US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that particularly dangerous <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syria-kurds-say-two-civilians-killed-in-turkish-border-attack-254827">Islamic State group fighters</a> held by the Kurds in northeast Syria had been removed to US custody ahead of a Turkish attack Wednesday.

While Trump did not give any specifics, the Washington Post reported that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-air-strikes-hit-northeast-syria-near-border-monitor-254813">US forces had gained control</a> of two notorious British fighters dubbed "The Beatles" and moved them to Iraq.

CNN also reported that the US military had taken custody of the two fighters, while ABC said they had been transferred to a safe location.

"We are taking some of the most dangerous ISIS fighters out and we're putting them in different locations where it's secure," Trump said, using an acronym for the Islamic State group.

"We have taken a certain number of ISIS fighters who are particularly bad and we've wanted to make sure nothing happened to them with respect to getting out," he said.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-time-for-india-to-expose-turkeys-action-against-kurds-254844/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The move addressed one of the most worrisome issues of Trump's green light to Turkey to invade Syria, where the Kurds, a longtime US battlefield partner, are viewed as a terror threat by Ankara, a NATO ally of Washington.&nbsp;

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have been holding prisoner some 10,000 captured Islamic State group fighters.

Many have feared the Turkish attack would lead to them escaping and reconstituting the group.

The SDF-held fighters include around 2,000 of foreign nationality, many of them from European countries that have refused to take them back.

The two "Beatles" reportedly in US custody, Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, were part of an extremely violent all-British four-man cell that kidnapped and tortured foreigners, including journalists, at the height of Islamic State group's power in Syria and Iraq.

One other was killed in a drone strike and the fourth is imprisoned on terror charges in Turkey.

Trump said the Kurds are still guarding many of the Islamic State group terrorists, but also said Turkey will be responsible for them.

"If the Kurds don't watch, Turkey will watch. They don't want those people out any more than we do," he said. 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that particularly dangerous Islamic State group fighters held by the Kurds in northeast Syria had been removed to US custody ahead of a Turkish attack Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that particularly dangerous Islamic State group fighters held by the Kurds in northeast Syria had been removed to US custody ahead of a Turkish attack Wednesday. While Trump did not give any specifics, the Washington Post reported that US forces had gained control of two notorious British fighters dubbed "The Beatles" and moved them to Iraq. CNN also reported that the US military had taken custody of the two fighters, while ABC said they had been transferred to a safe location. "We are taking some of the most dangerous ISIS fighters out and we're putting them in different locations where it's secure," Trump said, using an acronym for the Islamic State group. "We have taken a certain number of ISIS fighters who are particularly bad and we've wanted to make sure nothing happened to them with respect to getting out," he said. Watch Video: The move addressed one of the most worrisome issues of Trump's green light to Turkey to invade Syria, where the Kurds, a longtime US battlefield partner, are viewed as a terror threat by Ankara, a NATO ally of Washington. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have been holding prisoner some 10,000 captured Islamic State group fighters. Many have feared the Turkish attack would lead to them escaping and reconstituting the group. The SDF-held fighters include around 2,000 of foreign nationality, many of them from European countries that have refused to take them back. The two "Beatles" reportedly in US custody, Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, were part of an extremely violent all-British four-man cell that kidnapped and tortured foreigners, including journalists, at the height of Islamic State group's power in Syria and Iraq. One other was killed in a drone strike and the fourth is imprisoned on terror charges in Turkey. Trump said the Kurds are still guarding many of the Islamic State group terrorists, but also said Turkey will be responsible for them. "If the Kurds don't watch, Turkey will watch. They don't want those people out any more than we do," he said.

We have taken most dangerous Islamic State fighters in Syria: Trump

Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden called for the impeachment of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-seeks-to-discredit-entire-impeachment-enquiry-against-him-254809">US&nbsp;President Donald Trump</a> for the first time on Wednesday in his strongest indictment of the Republican leader's actions involving Ukraine.

Biden, who figures prominently in the actions that led congressional Democrats to start impeachment proceedings, had refrained from making an outright plea for the move. He said in an opinion piece over the weekend the would let Congress do its job on impeachment.

During a campaign stop in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-impeachment-inquiry-lacks-legitimate-constitutional-foundation-white-house-254610">New Hampshire, Biden</a> - the Democratic front-runner for the party's nomination to run against Trump in the November 2020 election - took the gloves off.

"With his words and his actions, President Trump has indicted himself. By obstructing justice, refusing to reply with a congressional inquiry, he's already convicted himself," he said.

"In full view of the world and the American people, Donald Trump has violated his oath of office, betrayed this nation and committed impeachable acts."

"To preserve our Constitution, our democracy, our basic integrity, he should be impeached."

Trump responded in real time on Twitter, using one of his nicknames for Biden.

"So pathetic to see Sleepy Joe Biden, who with his son, Hunter, and to the detriment of the American Taxpayer, has ripped off at least two countries for millions of dollars, calling for my impeachment - and I did nothing wrong."

The Democratic-led House of Representatives opened impeachment proceedings against Trump on September&nbsp;24 over a phone call he had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on July 25 in which he asked Zelinskiy to investigate Biden and his businessman son, Hunter Biden.

Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden called for the impeachment of US President Donald Trump for the first time on Wednesday in his strongest indictment of the Republican leader's actions involving Ukraine.

Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden called for the impeachment of US President Donald Trump for the first time on Wednesday in his strongest indictment of the Republican leader's actions involving Ukraine. Biden, who figures prominently in the actions that led congressional Democrats to start impeachment proceedings, had refrained from making an outright plea for the move. He said in an opinion piece over the weekend the would let Congress do its job on impeachment. During a campaign stop in New Hampshire, Biden - the Democratic front-runner for the party's nomination to run against Trump in the November 2020 election - took the gloves off. "With his words and his actions, President Trump has indicted himself. By obstructing justice, refusing to reply with a congressional inquiry, he's already convicted himself," he said. "In full view of the world and the American people, Donald Trump has violated his oath of office, betrayed this nation and committed impeachable acts." "To preserve our Constitution, our democracy, our basic integrity, he should be impeached." Trump responded in real time on Twitter, using one of his nicknames for Biden. "So pathetic to see Sleepy Joe Biden, who with his son, Hunter, and to the detriment of the American Taxpayer, has ripped off at least two countries for millions of dollars, calling for my impeachment - and I did nothing wrong." The Democratic-led House of Representatives opened impeachment proceedings against Trump on September 24 over a phone call he had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on July 25 in which he asked Zelinskiy to investigate Biden and his businessman son, Hunter Biden.

Trump has violated his oath of office, he should be impeached: Biden

A gunman who denounced Jews opened fire outside a German synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, and killed two people as he livestreamed his attack.

Several German media outlets said the perpetrator acted alone on Wednesday in the eastern German city of Halle. He fatally shot a woman outside the synagogue and a man inside a nearby kebab shop.

Two other people were seriously injured, but regional broadcaster MDR said their condition was not critical.

Police said they had detained one person, reported by German magazines Spiegel and Focus Online to be a 27-year-old German named Stephan B. His full name cannot be published under German privacy laws.

Video broadcast on Amazon's gaming subsidiary Twitch showed a young man with a shaven head first reciting a short statement in broken English while sitting in a parked car.

"I think the Holocaust never happened," he began, before adding "feminism is the cause of decline in birth rates in the West" and mentioning mass immigration. He concluded: "The root of all these problems is the Jew", before embarking on his shooting spree.

A spokeswoman for Amazon said Twitch "worked with urgency to remove this content and will permanently suspend any accounts found to be posting or reposting content of this abhorrent act."

In the video, the man drove to the synagogue, found the gates shut and unsuccessfully sought to force the gates open. He then shot several rounds at a woman passerby.

"We saw via the camera system at our synagogue that a heavily armed perpetrator with a steel helmet and a gun tried to shoot open our doors," Max Privorozki, Halle's Jewish community chairman, told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper.

"We barricaded the doors from inside and waited for the police," he said, adding that about 70 to 80 people were inside the synagogue observing Yom Kippur, known as the Day of Atonement which is marked by fasting and solemn prayer.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported, without citing its source, that when he was detained the suspect had a wound to the neck and that security authorities suspected he had attempted suicide.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's government voiced outrage over the attack on Yom Kippur and urged tougher action against anti-Semitic violence.

Merkel visited a Berlin synagogue as around 200 people, some holding Israeli flags and candles, held a vigil outside. Merkel's spokesman tweeted: "We must oppose any form of anti-Semitism."

Rifat Tekin, who worked at the Halle kebab outlet, said he was making a kebab for two construction workers when a perpetrator threw an explosive at the restaurant before shooting.

"He was very calm, like a professional," Tekin told n-tv television. "He didn't say anything. He just kept coming and shooting ... I was hiding behind the salad counter."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent condolences to the victims' families and said in a Twitter post: "The terrorist attack against the community in Halle in Germany on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of our nation, is yet another expression that anti-Semitism is growing in Europe."

"I call upon the authorities in Germany to continue to work determinedly against the phenomenon of anti-Semitism."

Anti-semitism is a particularly sensitive issue in Germany, which during World War Two was responsible for the genocide of 6 million Jews in the Nazi Holocaust. Around 200,000 Jews live today in the country of around 83 million people.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said the shooting was anti-Semitic, adding: "According to the federal prosecutors' office, there are enough indications that it was possibly a right-wing extremist motive."

Despite comprehensive de-Nazification in the post-war era, fears of resurgent anti-Semitic hatred have never completely gone away, whether from fringe, far-right neo-Nazis or more recently from Muslim immigrants.

Occasional past attacks have ranged from the scrawling of Nazi swastikas on gravestones to firebombings at synagogues and even several murders. In recent years, cases of assault or verbal abuse, in some cases directed against people wearing traditional Jewish skullcaps, have raised an outcry.

A gunman who denounced Jews opened fire outside a German synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, and killed two people as he livestreamed his attack.

