Kingsley Coman scored twice as world champions France cruised past Albania 4-1 on Saturday to move back to the top of their group in qualifying for Euro 2020.
"It went well for me," Coman told French television after being selected man of the match.
The Bayern attacker was not part of the victorious French squad at last year's World Cup. On Saturday, he replaced Kylian Mbappe, one of three starters from last year's Moscow final who was missing injured.
Asked if Coman had finally put is international career on track, France coach Didier Deschamps said: "That was closer to what he has been doing for the last year for Bayern. He was more drawn to the goal. He was more decisive."
Iceland briefly led the standings in Group H outright after beating Moldova 3-0 earlier in the day, and are joined by Turkey, who scored in the last minute to edge
Andorra, 1-0 as well as Les Bleus at the summit on goals difference.  The match kicked off late because the hosts played the Andorran anthem.
"It was .

Coman brace helps France ease past Albania

PTI Automatic

Reactions to Canadian teen Bianca Andreescu defeating 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams 6-3, 7-5 in Saturday's US Open women's final: "Congratulations @Bandreescu_! You've made history and made a whole country very proud. #SheTheNorth" -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted his support to Canada's first Grand Slam singles champion.
"CONGRATS GIRL! Canadian history"
-- Eugenie Bouchard, who was the first Canadian woman to make a Grand Slam final when she reached the 2014 Wimbledon championship match, losing to Petra Kvitova. It was posted with a big-screen TV image of Andreescu holding the US Open champion's trophy.
"SHE THE CHAMP! Congrats, @Bandreescu_  #WeTheNorth x #SheTheNorth"
-- The reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors transmuted their slogan from their title run, "We the North", to "She the North" in tribute to Andreescu, tweeting the note with a photo of a Raptors jersey with her name on it next to the NBA championship trophy.
"You're #1!!! Congrats ...

US Open women's final -- who's saying what

Canadian teen Bianca Andreescu's fiery passion and impressive shotmaking skills had tennis experts figuring she would someday realize her dream of becoming a Grand Slam champion.
It happened Saturday at the US Open in her first Slam final as the 19-year-old defeated 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams 6-3, 7-5 to win the $3.85 million top prize.
"I think it's just inside of me somehow. I think it's just my passion for the game," Andreescu said of her secret to success.
"I don't like to lose, so I just try my best every match. I expect a lot from myself, so I think that pressure also helps me do my best in matches."
Andreescu, who improved to 8-0 against top-10 opponents by defeating the 37-year-old American star, began playing several sports as a youth but found her calling once she turned to tennis.
"I think it helped me a lot because playing different sports gets you to think differently and it puts you in situations where you have to figure out things right on the spot," ...

At 19, Andreescu lives dream of being Grand Slam champion

Teenager Bianca Andreescu said Saturday's US Open final triumph felt all the more rewarding after a 2018 qualifying defeat left her feeling particularly low and languishing outside the world's top 200.
This time last year a despondent Andreescu was sat at home nursing an injury and coming to terms with a second successive failed attempt at making the main draw in New York.
"It's definitely a process of life. You're never going to have ups all the time. So I think in those moments, you just have to deal with it the best that you can, which is to just keep fighting for your dreams and just stay as persistent and persevere as much as you can," Andreescu said.
"I know in those moments you feel like you can't. But if you believe that there are good times ahead, then those tough moments are definitely worth it. I think it builds you as a character. I think everyone should go through it because it just makes you stronger."
Twelve months on and the 19-year-old was hoisting aloft the US Open ..

'Fight for your dreams:' Andreescu embraces path to US Open joy

Teenager Bianca Andreescu became Canada's first Grand Slam singles champion Saturday with a rollercoaster 6-3, 7-5 win over 23-time major champion Serena Williams in the US Open final.
The 19-year-old Andreescu became the youngest Grand Slam winner since Svetlana Kuznetsova at the 2004 US Open, handing Williams a fourth consecutive defeat in the final of a major to again deny her a record-equaling 24th Slam title.
"It's so hard to explain in words but I'm just beyond grateful and truly blessed. I've worked really, really hard for this moment," said Andreescu, who had won just two Grand Slam matches ahead of her US Open main draw debut.
She improved her record over top-10 opponents this season to 8-0 and will rise to a career-high ranking of fifth on Monday.
"This year has been a dream come true. Being able to play on this stage against Serena, a true legend of the sport, is amazing.
"It wasn't easy at all. I tried to prepare my best like I do every match, I tried not to focus on who ..

