetables and oranges could help save water

ROME - India could save water and reduce planet-warming emissions if people added more vegetables and fruits like melon, oranges and papaya to their diet while reducing wheat and poultry, researchers said on Wednesday.

Colombia probes cause of mudslides

MOCOA, Colombia - The number of people killed in southern Colombia's massive mudslides climbed to 290 on Wednesday, as officials investigated how the horrific disaster might have been prevented.

72 die after Syrian gas incident

DAMASCUS - The death toll from a suspected chemical attack on a northern Syrian town rose to 72 on Wednesday while rescue workers kept finding more terrified survivors hiding in shelters near the site of the harrowing assault, one of the deadliest in years.

Win-win is the 'only viable option'

NEW YORK - A sound China-United States relationship featuring win-win cooperation benefits people of the two countries, and serves as a "bedrock" and key element of global stability, a veteran US diplomat has said.

Senate clashes over Trump top court pick

WASHINGTON - US Senate Republicans and Democrats clashed bitterly over President Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick, with no signs that a potentially damaging Thursday showdown will be averted.

Leaders to boost security cooperation after blast

PARIS - Leaders of France, Germany and Russia were on the phone on Tuesday discussing ways to boost security cooperation to face terrorism threats after an explosion rocked St. Petersburg metro station, claiming at least 14 lives.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Park grilled over corruption allegations

SEOUL - Prosecutors of the Republic of Korea on Tuesday grilled former president Park Geun-hye, who has been taken into custody over corruption allegations. Park has been held at a detention center since March 31, when a court issued an arrest warrant for her.

Pollution revealed inside US military base in central Seoul

SEOUL - Environment activists and lawyers of the Republic of Korea on Monday revealed serious pollution inside the US military base in the heart of Seoul, which they described as the "tip of an iceberg".