World

Sarah Mullally Appointed First Woman to Lead Church of England
Sarah Mullally Appointed First Woman to Lead Church of England

Sarah Mullally was on Friday named the new Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to lead the Church of England -- which can trace its origins to the Roman empire -- and the global Anglican community. Her nomination by a committee tasked with finding a successor to Justin Welby, who stepped down earlier this year over an abuse ...

Russia-Linked Tanker Stopped by France Resumes Voyage
Russia-Linked Tanker Stopped by France Resumes Voyage

A tanker from Russia's "shadow fleet" detained by the French navy was heading towards the Suez Canal Friday with its captain back on board, according to data from maritime websites and a source close to the case. The Boracay, blacklisted by the European Union for being part of Russia's sanctions-busting "shadow fleet" of ageing oil tankers, has ...

Virtual Jesus? People of Faith Divided as AI Enters Religion
Virtual Jesus? People of Faith Divided as AI Enters Religion

Artificial intelligence, the technology upending nearly every corner of society, is creeping into religion, serving up virtual Jesus and automated sermons -- a change drawing mixed reviews from the faithful. Religious chatbots and other faith-based digital tools are growing in number, offering counsel, comfort and spiritual guidance during an age ...

Munich Airport Closure 'Wake-up Call' Over Drone Danger
Munich Airport Closure 'Wake-up Call' Over Drone Danger

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Friday that the temporary closure of Munich airport after drone sightings was a "wake-up call" about the threat from drones, which have caused a string of similar aviation disruptions across Europe. Airports in Denmark, Norway and Poland have recently suspended flights due to unidentified ...

Hamas Official says Group Still Needs Time to Study Trump's Gaza Plan
Hamas Official says Group Still Needs Time to Study Trump's Gaza Plan

A Hamas official told AFP on Friday that the group still needed time to study a plan for Gaza put forward by US President Donald Trump and backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Hamas is still continuing consultations regarding Trump's plan... and has informed mediators that the consultations are ongoing and need some time," the ...

Trump Piles Pain on Democrats Over Us Government Shutdown
Trump Piles Pain on Democrats Over Us Government Shutdown

Donald Trump signaled Thursday that he plans to follow through on his threat for mass layoffs of US federal workers as he ratcheted pressure on Democrats to back moves to end the government shutdown. The Republican president announced he would meet budget chief Russell Vought "to determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which ...

US Fighter Jets Flew Close to Venezuela's Shores: Defense Minister
US Fighter Jets Flew Close to Venezuela's Shores: Defense Minister

Venezuela said Thursday that it had detected five US fighter jets flying close to its shores, adding to tensions with Washington, which has ordered a major naval build-up in the region. In a TV address, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said that Venezuela's air defenses and the tracking systems of the country's biggest airport "detected more ...

France FM Says Hamas Must Accept 'Surrender' Under Trump Gaza Plan
France FM Says Hamas Must Accept 'Surrender' Under Trump Gaza Plan

France's top diplomat said Thursday that Hamas had lost its fight in Gaza and must accept "surrender" under a plan put forward by US President Donald Trump. The Palestinian militant group is currently weighing its response to the Trump plan, which has been publicly endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Hamas bears a very heavy ...

Putin Vows 'Significant' Response to 'Europe's Militarisation'
Putin Vows 'Significant' Response to 'Europe's Militarisation'

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday promised a "significant" response to "Europe's militarisation", as he addressed a foreign policy forum in southern Russia. "We are closely monitoring the rising militarisation of Europe," he told the audience, adding: "Retaliatory measures by Russia will not take long. The response to such threats will ...

European Military Chiefs to Meet Over Russia Shadow Fleet: Macron
European Military Chiefs to Meet Over Russia Shadow Fleet: Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that military chiefs of countries in the European-led "coalition of the willing" supporting Ukraine will hold talks within days on how to disrupt Russia's sanction-busting shadow fleet. "In the coming days, our chiefs of staff, in coordination with NATO, within the framework of the coalition of ...

EU Eyes Building 'Drone Wall': Question is, What is It?
SpotlightEU Eyes Building 'Drone Wall': Question is, What is It?

European Union leaders are discussing setting up a "drone wall" of defences after high-profile air incursions by Russia. But the plan appears to mean different things to different countries, and not everyone seems entirely convinced. Here's where we stand: Eastern shield?  The first call for the project came last month from EU chief Ursula ...