A gunman who denounced Jews opened fire outside a German synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, and killed two people as he livestreamed his attack. Several German media outlets said the perpetrator acted alone on Wednesday in the eastern German city of Halle. He fatally shot a woman outside the synagogue and a man inside a nearby kebab shop. Two other people were seriously injured, but regional broadcaster MDR said their condition was not critical. Police said they had detained one person, reported by German magazines Spiegel and Focus Online to be a 27-year-old German named Stephan B. His full name cannot be published under German privacy laws. Video broadcast on Amazon's gaming subsidiary Twitch showed a young man with a shaven head first reciting a short statement in broken English while sitting in a parked car. "I think the Holocaust never happened," he began, before adding "feminism is the cause of decline in birth rates in the West" and mentioning mass immigration. He concluded: "The root of all these problems is the Jew", before embarking on his shooting spree. A spokeswoman for Amazon said Twitch "worked with urgency to remove this content and will permanently suspend any accounts found to be posting or reposting content of this abhorrent act." In the video, the man drove to the synagogue, found the gates shut and unsuccessfully sought to force the gates open. He then shot several rounds at a woman passerby. "We saw via the camera system at our synagogue that a heavily armed perpetrator with a steel helmet and a gun tried to shoot open our doors," Max Privorozki, Halle's Jewish community chairman, told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper. "We barricaded the doors from inside and waited for the police," he said, adding that about 70 to 80 people were inside the synagogue observing Yom Kippur, known as the Day of Atonement which is marked by fasting and solemn prayer. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported, without citing its source, that when he was detained the suspect had a wound to the neck and that security authorities suspected he had attempted suicide. Chancellor Angela Merkel's government voiced outrage over the attack on Yom Kippur and urged tougher action against anti-Semitic violence. Merkel visited a Berlin synagogue as around 200 people, some holding Israeli flags and candles, held a vigil outside. Merkel's spokesman tweeted: "We must oppose any form of anti-Semitism." Rifat Tekin, who worked at the Halle kebab outlet, said he was making a kebab for two construction workers when a perpetrator threw an explosive at the restaurant before shooting. "He was very calm, like a professional," Tekin told n-tv television. "He didn't say anything. He just kept coming and shooting ... I was hiding behind the salad counter." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent condolences to the victims' families and said in a Twitter post: "The terrorist attack against the community in Halle in Germany on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of our nation, is yet another expression that anti-Semitism is growing in Europe." "I call upon the authorities in Germany to continue to work determinedly against the phenomenon of anti-Semitism." Anti-semitism is a particularly sensitive issue in Germany, which during World War Two was responsible for the genocide of 6 million Jews in the Nazi Holocaust. Around 200,000 Jews live today in the country of around 83 million people. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said the shooting was anti-Semitic, adding: "According to the federal prosecutors' office, there are enough indications that it was possibly a right-wing extremist motive." Despite comprehensive de-Nazification in the post-war era, fears of resurgent anti-Semitic hatred have never completely gone away, whether from fringe, far-right neo-Nazis or more recently from Muslim immigrants. Occasional past attacks have ranged from the scrawling of Nazi swastikas on gravestones to firebombings at synagogues and even several murders. In recent years, cases of assault or verbal abuse, in some cases directed against people wearing traditional Jewish skullcaps, have raised an outcry.

Gunman kills two in livestreamed attack at German synagogue

Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies attacked Kurdish militia in northeast Syria on Wednesday, pounding them with air strikes and artillery before starting a cross-border ground operation that could transform an eight-year-old war.

The assault began days after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-have-taken-most-dangerous-isis-fighters-in-syria-trump-254848">US President Donald Trump</a> pulled American troops out of the way, prompting denunciations from senior members of his own Republican Party who say he abandoned the Syrian Kurds, loyal allies of Washington.

"The Turkish Armed Forces and the Syrian National Army have launched the land operation into the east of the Euphrates river as part of the Operation Peace Spring," the Turkish defence ministry tweeted after nightfall, following a day of pounding the area from the air.

Turkish media reported troops entering Syria at four points, two of them close to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-backed-syrian-forces-halt-counter-islamic-state-operations-254831">Syrian town of Tel Abyad</a> and two close to Ras al Ain further east.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/turkey-deploys-tank-convoy-to-syrian-border-254803/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Turkey told the United Nations Security Council in a letter that its military operation would be "proportionate, measured and responsible." The 15-member body will meet on Thursday to discuss Syria at the request of the five European members, Britain, France, Germany, Belgium and Poland.

The 22-member Arab League said it will hold an emergency meeting on Saturday.

Thousands of people fled Ras al Ain towards Hasaka province, held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Turkish air strikes killed at least five civilians and three fighters from the SDF and wounded dozens of civilians, the SDF said.

Large explosions were heard on the Turkish side of the frontier at Tel Abyad. After dark, the red flare of rockets could be seen fired across the border into Tel Abyad, and flames burned near the town. Explosions from Tel Abyad could be heard eight hours into the bombardment. A witness reached by telephone said civilians were fleeing en masse.

SDF fighters repelled a ground attack by Turkish troops in Tel Abyad, SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali said on Twitter.

The assault on the Kurds - for years Washington's main allies on the ground in Syria - is potentially one of the biggest shifts in years in the Syrian war that has drawn in global and regional powers. The Kurds played a leading role in capturing territory from Islamic State, and now hold the largest swathe of Syria outside of the hands of President Bashar al-Assad.

Russia, Assad's strongest foreign ally, urged dialogue between Damascus and Syria's Kurds.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday US troops started to withdraw after a phone call he had with Trump.

Trump called the Turkish assault a "bad idea" and said he did not endorse it. He said he expected Turkey to protect civilians and religious minorities and prevent a humanitarian crisis.

But one of Trump's closest fellow Republican allies, Senator Lindsey Graham, said failing to support the Kurds would be "the biggest mistake of his presidency" and unveiled a framework for sanctions on Turkey with Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen.

"While the Administration refuses to act against Turkey, I expect strong bipartisan support," Graham said in a statement.

