While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Aug 22 edition

An man is carried away on a stretcher from the train station of Arras, northern France, after being injured when a gunman opened fire on a train travelling from Amsterdam to Paris. AFP

Gunman opens fire in 'terrorist attack' on Amsterdam-Paris train

A heavily-armed man opened fire in a "terrorist attack" on a high-speed train travelling from Amsterdam to Paris on Friday, injuring at least two people before being overpowered by two American passengers, reported to be US marines.

The 26-year-old Moroccan national, who was known to security services, came out of the toilet brandishing the gun and opened fire, according to media reports.

Fortunately, three US Marines were nearby and overpowered him before he could massacre passengers.

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US stocks plunge over 3 per cent in China-driven rout

US share prices plunged more than 3 per cent on Friday as China's economic problems drove a major selloff on Wall Street for a second day.

In its worst single session in nearly four years, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost more than 500 points, or 3.12 per cent, while the broader S&P 500 gave up 3.19 per cent and the Nasdaq Composite shed 3.52 per cent.

The rout followed similar declines in Asian and European markets amid rising fears that China's slowdown will stall growth worldwide and even hit the relatively strong US economy.

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Clashes as Macedonia becomes latest migrant crisis flashpoint

Macedonian riot police on Friday fired stun grenades to drive back thousands of mostly Syrian refugees stuck in no-man's land between Greece and Macedonia, the latest flashpoint in Europe's escalating migrant crisis.

At least eight people were hurt near the Greek border village of Edomeni as the police in riot gear beat the migrants back with truncheons and threw the stun grenades, devices that produce a blinding flash of light and a huge noise to disorient their targets.

The grenades set off clouds of smoke, sending panicked refugees running for cover. Some were injured as they fell to the ground; one youth's face was covered in blood.

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Bitten by shark, US girl goes back in water to save friend

A 10-year-old American girl who was bitten on the leg by a shark at a Florida beach waded back into the surf to save a younger friend, relatives said.

Kaley Szarmack is recovering in a hospital after receiving 90 stitches following the shark attack on Wednesday in shallow water off the city of Jacksonville, her father told WJXT radio.

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Americans clamour for Jon Stewart to host presidential debate

Just two weeks after Jon Stewart stepped away from television, Americans are clamouring to get him back as moderator of one of the presidential candidates debates.

As of midday Friday, more than 159,000 people had signed a petition for the comedian to be a debate host because he has played "an influential and iconic role in covering US politics and media."

Stewart, who ended his 16 year-run on The Daily Show on Aug 6, is more than qualified for the job, the petition said, noting that he interviewed 15 heads of state and 22 US Cabinet members "while establishing himself as the most trusted person in (satirical) news."

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