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Chinese leader Xi Jinping presided over a major military parade Sunday, hours after US President Donald Trump renewed his criticism over Beijing's failure to rein in North Korea. The parade, long anticipated but only officially announced Saturday, was part of the celebrations of the 90th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). It was also viewed as a potent reminder of Xi's firm grip on power ahead of a key Communist Party meeting this fall, where a major leadership reshuffle is expected. Chinese troops march in formation on Sunday. Unlike previous public displays of its growing military might, China held Sunday's event at the remote Zhurihe military base in Inner Mongolia -- instead of in the center of Beijing. A Defense Ministry spokesman said Zhurihe -- Asia's largest military training center in the middle of a desert and complete with life-size mockup targets such as Taiwan's presidential palace -- was selected to highlig...

Kenyan police say they have shot dead an attacker who forced his way into the rural home of Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto, ending a siege that lasted several hours. Mr Ruto and his family were not at the compound near the western city of Eldoret at the time. The man had entered the residence after injuring a police guard with a machete and stealing his gun, police said. The incident comes days before Kenya holds presidential elections. Police chief Joseph Boinnet told local media the situation was now "under control". "He has been shot dead and the firearm recovered. There is no threat now because he was the only one." Image copyright EPA Image caption Mr Ruto had left his home hours before the attack There were no further details about the attack. Earlier reports suggested a number of gunmen had entered Mr Ruto's home, but police later clarified there was only one attacker. CNN and BBC targeted by Kenya fake news Eight things abo...

Poland protests against European Commission's interference saying EU's fears about its court reform are 'unfounded'. Polish government has vowed to push ahead with all the reforms despite the protests [Agencja Gazeta/Reuters] The EU has announced it had launched legal action against Poland's right-wing government over a new law that allows the justice minister to unilaterally replace the chief justices of common courts. The move came on Saturday, a day after Poland published the law following the approval by the country's President Andrzej Duda despite mass protests staged in the country against the legislation. "The European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Poland by sending a letter of formal notice," the EU's powerful executive said. The EU statement said Warsaw had one month to reply to the Commission letter, which "raises concerns that [...] the independence of Polish courts will be undermined". The a...

For President Donald Trump, the rigid contours of White House management structures — so engrained they're reflected in the building's blueprints — have never meant much. An office next to Trump may project access, but as the litany of aides and friends with a direct line to the President have demonstrated, it's not really the office that matters anymore. As he assumes his new role, many are expecting incoming chief of staff John Kelly to find his Marine's sense of hierarchy and order tested by his freewheeling, capricious boss. "That's going to be the first challenge that faces General Kelly, going into the White House: whether he is going to be the chief of staff or whether he is going to be one of several power centers within the White House, which is I think a prescription for the kind of chaos that we've seen over these last six months," said Leon Panetta, who served as a White House chief of staff under President Bill Clinton. Panetta also ...

Image copyright GETTY IMAGES Image caption Mobile phones have contributed to thousands of injuries in the US since 2000 Honolulu has become the first major US city to ban pedestrians from looking at mobile phones, texting or using digital devices while crossing the road. The measure, which will take effect in Hawaii's largest city in October, is aimed at reducing injuries and deaths from "distracted walking". First offenders caught gazing at devices, including laptops and digital cameras, face $15-$35 (£11-£26) fines. Urgent calls to the emergency services are exempt from the ban. The bill , also known as the Distracted Walking Law, was signed off by the mayor of Honolulu, Kirk Caldwell, on Thursday after the city council approved the measure by a vote of 7-2. The new legislation, which will come into effect on 25 October, states that "no pedestrian shall cross a street or highway while viewing a mobile electronic device". Repeat offenders face fine...

Image copyright GETTY IMAGES Image caption Police said the suspected knife attacker was cornered and overpowered by members of the public The man who killed one person and injured six in a supermarket knife attack in Hamburg was a "known Islamist", police say. "He was known as an Islamist but not a jihadist," police spokesman Andy Grote said, noting that the suspect also suffered from "psychological" issues. The man, a failed asylum seeker born in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), attacked customers at random on Friday. Police said he acted alone and he was overpowered by passers-by. The 26-year-old man, identified as Ahmad A, is a Palestinian from the UAE who is registered on an Islamist database, Mr Grote said on Saturday. The attacker, who arrived in Germany in 2015 but could not be deported because he had no identification papers, was also suffering from mental health problems, officials said. Police have carried out a search of the shelter ...