Representative Liz Cheney, a Republican hawk, said: "The US is abandoning our ally the Kurds, who fought ISIS (Islamic State) on the ground and helped protect the US homeland. This decision aids America’s adversaries, Russia, Iran, and Turkey, and paves the way for a resurgence of ISIS."

Trump's decision was denounced by some Kurds as a "stab in the back". The SDF controls much of the territory that was once held by Islamic State and holds thousands of Islamic State fighters and tens of thousands of their relatives in detention.

The US pullout has prompted concerns that some of those prisoners might escape in the chaos of the Turkish incursion.

Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies attacked Kurdish militia in northeast Syria on Wednesday, pounding them with air strikes and artillery before starting a cross-border ground operation that could transform an eight-year-old war.

Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies attacked Kurdish militia in northeast Syria on Wednesday, pounding them with air strikes and artillery before starting a cross-border ground operation that could transform an eight-year-old war. The assault began days after US President Donald Trump pulled American troops out of the way, prompting denunciations from senior members of his own Republican Party who say he abandoned the Syrian Kurds, loyal allies of Washington. "The Turkish Armed Forces and the Syrian National Army have launched the land operation into the east of the Euphrates river as part of the Operation Peace Spring," the Turkish defence ministry tweeted after nightfall, following a day of pounding the area from the air. Turkish media reported troops entering Syria at four points, two of them close to the Syrian town of Tel Abyad and two close to Ras al Ain further east. Watch Video: Turkey told the United Nations Security Council in a letter that its military operation would be "proportionate, measured and responsible." The 15-member body will meet on Thursday to discuss Syria at the request of the five European members, Britain, France, Germany, Belgium and Poland. The 22-member Arab League said it will hold an emergency meeting on Saturday. Thousands of people fled Ras al Ain towards Hasaka province, held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Turkish air strikes killed at least five civilians and three fighters from the SDF and wounded dozens of civilians, the SDF said. Large explosions were heard on the Turkish side of the frontier at Tel Abyad. After dark, the red flare of rockets could be seen fired across the border into Tel Abyad, and flames burned near the town. Explosions from Tel Abyad could be heard eight hours into the bombardment. A witness reached by telephone said civilians were fleeing en masse. SDF fighters repelled a ground attack by Turkish troops in Tel Abyad, SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali said on Twitter. The assault on the Kurds - for years Washington's main allies on the ground in Syria - is potentially one of the biggest shifts in years in the Syrian war that has drawn in global and regional powers. The Kurds played a leading role in capturing territory from Islamic State, and now hold the largest swathe of Syria outside of the hands of President Bashar al-Assad. Russia, Assad's strongest foreign ally, urged dialogue between Damascus and Syria's Kurds. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday US troops started to withdraw after a phone call he had with Trump. Trump called the Turkish assault a "bad idea" and said he did not endorse it. He said he expected Turkey to protect civilians and religious minorities and prevent a humanitarian crisis. But one of Trump's closest fellow Republican allies, Senator Lindsey Graham, said failing to support the Kurds would be "the biggest mistake of his presidency" and unveiled a framework for sanctions on Turkey with Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen. "While the Administration refuses to act against Turkey, I expect strong bipartisan support," Graham said in a statement. Representative Liz Cheney, a Republican hawk, said: "The US is abandoning our ally the Kurds, who fought ISIS (Islamic State) on the ground and helped protect the US homeland. This decision aids America’s adversaries, Russia, Iran, and Turkey, and paves the way for a resurgence of ISIS." Trump's decision was denounced by some Kurds as a "stab in the back". The SDF controls much of the territory that was once held by Islamic State and holds thousands of Islamic State fighters and tens of thousands of their relatives in detention. The US pullout has prompted concerns that some of those prisoners might escape in the chaos of the Turkish incursion.

Turkey launches land operation in northeast Syria; European members request UN meeting

The European Union told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson he must make <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-ready-to-make-major-concession-on-brexit-deal-the-times-newspaper-254717">significant concessions</a> if he wants to strike a last-minute Brexit deal.

As the clock ticks down to the October 31 departure date, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irish-pm-says-very-difficult-to-secure-brexit-deal-by-next-week-254692">Brexit descended into a public</a> row between London and Brussels this week as both sides position for another delay followed by an election in Britain or an acrimonious divorce.

After a Downing Street source said a Brexit deal was essentially impossible because German Chancellor Angela Merkel had made unacceptable demands, the EU accused Johnson of playing a "stupid blame game".

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said striking a Brexit deal ahead of October 31 would be "very difficult" and the bloc could not accept Johnson's proposals. He added that a deal was "still possible."

"To put things frankly, we are not really in a position to be able to find agreement with the UK," Barnier told the European Parliament. He said he would be available 24x7 in the coming days to try to strike a deal.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he was working for a Brexit deal, which he also said was still possible.

"I don't accept this blame game that started in London. Personally, I don't exclude a deal," Juncker told the European Parliament's plenary session.

"The risk of a no-deal remains real and basically is going to come down to a decision by the UK government, but will never be the choice - the preferred option - of the European Union."

The European Union's two most powerful leaders, Germany's Merkel and France's Emmanuel Macron, will meet at the Elysee Palace this Sunday ahead of an October 17-18 EU summit, Macron's office said.

"I'm still cautiously, cautiously optimistic," Johnson said.

