Ukraine's president on Saturday slammed the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline set to send Russian gas to Germany as a "threat" to Europe and welcomed moves by Kiev to tap into US gas supplies.
Volodymyr Zelensky made the comments beside Poland's President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw, where he was due to attend Sunday ceremonies marking 80 years since the outbreak of World War II.
"We hold the same position as Poland: Nord Stream 2 is unacceptable and it threatens Europe as a whole," Zelensky told reporters.
"We want the diversification of sources of energy delivery within the US, Poland and Ukraine triangle," he added.
The US, Poland and Ukraine agreed later on Saturday in Warsaw to beef up cooperation aimed at securing energy supplies in the region reliant on Russian deliveries.
The agreement is largely focused on gearing Ukraine's gas infrastructure to deliveries from the West, including US liquefied natural gas (LNG).
It was signed by visiting US Energy Secretary Rick Perry, ...

Zelensky slams Nord Stream 2 as Ukraine seeks US gas

PTI Automatic

A 19-year-old man was killed and another nine wounded, three seriously, on Saturday in a knife attack near the French city of Lyon, a regional official and emergency services said.
Two men, one armed with a knife and the other with a skewer, carried out the attack in Villeurbanne, a Lyon suburb, in southeastern France, the official said, without giving further details on the motive for the stabbing.
One of the men had been arrested by police but the second was on the run. The attack took place close to a metro station.
An AFP journalist at the scene witnessed a body being taken away in an ambulance and traces of blood on the ground.
The national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office had been informed but had not taken charge of the case at this stage.
Last May, a parcel bomb in front of a baker's shop in central Lyon left 14 people slightly injured.
The perpetrator, a young radicalised Algerian, who was arrested three days later, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, according ..

One dead, nine wounded in French knife attack

- Racing driver Anthoine Hubert died on Saturday following a crash during the Formula Two race held before this weekend's F1 Belgian Grand Prix, the FIA announced.
In a statement, the auto racing governing body said that Hubert, 22, died following a "serious incident" at Spa-Francorchamps, a three-car pile-up in the second lap of the race.
"The scene was immediately attended by emergency and medical crews, and all drivers were taken to the medical centre," read the statement.
"As a result of the incident, the FIA regrets to inform that the driver of car number 19, Antoine Hubert (FRA), succumbed to his injuries, and passed away at 18:35."
Juan Manuel Correa is in a "stable condition" at the CHU hospital in Liege, the FIA said, after suffering leg fractures in the crash.

French racer Anthoine Hubert dies after Formula Two crash

An Islamic State jihadist suspected of beheading more than 100 people in Raqa and with possible links to the Paris and Brussels attacks has been captured in Syria, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Saturday.
Anouar Haddouchi, who is of Belgian origin, was captured in the eastern Deir Ezzor region, around 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the Iraqi border, SDF spokesman Mustefa Bali said on Twitter.
Bali also confirmed Belgian media reports about the capture which they said took place in March.
Haddouchi was being held by the SDF, which is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), a group Turkey sees as "terrorist".
According to the Belgian media reports, Haddouchi could have beheaded more than 100 people in the market place of the one time Islamic State stronghold of Raqa in Syria.
They also said the Belgian public prosecutor's office had conducted a long investigation into Haddouchi's alleged involvement in the March 22, 2016 suicide bombings in Brussels ...

Belgian jihadist suspected of beheading 100 people in Raqa captured in Syria

Manchester City cruised to the top of the Premier League with a 4-0 win over Brighton on Saturday as Manchester United and Chelsea lost further ground in disappointing draws with Southampton and Sheffield United.
Leicester moved up to third as the Foxes unbeaten start to the season continued in a 3-1 win over Bournemouth thanks to two goals from Jamie Vardy, while victories for Crystal Palace and West Ham take them into a share of fourth.
City win comes at a cost
========================
Liverpool can move back above City should they continue the only 100 percent start left in the Premier League later at Burnley, but City were never in danger of dropping points at the Etihad as Kevin de Bruyne tapped home David Silva's cut-back after just two minutes.
Victory came at a cost for Pep Guardiola's men as Aymeric Laporte was stretchered off with a knee injury that looks certain to rule him out of winning a first cap for France in upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers.
City may come to regret not ..

