Macron looks to Africa to promote French

PARIS - He's France's most anglophone president, who reaches for the language of the old foe when telling global audiences that "France is back", or that he wants ecologically to "make our planet great again".

ROK prosecutors seek arrest of ex-president

SEOUL - Seoul prosecutors said on Monday they are seeking the arrest of Lee Myung-bak, former president of the Republic of Korea, over corruption allegations, on the grounds he might destroy evidence if not detained.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

US, DPRK to hold 'unofficial' talks

HELSINKI - Representatives from the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will hold unofficial talks on Sunday, Finnish media reported.

'Proven leader' Putin well ahead of rivals

MOSCOW - Incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin is a proven national leader and a favorite in the upcoming presidential election, a political analyst said.

Thousands evacuated as Syrian offensives spark exodus

DAMASCUS - Thousands of civilians streamed out of their towns on Saturday to escape battles in the north and south of Syria, where two different offensives have prompted an exodus in recent days.

Residents flee, homes razed as bush fires rage across Australia's east

SYDNEY - Homes were razed, cattle killed and large swathes of land burned on Sunday as bush and grass fires raged in the Australian state of Victoria on Sunday.

McCabe hands over memos

WASHINGTON - Andrew McCabe, the FBI deputy director long scorned by President Donald Trump and just fired by the attorney general, kept personal memos detailing interactions with the president that have been provided to the special counsel's office and are similar to the notes compiled by dismissed FBI chief James Comey.

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'Taiwan Act' denounced

Commenting on a Taiwan-related bill, the Chinese embassy in the United States on Friday expressed China's strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to it, saying the bill violates the one-China principle.

Ex-FBI deputy fired days before retirement

WASHINGTON - Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe, who has endured a year of withering attacks from President Donald Trump, was fired by the Justice Department on Friday just days before he was to retire.

Engineer warned of cracking before collapse

MIAMI, Florida - The chief engineer of a Florida bridge project warned authorities of cracking in the structure days before it collapsed, killing at least six people, the southern US state's department of transportation said on Friday.