Teen Andreescu topples record-chasing Serena in US Open final

Lewis Hamilton warned on Saturday only a crash would prevent future repeats of the slip-streaming farce that concluded Saturday's qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix.
The defending Formula One champion, who qualified second behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in his Mercedes, repeated his warning about the dangers of drivers slowing down in a bunch to find a tow.
"I am sure it is going to continue, as positioning is key. If everyone is going out so late, it will continue to be an issue in places where you particularly need a tow," said Hamilton.
"It won't be until someone crashes that they will change. We are all trying to get a gap, which continues to be key... In some places, you want a bigger gap and in some places it is about the tow.
"It is the system that needs to shift a little, but I don't think we need to start handing out penalties.
"We need to look at it and reflect and see what we can do to make it better. Better for the fans and less dangerous."
After the session, .

Only a crash will end slip-streaming qualifying queues, warns Hamilton

Steve Smith was glad to have again made runs when needed them as Australia closed in on retaining the Ashes at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Despite being the dominant side for most of the fourth Test, Australia were faltering at 44-4 in their second innings on Saturday.
But Smith's counter-attacking 82 was the centrepiece of their second-innings total of 186-6 declared, whch left England with an imposing target of 383 to win the Test and keep their hopes of winning the series alive.
"When it is tough you want your experienced players to step up," Smith told reporters after stumps.
"I have played quite a lot of cricket now. I like to get in those situations and try to be the one to take the team through." England's second-innings pursuit suffered an early double setback when Australia's Pat Cummins took two wickets in two balls to remove Rory Burns and captain Joe Root without a run on the board.
England were 18-2 at the close, with Australia requiring just eight more wickets on Sunday's .

Australia's Smith proud to 'step up when it's tough'

US President Donald Trump said Saturday he had called off a secret summit with the Taliban and Afghanistan's leader, abruptly slamming the door on a year of diplomacy to end America's longest war.
In a Saturday evening bombshell, Trump said that he had planned unprecedented, albeit separate, talks with the two sides Sunday in Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, but that the Taliban's persistent, grisly campaign of violence made them untrustworthy partners.
"Unbeknownst to almost everyone, the major Taliban leaders and, separately, the President of Afghanistan, were going to secretly meet with me at Camp David on Sunday," Trump said in a tweet.
"Unfortunately, in order to build false leverage, they admitted to an attack in Kabul that killed one of our great great soldiers, and 11 other people. I immediately cancelled the meeting and called off peace negotiations." "What kind of people would kill so many in order to seemingly strengthen their bargaining position? They ...

Trump calls off secret summit, talks with Taliban

Dorian made landfall in Canada on Saturday night south of Halifax with ferocious 100 mph (155 kph) winds and torrential rains, meteorologists said, toppling trees and whipping up debris.
The storm churned up 65-foot (20-metre) waves which pounded the coast near the port city that is home to Canada's Atlantic fleet.
As it moved north from the US after devastating the Bahamas, the storm was now being called a "very intense post-tropical cyclone," but the Canadian Hurricane Centre warned that it was still packing winds equivalent to those of a Category 2 hurricane.
"We're talking about a very dangerous storm," Bob Robichaud of the Canadian Hurricane Centre told a briefing.
Officials also said it had already dropped more than 100 millimeters (four inches) of rain on Nova Scotia, which could double by Sunday morning.
Storm surges were causing widespread flooding. And more than 450,000 households were without electricity after winds knocked down power lines.
According to reports, a crane ...

Dorian makes landfall near Halifax, Canada as dangerous cyclone

OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia named King Salman's son as energy minister after sacking veteran oil official Khalid al-Falih, state media said early Sunday.
"Khalid al-Falih has been removed from his position," the official Saudi Press Agency said, citing a royal decree.
"His royal highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman is appointed minister of energy."
Prince Salman is the king's son and the brother of powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Falih's dismissal comes just days after he was removed as chairman of state-owned oil giant Aramco as the company prepares for a much-anticipated initial public offering (IPO).
He was replaced in that post by Yasir al-Rumayyan, governor of the kingdom's vast Public Investment Fund.
Falih also saw his portfolio shrink as the kingdom reels from low oil prices.
Last month the world's top oil exporter announced the creation of a new ministry of industry and mineral resources, separating it from his energy ministry.
The shakeup comes as Aramco steps up ...

OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia replaces energy minister: State media

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson received a fresh blow Saturday when senior minister Amber Rudd quit her work and pensions post in protest at his handling of the Brexit crisis.
"I have resigned from Cabinet and surrendered the Conservative Whip," Rudd tweeted.
"I cannot stand by as good, loyal moderate Conservatives are expelled," she said referring to Johnson's decision to expel 21 MPs from the Conservative party for voting against the government.