Man City go top as Man Utd, Chelsea flop again

Australia's chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said Mitchell Marsh had "given us a good option" ahead of the fourth Ashes Test against England after the all-rounder impressed in a comfortable victory over Derbyshire.
Marsh top-scored with 74 in Australia's 338-5 declared in Derby.  He then took two wickets in three balls as Derbyshire were skittled out for 112 in their second innings before lunch on Saturday's third and final day as Australia won by an innings and 54 runs.
The 27-year-old Marsh has yet to feature in this five-match Ashes series which is now locked at 1-1 after England's dramatic one-wicket win in the third Test at Headingley.
Although England's top order failed again during a woeful 67 all out in their first innings in Leeds, Australia didn't bat the hosts out of the match in their second innings.
Australia are set to recall Steve Smith, who made 23 against Derbyshire, for the fourth Test at Old Trafford starting Wednesday after he missed the Headingley match with ...

Marsh a 'good option' says Australia chief Hohns ahead of fourth Test

US forces attacked leaders of an Al-Qaeda-linked group in Syria on Saturday, the Pentagon said.
The strike north of Idlib targeted leaders of the group the Pentagon calls Al-Qaeda in Syria (AQS) whom it blamed for "attacks threatening US citizens, our partners and innocent civilians," Lieutenant Colonel Earl Brown, a spokesman for the US Central Command said in a statement.
It did not say what kind of weapons were used.

Pentagon confirms strike against Al-Qaeda in Syria

One person was killed and another six wounded on Saturday in a knife attack near the French city of Lyon, a regional official said.
Two men, one armed with a knife and the other with a skewer, carried out the attack in Villeurbanne in southeastern France, the official said, without giving further details on the motive for the stabbing.

One dead, six wounded in knife attack near French city of Lyon: Official

UN chief Antonio Guterres started a three-day tour of the Democratic Republic of Congo Saturday, expressing "solidarity" with a region ravaged by violence and an Ebola epidemic.
The secretary general first visited Goma, the capital of North Kivu province which is trying to roll back an epidemic of Ebola that has claimed more than 2,000 lives in a year.
Guterres was received by Leila Zerrougui, his special representative in the DR Congo.
The two did not shake hands, in line with protocols aimed at curbing the spread of the highly infectious and potentially fatal disease.
Guterres said he had come to express his support "with the armed forces of DRC in the fight against terrorism" which represents "a threat not only for the Congo but the whole of Africa."
The UN peacekeeping mission in the country known by its French acronym MONUSCO comprises some 16,000 troops and has an annual budget of over USD 1 billion.
A total of 130 militias and armed groups roam the North and South Kivu ...

UN chief expresses solidarity with Ebola-hit DR Congo

Washington is moving ahead Sunday with new tariffs on Chinese imports as it steps up a high-pressure campaign aimed at coercing Beijing to sign a new trade deal even amid fears of a further slowing of US and world growth.
The additional 15 per cent tariffs, affecting a portion of the USD 300 billion in goods from the Asian giant that so far has been spared, will take effect at 04H01 GMT, according to the US Trade Representative's office.
President Donald Trump on Friday ruled out any further postponement. "They're on," he told reporters.
The new tariffs will target a range of products, from foodstuffs (ketchup, butchered meat, pork sausage, fruits, vegetables, milk, cheese) to sports equipment (golf clubs, surf boards, bicycles), to musical instruments, sportswear and furniture, according to an official list.
Economists at the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics estimate USD 112 billion in goods will be affected.
The trade war touched off by Trump more than 

Trump moving ahead with new tariffs on Chinese products

At least 40 jihadist leaders were killed Saturday in Syria after a missile attack targeted their meeting in the northwestern province of Idlib, a war monitor said.
"A missile attack targeted a meeting held by the leaders of Hurras al-Deen, Ansar al-Tawhid and other allied groups inside a training camp" near Idlib city, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The attack killed "at least 40" jihadist leaders, the Britain-based monitor said.
It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack, or if the missiles were launched from war planes or positions on the ground, the Observatory said.
An AFP correspondent saw clouds of black smoke rising over the area after blasts rocked the jihadist stronghold.
Ambulances rushed to the site of the attack, which was closed off to journalists, he said.
The Al-Qaeda-linked Hurras al-Deen and their allies Ansar al-Tawhid both operate in the Idlib region, where bombardment by Damascus and Moscow came to a halt ...