EU diplomats, though, are sceptical about the chances of a deal. Most expect Johnson to be forced to accept a delay to Brexit - a step that could ultimately lead to either a disorderly exit or the reversal of the entire Brexit endeavour.

"There will be no rabbit-out-of-the-hat solutions," one EU official said. "There will be more talks and more political contacts. But, for the time being, there is no breakthrough to be reported."

Johnson has repeatedly cast the EU summit next week as the last chance for the EU to strike a deal or face the disruption of a no-deal Brexit that would divide the West, threaten the unity of the United Kingdom and roil financial markets.

A week ago, he proposed a possible solution to ensure the border between the British-ruled province of Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland does not become a backdoor into the EU's single market and customs union.

Short of an last-minute breakthrough, Johnson will have to decide whether to accept another delay or to go for a no-deal Brexit and get around a law demanding he extend.

In the fevered atmosphere surrounding Brexit where newspaper reports and contradictory tweets can send sterling into gyrations, EU officials denied a report in The Times that the bloc was preparing a major concession to Britain to secure a deal.

"Unfortunately, no bold new offer is coming from the EU side at this stage," an EU official said.

Britain's Brexit minister, Steve Barclay, was due to have lunch with EU chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, on Thursday.

Behind the rhetoric, the Brexit finale will ultimately be decided by Merkel, Macron, Johnson, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar - all of whom say they want an orderly exit.

Johnson and Varadkar are due to meet on Thursday.

With chances of a deal receding, focus was turning back to British domestic politics, where Johnson is under intense pressure from opponents to delay Brexit.

Anti-Brexit campaigners claimed victory after Scotland's highest court decided on Wednesday to wait before ruling whether to force Johnson to seek a delay to Britain's EU divorce date if he has not struck a deal in the next 10 days.

The European Union told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson he must make significant concessions if he wants to strike a last-minute Brexit deal. As the clock ticks down to the October 31 departure date, Brexit descended into a public row between London and Brussels this week as both sides position for another delay followed by an election in Britain or an acrimonious divorce.

The European Union told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson he must make significant concessions if he wants to strike a last-minute Brexit deal. As the clock ticks down to the October 31 departure date, Brexit descended into a public row between London and Brussels this week as both sides position for another delay followed by an election in Britain or an acrimonious divorce. After a Downing Street source said a Brexit deal was essentially impossible because German Chancellor Angela Merkel had made unacceptable demands, the EU accused Johnson of playing a "stupid blame game". The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said striking a Brexit deal ahead of October 31 would be "very difficult" and the bloc could not accept Johnson's proposals. He added that a deal was "still possible." "To put things frankly, we are not really in a position to be able to find agreement with the UK," Barnier told the European Parliament. He said he would be available 24x7 in the coming days to try to strike a deal. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he was working for a Brexit deal, which he also said was still possible. "I don't accept this blame game that started in London. Personally, I don't exclude a deal," Juncker told the European Parliament's plenary session. "The risk of a no-deal remains real and basically is going to come down to a decision by the UK government, but will never be the choice - the preferred option - of the European Union." The European Union's two most powerful leaders, Germany's Merkel and France's Emmanuel Macron, will meet at the Elysee Palace this Sunday ahead of an October 17-18 EU summit, Macron's office said. "I'm still cautiously, cautiously optimistic," Johnson said. EU diplomats, though, are sceptical about the chances of a deal. Most expect Johnson to be forced to accept a delay to Brexit - a step that could ultimately lead to either a disorderly exit or the reversal of the entire Brexit endeavour. "There will be no rabbit-out-of-the-hat solutions," one EU official said. "There will be more talks and more political contacts. But, for the time being, there is no breakthrough to be reported." Johnson has repeatedly cast the EU summit next week as the last chance for the EU to strike a deal or face the disruption of a no-deal Brexit that would divide the West, threaten the unity of the United Kingdom and roil financial markets. A week ago, he proposed a possible solution to ensure the border between the British-ruled province of Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland does not become a backdoor into the EU's single market and customs union. Short of an last-minute breakthrough, Johnson will have to decide whether to accept another delay or to go for a no-deal Brexit and get around a law demanding he extend. In the fevered atmosphere surrounding Brexit where newspaper reports and contradictory tweets can send sterling into gyrations, EU officials denied a report in The Times that the bloc was preparing a major concession to Britain to secure a deal. "Unfortunately, no bold new offer is coming from the EU side at this stage," an EU official said. Britain's Brexit minister, Steve Barclay, was due to have lunch with EU chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, on Thursday. Behind the rhetoric, the Brexit finale will ultimately be decided by Merkel, Macron, Johnson, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar - all of whom say they want an orderly exit. Johnson and Varadkar are due to meet on Thursday. With chances of a deal receding, focus was turning back to British domestic politics, where Johnson is under intense pressure from opponents to delay Brexit. Anti-Brexit campaigners claimed victory after Scotland's highest court decided on Wednesday to wait before ruling whether to force Johnson to seek a delay to Britain's EU divorce date if he has not struck a deal in the next 10 days.

Make significant concessions if you want Brexit deal: EU to British PM Johnson

How Rafale's strike capability can tilt strategic balance for IAF

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is ready to accept the consequences for defending freedom of speech, even if supporting those values means <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-tv-drops-nba-exhibition-games-escalating-pressure-amid-tweet-uproar-254463">losing the riches that Chinese business partnerships</a> have brought the league.