Top UK minister quits, dealing Johnson new Brexit blow

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to pay a state visit to South Africa in October, the South African presidency said Saturday, after a spate of xenophobic violence in Johannesburg caused tensions between the countries.
South Africa's financial capital and surrounding areas were rocked by a surge of  deadly attacks against foreigners this week, many directed against Nigerian-owned businesses and properties.
The violence prompted reprisal attacks against South African firms in Nigeria and the temporary closing of South Africa's diplomatic missions in Lagos and Abuja.
At least 10 people were killed in the violence and hundreds of shops destroyed.
Buhari's visit is meant to "reinforce the strong bonds between the two countries and jointly develop responses to challenges affecting people and businesses in South Africa and Nigeria", said South Africa's presidency in a statement.
Foreign workers are often victims of anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa -- the continent's ..

Nigerian president to visit South Africa after xenophobic attacks

French police clashed Saturday with anti-government protesters seeking to inject fresh momentum into demonstrations calling for social justice and the ouster of President Emmanuel Macron.
The so-called "yellow vest" movement had tapered off over the summer, but its leaders hope to galvanise support for a fresh wave of rallies across the country as the government begins a reform of France's retirement system.
Officials in the southern city of Montpellier said around 2,000 people gathered in the city centre -- organisers put their numbers at closer to 5,000.
During clashes between police and protesters, officers fired tear gas to try to disperse the crowd and a firebomb wrecked an unoccupied police car. Several storefronts were vandalised and police said seven people had been detained.
The region's officials blamed what it said were around 500 members of the hard-core Black Bloc for the violence.
Organisers of the protests had called for a major demonstration Montpellier, long a ...

Clashes as 'yellow vest' protesters revive protests across France

Pakistan, China and Afghanistan on Saturday called for withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan in an orderly manner, as the US and Taliban move closer to a potential deal.
The request follows a wave of insurgent attacks that sparked concerns of a hasty US pullout.
"We shared the view that the withdrawal of foreign troops should be conducted in an orderly and responsible manner in order to ensure smooth transition," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a press conference in Islamabad with his Pakistani and Afghan counterparts.
Kabul has been terrorised by deadly bombings even after Washington and the insurgents reached an agreement "in principle" that would see the US pull thousands of troops from Afghanistan in return for various Taliban security promises.
But there is increasing unease about the deal, which Afghans fear will lead to a return of the Islamist extremist Taliban to power.
Former United States ambassadors to Afghanistan on Tuesday warned against a major troop ...

'Orderly' foreign troop withdrawal sought from Afghanistan

Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff said Formula One looked idiotic on Saturday after the final qualifying laps for pole position at the Italian Grand Prix, won by Charles Leclerc, saw only two cars of the final 10 taking part.
Ferrari's Leclerc secured the prime starting position to the delight of the Italian team's home fans, but only he and McLaren's Carlos Sainz clocked final lap times while the rest were timed out by the chequered flag.
The 'cat-and-mouse' procession as the teams crawled round the circuit, backing each other up to claim good slipstreaming positions, resulted in a farce that saw eight cars timed out by the chequered flag.
"You have been around for 35 years -- have you seen anything like this? That was worse than a junior formula," Wolff told Sky Sports F1.
"The problem was everyone wants a slipstream and nobody wants to go first -- and then everyone looks like idiots."
The race stewards immediately launched an investigation into the non-spectacle that left the paying ..

Mercedes chief blasts qualifying mess as Leclerc take Italian GP pole

US President Donald Trump welcomed the Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange Saturday as a potential step toward peace.
"Russia and Ukraine just swapped large numbers of prisoners. Very good news, perhaps a first giant step to peace. Congratulations to both countries!" Trump tweeted.
Earlier, the US special envoy for Ukraine, Kurt Volker, said he hoped the swap would lead to more exchanges, a renewed ceasefire and full implementation of a peace accord signed by Russia and Ukraine in 2015 in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.
In Saturday's swap, planes carrying 35 prisoners from each side landed simultaneously in Moscow and Kiev.
Relations between Kiev and Moscow nose-dived in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and Moscow backed separatists in the eastern industrial regions of Donetsk and Lugansk. Fighting there has claimed more than 13,000 lives over the past five years.
"We are encouraged to see signs of a more robust dialogue between Russia and Ukraine," a US State Department official told ...