Syria missile attack kills at least 40 jihadist leaders: monitor

Chanting "This is our city", Russian opposition supporters marched in central Moscow Saturday in defiance of a protest ban, just a week before controversial elections in the capital.
Under the watchful eye of police, hundreds participated in the so-called "March against political repressions", shouting out demands including: "Freedom to political prisoners!".
Moscow police said turnout was about 750, while Russian media gave a figure of several thousand people.
Demonstrations have been held almost weekly since July after authorities barred most opposition candidates from registering for elections next Sunday for the city parliament.
Moscow prosecutors warned the latest rally, called by Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, was not authorised and participants would "bear responsibility." Saturday's gathering was noticeably calmer than previous ones where police had made thousands of sometimes violent arrests.
None were reported this time round, with police merely advising people to leave the .

Opposition supporters defy ban, march on Moscow

One soldier was wounded and another five are missing after gunmen attacked a military base in northern Burkina Faso, security sources said Saturday, in a region prone to jihadist violence.
A former French colony that ranks among the world's poorest countries, Burkina Faso has been struggling with an Islamist militant revolt since 2015.
The attack happened at a military base in Tongomael early Friday morning, a security source told AFP. Details of the wounded and the missing were only provisional, the source said.
Tongomael is near Djibo, the regional capital of Soum province, which borders Mali to the north.
Earlier this week, security officials reported a deadly attack on Kongoussi village Tuesday in the neighbouring province of Bam, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) to the south. Suspected jihadist insurgents killed three civilians.
Bam province has suffered a string of deadly assaults this year.
The country's army has been increasingly targetted by jihadists. Earlier this month, an ..

Gunmen attack military base in northern Burkina region

Afghan security forces "repelled" a coordinated Taliban assault on the northern city of Kunduz on Saturday, President Ashraf Ghani said, amid competing claims from the insurgents.
The multi-pronged offensive on Kunduz, which has come under frequent attack since 2015, occurred as the US and the Taliban continue to seek an agreement in Doha that would see thousands of American troops leave Afghanistan in return for various security guarantees.
Officials said the fighting started around 1:00 am (2030 GMT Friday), when Taliban militants advanced on the city from several directions.
Gunfire could be heard across Kunduz, the capital of Kunduz province near the Tajik border, and as the day wore on, both sides claimed units from the other's forces were surrendering.
But by Saturday evening, the Afghan government said it had gained the upper hand.
"The Taliban attacked Kunduz today and caused damages to civilians and their houses. They wanted to create an atmosphere of fear in the city," Ghani 

Afghan forces claim upper hand after Taliban attack Kunduz city

A missile attack on a gathering of jihadists in Syria's Idlib province on Saturday killed at least 40 militants, a war monitor said, hours after a Russian-backed ceasefire took hold.
"A missile attack targeted a meeting held by the leaders of Hurras al-Deen, Ansar al-Tawhid and other allied groups inside a training camp" near Idlib city, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack, or if the missiles were launched from war planes or positions on the ground, the Britain-based monitor added.

Syria missile attack kills at least 40 jihadists: Monitor

Boko Haram jihadists have executed four people and abducted two others in a raid on a village in northeast Nigeria, residents said Saturday.
Fighters stormed into Balumri village, 15 kilometres (10 miles) from the Borno state capital Maiduguri on Friday evening, slaughtering four male residents and abducting two others, inhabitants said.
"They (Boko Haram) slit the throats of four people and took away two others," Balumri resident Bura Abdiye said.
"They sneaked into the village on foot after leaving their vehicles at some distance," he said.
The jihadists looted food supplies before withdrawing an hour later, Abdiye said.
Umara Kyari gave the same account, saying Balumri residents were leaving the village for fear of renewed attack.
"After burying the four slain victims of the attack, residents of Balumri are fleeing," Kyari said.
In an earlier incident on Thursday, Boko Haram fighters also shot dead two Balumri residents as they worked on their farms outside the village, according ..