Forty years after the Washington Bullets played exhibition games in Beijing and Shanghai as the first NBA club to visit China, the league and its lucrative relationship with the nation of 1.4 billion people faces its toughest test.

It's only the latest battle over values championed by Silver, the 57-year-old American who replaced David Stern as the NBA's boss in February 2014. He has banned an owner for life for racist remarks and moved an NBA All-Star Game over a law discriminating against the gay and transgender communities.

A socially conscious league whose biggest star players have criticized US President Donald Trump and shunned ceremonial White House visits,&nbsp;LeBron James famously calling Trump a "bum" in a 2017 tweet,&nbsp;was thrust into controversy again Friday when Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted: "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-hong-kong-protests-biggest-political-crisis-in-xi-jinpings-career-254353">Hong Kong has been rocked by protests</a> since June that were ignited by a now-scrapped plan to allow extraditions of criminal suspects to the mainland but snowballed into a movement calling for more democratic freedoms and police accountability.

Morey's tweet shattered some China sponsorships for the Rockets, retired Chinese star Yao Ming's former club. Chinese television dropped planned telecasts of NBA pre-season games in China.

Early NBA statements on the issue drew fire from US critics as overly capitulating, setting the stage for Silver to settle matters in Tokyo.

"The long-held values of the NBA are to support freedom of expression, and certainly freedom of expression by members of the NBA community," Silver said.

"I understand there are consequences from that exercise of, in essence, his freedom of speech. We will have to live with those consequences.

"It's my hope that for our Chinese fans and our partners in China, they will see those remarks in the context of now a three-decade, if not longer, relationship."

The same week that American television show "South Park" parodied US companies who cave into Chinese censorship for commercial gain, the NBA was challenged to put its values over its bottom line and stand up to financial backers.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is ready to accept the consequences for defending freedom of speech, even if supporting those values means losing the riches that Chinese business partnerships have brought the league.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is ready to accept the consequences for defending freedom of speech, even if supporting those values means losing the riches that Chinese business partnerships have brought the league. Forty years after the Washington Bullets played exhibition games in Beijing and Shanghai as the first NBA club to visit China, the league and its lucrative relationship with the nation of 1.4 billion people faces its toughest test. It's only the latest battle over values championed by Silver, the 57-year-old American who replaced David Stern as the NBA's boss in February 2014. He has banned an owner for life for racist remarks and moved an NBA All-Star Game over a law discriminating against the gay and transgender communities. A socially conscious league whose biggest star players have criticized US President Donald Trump and shunned ceremonial White House visits, LeBron James famously calling Trump a "bum" in a 2017 tweet, was thrust into controversy again Friday when Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted: "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong." Hong Kong has been rocked by protests since June that were ignited by a now-scrapped plan to allow extraditions of criminal suspects to the mainland but snowballed into a movement calling for more democratic freedoms and police accountability. Morey's tweet shattered some China sponsorships for the Rockets, retired Chinese star Yao Ming's former club. Chinese television dropped planned telecasts of NBA pre-season games in China. Early NBA statements on the issue drew fire from US critics as overly capitulating, setting the stage for Silver to settle matters in Tokyo. "The long-held values of the NBA are to support freedom of expression, and certainly freedom of expression by members of the NBA community," Silver said. "I understand there are consequences from that exercise of, in essence, his freedom of speech. We will have to live with those consequences. "It's my hope that for our Chinese fans and our partners in China, they will see those remarks in the context of now a three-decade, if not longer, relationship." The same week that American television show "South Park" parodied US companies who cave into Chinese censorship for commercial gain, the NBA was challenged to put its values over its bottom line and stand up to financial backers.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver ready to 'live with consequences' over China row

Serie A club&nbsp;Lazio&nbsp;on Tuesday vowed they would try to&nbsp;identify&nbsp;and then&nbsp;take&nbsp;action&nbsp;against&nbsp;fans&nbsp;responsible for&nbsp;racist&nbsp;chants&nbsp;against&nbsp;Rennes in their Europa League match last week.

Lazio&nbsp;has been charged by UEFA&nbsp;over&nbsp;alleged&nbsp;racist&nbsp;behaviour which could result in the Italian club having sections of their stadium closed.

"Lazio&nbsp;will defend its reputation and tradition, the club announces that it has immediately activated the initiatives aimed at identifying those responsible and will rigorously apply the code of ethics to remove those responsible from the stadium," the club said in a statement.&nbsp;

Lazio&nbsp;added that the club would "join any legal&nbsp;action&nbsp;taken&nbsp;against&nbsp;those who, following the investigation with police, are found to be responsible".

Lazio&nbsp;fans&nbsp;also made Fascist salutes during the 2-1 home win&nbsp;over&nbsp;Rennes.

The Serie A played&nbsp;against&nbsp;Rennes with a stand closed as punishment for fascist salutes by&nbsp;fans&nbsp;in a game with Sevilla last season.

UEFA will hand down their verdict on October 17.

Serie A club Lazio on Tuesday vowed they would try to identify and then take action against fans responsible for racist chants against Rennes in their Europa League match last week.

