ATHENS: Efforts by Greece’s leftist government to overhaul historically close links between the state and the powerful Orthodox Church has ended in deadlock, the head of the Church of Greece said Friday. Archbishop Ieronymos said the Holy Synod, governing body of the Church of Greece, had this week “unanimously” decided
PARIS: Eden Hazard ensured Belgium kicked off their qualifying campaign for Euro 2020 in style on Thursday with a brace in a home victory over Russia, while a Memphis Depay-inspired Netherlands romped to a 4-0 win over Belarus. World Cup semi-finalists Belgium earned a battling 3-1 win over Russia in
MILAN: At 36, Fabio Quagliarella has put his years of torment at the hands of a stalker behind him as he prepares to line up for Italy over eight years after his last cap thanks to the best season of his career in Serie A, where he is the top
MOSUL (Iraq): Almost 100 people, mostly women and children, died Thursday as a ferry packed with families celebrating Kurdish New Year sank in a swollen river in the former jihadist stronghold of Mosul, in Iraq’s worst accident in years. There was an outpouring of grief among residents who only this
DAMASCUS: The Syrian government yesterday condemned US President Donald Trump’s pledge to recognise Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, saying it flies in the face of international law. Trump on Thursday called the Golan – a strategic area seized from Syria in 1967 and annexed in a move never recognised
SEOUL: K-pop star Jung Joon-young has been arrested, hours after he apologised for filming and distributing illicit sex videos, in a scandal that has rocked South Korea’s entertainment industry. The singer-songwriter last week admitted to filming himself having sex and sharing the footage without his partners’ consent. The videos of
YANCHENG (China): Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered local governments yesterday to prevent any more industrial disasters after a chemical plant blast left 47 people dead, injured hundreds and flattened an industrial park in the latest such catastrophe to hit the country. Thursday’s explosion in the eastern city of Yancheng, Jiangsu
LONDON: Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has said she believes fans should still feel confident to travel to France for the second leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final despite the concerning scenes that marred their 2-0 first-leg win at home to Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday. Police discovered a cache of
MIAMI: Venus Williams displayed the mental strength that has made her a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion on Thursday, holding off a spirited challenge by Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic at the WTA Miami Open. The 38-year-old American, a quarter-finalist at Indian Wells last week, turned back Jakupovic 7-5, 6-3 in 78
CHRISTCHURCH (New Zealand): The Muslim call to prayer rang out across New Zealand yesterday followed by two minutes of nationwide silence to mark a week since a white supremacist gunned down 50 people at two mosques in the city of Christchurch. As the call was broadcast around the country, thousands