Boko Haram kill 4 in Nigeria village raid: residents

Mitchell Starc pressed his case for a Ashes berth with a four-wicket haul as Australia completed their preparations for next week's fourth Test at Old Trafford with a comfortable innings and 54-run win over Derbyshire on Saturday.
Starc, yet to feature in the Ashes, ended the match 15 minutes before lunch on the third day in Derby with two wickets in two balls. He had  Hamidullah Qadri caught in the slips by Matthew Wade before clean bowling Dustin Melton.
With Derbyshire paceman Tony Palladino unable to bat because of an ankle injury, the match ended with Derbyshire 112 all out.
Left-arm fast bowler Starc finished with figures of 4-39 in 10.4 overs.
Australia came into this three-day game after a stunning one-wicket loss in the third Test at Headingley where England all-rounder Ben Stokes's superb 135 not out saw the hosts level the five-match series at 1-1.
Derbyshire resumed Saturday on 53-3, 113 runs behind Australia's first innings 338.
Australia opener Marcus Harris was off the .

Starc strikes as Australia thrash Derbyshire

Czech giant Lukas Krpalek beat Japan's Hisayoshi Harasawa to capture judo's world heavyweight title on Saturday and fire a warning for next year's Tokyo Olympics.
The hulking 28-year-old won half-heavyweight gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and looked ominously strong after stepping up to the +100-kilogram class.
Entering with a roar at Tokyo's iconic Budokan, venue for the 1964 Tokyo Games and next year's Olympics, Krpalek was awarded victory after Harasawa picked up his third penalty deep into the golden score.
Harasawa, the 2016 Rio Olympic silver medallist, had stunned Georgian giant Guram Tushishvili in the semi-finals, robbing him of his world title.
In the absence of France's Olympic champion Teddy Riner, the 27-year-old ran out of steam in the final, although still secured an upgrade on the bronze medal he won at last year's world championships in Baku.
Earlier, Japanese teenager Akira Sone bagged gold on her world championship debut, upsetting Cuba's former Olympic champion ...

Harasawa bounced by Czech Krpalek at world judo

Russia's opposition held a new protest march in central Moscow on Saturday, despite a ban by authorities, a week before controversial regional elections in the capital.
Demonstrations have been held on an almost weekly basis since July after authorities denied most opposition candidates registration in the elections for city parliament next Sunday.
Moscow prosecutors warned that the latest rally, called by Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny for 2 pm (local time) on part of the city's Boulevard Ring, was not authorised and participants would "bear responsibility."
Hundreds gathered at the start site of the announced "March against political repressions" and began a slow walk along the route, occasionally chanting "This is our city" and "Freedom to political prisoners!".
The gathering was noticeably calmer than previous similar protests, when police blocked the crowd and made thousands of sometimes violent arrests.
Police on Saturday merely told people to leave the street and walk along the .

Russian opposition holds new protest march

Chaos engulfed Hong Kong's financial heart Saturday night as police fired tear gas and water cannon at protesters who set large fires and threw petrol bombs, defying a ban on rallying -- and mounting threats from China -- to take to the streets for a 13th straight weekend.
Police had banned the demonstration on security grounds and on Friday arrested several key activists and legislators in a dragnet on pro-democracy figures.
But on Saturday afternoon, tens of thousands of protesters -- many in their signature black T-shirts and under a colourful canopy of umbrellas -- defied the order to march on Hong Kong island chanting "reclaim Hong Kong, revolution of our times".
As evening fell, violence ricocheted through the city's commercial centre, with a minority of hardcore protesters unleashing a barrage of petrol bombs and rocks at riot police.
Thick, black smoke swirled from a large fire started by masked demonstrators at a barricade on a major thoroughfare, moments from Hong Kong ...

Fire, tear gas and petrol bombs as Hong Kong engulfed by chaos

Demonstrators rallied on Saturday in cities across Britain against Prime Minister Boris Johnson's controversial move to suspend parliament weeks before Brexit.
The protests come ahead of an intense political week in which Johnson's opponents will seek to block the move in court and legislate against a no-deal departure from the EU - and could even try to topple his government in a no-confidence vote.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of various towns and cities from late morning, with organisers - using the slogan #StopTheCoup - saying they hoped hundreds of thousands would take part.
The left-wing group Momentum, closely allied with the main opposition Labour Party, called on its supporters to "occupy bridges and blockade roads" ahead of the protests.
Crowds gathered in Manchester, York and Newcastle in northern England, the Scottish capital Edinburgh and Belfast in Northern Ireland, with events planned in around 30 locations.
The biggest demonstrations were expected in ...

AFP

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