Trump: Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap may be step toward peace

Russia refused to proceed with an exchange of prisoners unless Ukraine agreed to hand over a key witness in the 2014 downing of flight MH17, a senior Ukrainian official said.
Vladimir Tsemakh believed to be a former commander of Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, arrived in Moscow on Saturday as part of a landmark prisoner exchange between the two ex-Soviet countries He was reportedly in charge of air defence in the area of eastern Ukraine where the MH17 came down.
The Dutch government expressed regret that Ukraine had handed Tsemakh over, saying it had tried to prevent it.
"Tsemakh's absence from the exchange list automatically meant the cessation of talks with Russia," Ivan Bakanov, the head of Ukraine's SBU security service, told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
Bakanov described Moscow's insistence on his release as "proof of Russia's involvement in the MH17 crash".  He said the Ukrainian government had no "moral right" to put off the swap any longer.
"As a state, ...

Russia insisted on handover of MH17 witness in exchange: Kiev

Stuart Broad dismissed David Warner for a third duck in as many Test innings at Old Trafford on Saturday as the England paceman continued to torment the Australia opener in the Ashes series.
Broad, bowling from around the wicket, had left-hander Warner lbw sixth ball to leave Australia none for one in their second innings of the fourth Test.
Broad also had Warner caught behind for nought in Australia's first innings 497-8 declared, having had him lbw for nought in the second innings of England's dramatic one-wicket win in the third Test at Headingley.
This is Warner's first Test series since a 12-month ban for his role in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
But this Ashes has seen the 32-year-old Warner, now playing in his 78th Test, become Broad's 'bunny'.
Saturday's dismissal meant 33-year-old fast-medium bowler Broad had now taken Warner's wicket six times this series for a cost of 32 runs in 93 balls.
Warner, who did not even bother to review umpire Marais Erasmus's decision 

Broad gets Warner again as Australia opener suffers third straight Test duck

The Afghan government Saturday welcomed a pledge by the Pentagon that the US would only accept a "good deal" from the Taliban after a wave of insurgent attacks sparked concerns of a hasty US withdrawal.
During a wide ranging press conference in Paris earlier Saturday US Defense Secretary Mark Esper sought to allay fears that Washington was looking for a quick exit from Afghanistan as it inches closer to a potential deal with the Taliban.
"My view, the US view is that the best way forward is a political agreement and that's what we're working diligently on right now," Esper told reporters.
"That doesn't mean we'll take any deal, but we want to make sure we have a good deal, a good enough deal that guarantees at least the security of our countries going forward and a brighter future for the Afghan people."
The remarks were greeted warmly in Afghanistan where the Taliban in the past week have attacked several provincial capitals and targeted Kabul with suicide bombers.
"The Afghan ...

Kabul welcomes US assurances on Taliban deal

Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer revived England's flagging hopes of victory in the fourth Ashes Test on Saturday with two wickets apiece to reduce Australia to 63-4 in their second innings at tea on the fourth day.
Australia, who will retain the Ashes at 2-1 up with one to play in the five-Test series if they win this match at Old Trafford, still had an overall lead of 259 runs, however.
Significantly, star batsman Steve Smith was 19 not out after making 211 in the first innings of a comeback Test, having missed England's dramatic one-wicket win at Headingley with concussion.
Broad had tea figures of two wickets for 19 runs in nine overs and Archer 2-27, also in nine.
The sixth ball of Australia's second innings saw left-handed opener David Warner out for his third straight Test duck when Broad, the successful bowler on each occasion, had him lbw.
It was the sixth time Warner, like Smith appearing in his first Test series since completing a 12-month ball-tampering ban, had fallen to ...

AFP

AFP

Page 414 - Afp

Coman brace helps France ease past Albania

US Open women's final -- who's saying what

At 19, Andreescu lives dream of being Grand Slam champion

'Fight for your dreams:' Andreescu embraces path to US Open joy

Teen Andreescu topples record-chasing Serena in US Open final

Only a crash will end slip-streaming qualifying queues, warns Hamilton

Australia's Smith proud to 'step up when it's tough'

Trump calls off secret summit, talks with Taliban

Dorian makes landfall near Halifax, Canada as dangerous cyclone

OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia replaces energy minister: State media

OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia replaces energy minister: State media

Top UK minister quits, dealing Johnson new Brexit blow

Nigerian president to visit South Africa after xenophobic attacks

Clashes as 'yellow vest' protesters revive protests across France

'Orderly' foreign troop withdrawal sought from Afghanistan

Mercedes chief blasts qualifying mess as Leclerc take Italian GP pole

Trump: Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap may be step toward peace

Russia insisted on handover of MH17 witness in exchange: Kiev

Broad gets Warner again as Australia opener suffers third straight Test duck

Kabul welcomes US assurances on Taliban deal