Serie A club Lazio on Tuesday vowed they would try to identify and then take action against fans responsible for racist chants against Rennes in their Europa League match last week. Lazio has been charged by UEFA over alleged racist behaviour which could result in the Italian club having sections of their stadium closed. "Lazio will defend its reputation and tradition, the club announces that it has immediately activated the initiatives aimed at identifying those responsible and will rigorously apply the code of ethics to remove those responsible from the stadium," the club said in a statement. Lazio added that the club would "join any legal action taken against those who, following the investigation with police, are found to be responsible". Lazio fans also made Fascist salutes during the 2-1 home win over Rennes. The Serie A played against Rennes with a stand closed as punishment for fascist salutes by fans in a game with Sevilla last season. UEFA will hand down their verdict on October 17.

Lazio vow to identify, take action against fans over racist chants

American&nbsp;forward&nbsp;Jozy&nbsp;Altidore&nbsp;will miss the first two&nbsp;matches&nbsp;of the CONCACAF&nbsp;Nations&nbsp;League&nbsp;after suffering an injury during the Major&nbsp;League&nbsp;Soccer regular-season finale, the US&nbsp;men's national team said on Tuesday.

Altidore&nbsp;was substituted in Toronto FC's match against Columbus&nbsp;Crew on Sunday in the 70th minute after landing awkwardly following a challenge from Jonathan Mensah.

While the extent of the injury is unknown, the US&nbsp;team said in a statement that&nbsp;Altidore&nbsp;would not play on Friday in Washington against Cuba or on Oct. 15 in Toronto against Canada.

US&nbsp;Soccer also confirmed that a replacement would not be called up.

The competition, which is similar to that started by UEFA in 2018 with the aim of cutting down on meaningless friendlies, is part of a broad makeover by a confederation seeking to win back the confidence of fans after it was ravaged by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ex-uefa-chief-michel-platini-arrested-in-2022-qatar-world-cup-probe-228291">FIFA corruption scandal</a>.

The group&nbsp;matches&nbsp;will wrap up in six weeks with the finals taking place in June.

American forward Jozy Altidore will miss the first two matches of the CONCACAF Nations League after suffering an injury during the Major League Soccer regular-season finale, the US men's national team said on Tuesday.

American forward Jozy Altidore will miss the first two matches of the CONCACAF Nations League after suffering an injury during the Major League Soccer regular-season finale, the US men's national team said on Tuesday. Altidore was substituted in Toronto FC's match against Columbus Crew on Sunday in the 70th minute after landing awkwardly following a challenge from Jonathan Mensah. While the extent of the injury is unknown, the US team said in a statement that Altidore would not play on Friday in Washington against Cuba or on Oct. 15 in Toronto against Canada. US Soccer also confirmed that a replacement would not be called up. The competition, which is similar to that started by UEFA in 2018 with the aim of cutting down on meaningless friendlies, is part of a broad makeover by a confederation seeking to win back the confidence of fans after it was ravaged by the FIFA corruption scandal. The group matches will wrap up in six weeks with the finals taking place in June.

US forward Altidore ruled out of Nations League

Former world number one Andy&nbsp;Murray&nbsp;told Fabio&nbsp;Fognini&nbsp;to "shut up" before losing to the fiery Italian 7-6(4) 2-6 7-6(2) in an ill-tempered second-round clash at the&nbsp;Shanghai&nbsp;Masters on Tuesday.

Murray, 32, lost a tetchy battle with world number 12 in which the Briton twice failed to serve out the match.

He confronted&nbsp;Fognini&nbsp;at the net in a lengthy exchange in which he accused the Italian of making a noise to put him off when he was playing a shot.

Three-times Grand Slam champion&nbsp;Murray, who underwent a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/andy-murray-hopes-to-be-fit-enough-by-next-year-to-play-roger-federer-rafael-nadal-249345">career-saving hip resurfacing procedure</a> in January, showed some encouraging signs as he continued his injury comeback before losing in just over three hours.

"There is a lot of things that I need to get better at, and I can do much better," said&nbsp;Murray.

"I will go away and I'll work on those things and be in a better position next time I play against him."

Roger Federer eased past Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-2 7-6(5) to reach the last-16, avenging a&nbsp;defeat&nbsp;to the Spaniard in their last meeting at the same stage of the tournament in 2015.

Second seed Federer, who received a first-round bye, broke Ramos-Vinolas twice in the opening set and sailed through his service games without facing a breakpoint in the match.

Ramos-Vinolas, who upset Federer four years ago to snap a 15-match losing streak against top-10 players, recovered well to force a second-set tiebreak but his Swiss opponent came back from 4-1 down to seal victory.

"I focussed because when you travel around the globe, you're missing a bit of energy. Those first few games or matches can be sometimes a bit tricky," Federer said.

"Serve was solid. I was hitting my spots and really was never in trouble there. But of course all of a sudden, being in a breaker, calls out for different play sometimes and different momentum.

"He had his chances, but it was a nice comeback for me, and overall."

Federer, a twice&nbsp;Shanghai&nbsp;champion, next meets Belgian David Goffin or Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin for a quarter-final spot.

Former world number one Andy Murray told Fabio Fognini to "shut up" before losing to the fiery Italian 7-6(4) 2-6 7-6(2) in an ill-tempered second-round clash at the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday.

