Briefly
FRANCE
Macron announces new government
French President Emmanuel Macron has named new foreign and defense ministers as part of a government reshuffle intended to create fresh momentum ahead of parliamentary elections next month. France's ambassador to London, Catherine Colonna, was picked as foreign minister, making her only the second woman to hold the prestigious job. Sebastien Lecornu, former minister for overseas territories, was promoted to the defense ministry, Macron's chief of staff Alexis Kohler announced at the presidential palace. The new government will hold its first cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace on Monday, French news BFMTV reported.
UNITED STATES
Two lives claimed in tornado in Michigan
Two people died in a tornado that hit northern Michigan, authorities reported on Saturday, as crews searched a mobile home park that was virtually destroyed by a rare twister in an area with no weather sirens. "There have been trailers picked up and turned over on top of each other. Just a very large debris field," said Chris Martin, Otsego County fire chief. "Crews are in there right now doing a secondary search with heavy equipment." There was "probably 95 percent destruction in there", he said. Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency, making further state resources available. Electricity was out for thousands of people in the area.
Mystery hepatitis deaths rise to 6
The number of US children who have died from a mysterious form of hepatitis has risen to six and the condition has now been tied to 180 cases, health authorities said on Friday, as they continued to hunt for the cause. The leading hypothesis remains that adenovirus 41 has a major role, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is looking at other factors too. "I want to caution that it does take time to assess the evidence," the CDC's Jay Butler told reporters. Several hundred such cases have been reported globally, with the highest number, 197, in Britain, Agence France-Presse reported.
Agencies - Xinhua