Former world number one Andy Murray told Fabio Fognini to "shut up" before losing to the fiery Italian 7-6(4) 2-6 7-6(2) in an ill-tempered second-round clash at the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday. Murray, 32, lost a tetchy battle with world number 12 in which the Briton twice failed to serve out the match. He confronted Fognini at the net in a lengthy exchange in which he accused the Italian of making a noise to put him off when he was playing a shot. Three-times Grand Slam champion Murray, who underwent a career-saving hip resurfacing procedure in January, showed some encouraging signs as he continued his injury comeback before losing in just over three hours. "There is a lot of things that I need to get better at, and I can do much better," said Murray. "I will go away and I'll work on those things and be in a better position next time I play against him." Roger Federer eased past Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-2 7-6(5) to reach the last-16, avenging a defeat to the Spaniard in their last meeting at the same stage of the tournament in 2015. Second seed Federer, who received a first-round bye, broke Ramos-Vinolas twice in the opening set and sailed through his service games without facing a breakpoint in the match. Ramos-Vinolas, who upset Federer four years ago to snap a 15-match losing streak against top-10 players, recovered well to force a second-set tiebreak but his Swiss opponent came back from 4-1 down to seal victory. "I focussed because when you travel around the globe, you're missing a bit of energy. Those first few games or matches can be sometimes a bit tricky," Federer said. "Serve was solid. I was hitting my spots and really was never in trouble there. But of course all of a sudden, being in a breaker, calls out for different play sometimes and different momentum. "He had his chances, but it was a nice comeback for me, and overall." Federer, a twice Shanghai champion, next meets Belgian David Goffin or Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin for a quarter-final spot.

Murray fumes at Fognini, loses in Shanghai Masters

France striker Kylian&nbsp;Mbappe&nbsp;has been&nbsp;ruled&nbsp;out&nbsp;of their&nbsp;Euro&nbsp;2020&nbsp;qualifiers&nbsp;against Iceland and Turkey through injury, the French football federation said on Tuesday.

Paris St Germain's&nbsp;Mbappe, who has been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/psg-lose-mbappe-for-a-month-with-hamstring-injury-cavani-out-for-three-weeks-245837">struggling with a recurring thigh problem</a>, has been replaced in the squad by Borussia Moenchengladbach forward Alassane Plea.

France travel to Iceland in Group H on Friday before hosting Turkey at the Stade de France on Monday.

The world champions are second in Group H on 15 points, behind Turkey by virtue of their defeat in Konya last June, while Iceland is third with 12 points after six matches.

France striker Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out of their Euro 2020 qualifiers against Iceland and Turkey through injury, the French football federation said on Tuesday.

France striker Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out of their Euro 2020 qualifiers against Iceland and Turkey through injury, the French football federation said on Tuesday. Paris St Germain's Mbappe, who has been struggling with a recurring thigh problem, has been replaced in the squad by Borussia Moenchengladbach forward Alassane Plea. France travel to Iceland in Group H on Friday before hosting Turkey at the Stade de France on Monday. The world champions are second in Group H on 15 points, behind Turkey by virtue of their defeat in Konya last June, while Iceland is third with 12 points after six matches.

Euro 2020 qualifiers: Mbappe ruled out against Iceland, Turkey due to injury

England&nbsp;has&nbsp;called&nbsp;up&nbsp;Sheffield United goalkeeper&nbsp;Dean&nbsp;Henderson&nbsp;for the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time following Tom&nbsp;Heaton's withdrawal through injury for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, the FA said on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old&nbsp;Henderson, on loan at Sheffield United from Manchester United, will link&nbsp;up&nbsp;with Gareth Southgate’s 24-man squad on Wednesday after&nbsp;Heaton&nbsp;returned to Aston Villa after suffering the injury in their win at Norwich City last weekend.

Henderson&nbsp;was criticised by his club manager Chris Wilder after gifting Premier League leaders Liverpool the only goal in a 1-0 win at Bramall Lane on Sept. 28, watched by Southgate, but responded with a clean sheet in the draw at Watford on Saturday.

Henderson, who has featured for&nbsp;England&nbsp;from under-16 through to under-21 level, will travel to the Czech Republic and Bulgaria with goalkeepers Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope for the Group&nbsp;A qualifiers on Friday and Monday respectively.

England&nbsp;are top of the section with a perfect <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harry-kane-treble-fires-england-in-bulgaria-rout-248333">12 points from four matches</a> and will qualify for next year's finals with a win over the second-placed Czechs, who have nine points from five games. Bulgaria are bottom of the group&nbsp;with two from five.

England has called up Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson for the first time following Tom Heaton's withdrawal through injury for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, the FA said on Tuesday.

England has called up Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson for the first time following Tom Heaton's withdrawal through injury for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, the FA said on Tuesday. The 22-year-old Henderson, on loan at Sheffield United from Manchester United, will link up with Gareth Southgate’s 24-man squad on Wednesday after Heaton returned to Aston Villa after suffering the injury in their win at Norwich City last weekend. Henderson was criticised by his club manager Chris Wilder after gifting Premier League leaders Liverpool the only goal in a 1-0 win at Bramall Lane on Sept. 28, watched by Southgate, but responded with a clean sheet in the draw at Watford on Saturday. Henderson, who has featured for England from under-16 through to under-21 level, will travel to the Czech Republic and Bulgaria with goalkeepers Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope for the Group A qualifiers on Friday and Monday respectively. England are top of the section with a perfect 12 points from four matches and will qualify for next year's finals with a win over the second-placed Czechs, who have nine points from five games. Bulgaria are bottom of the group with two from five.

Euro 2020 qualifiers: England call keeper Henderson as Heaton withdraws

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