London: New archbishop of Canterbury named

Rowan Williams, an outspoken critic of U.S. foreign policy and American corporations, was chosen Tuesday to be the next archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Williams’ ascension, to succeed George Carey, will add a prestigious voice to the swelling chorus of America’s critics in Europe. He’s called the U.S.-led war on terrorism “morally tainted,” charging that U.S. forces used “random killing” of Afghan civilians “as a matter of military policy.”

As spiritual leader, the archbishop of Canterbury is heard by leaders of the Anglican faith in other countries, but he doesn’t set policy for any church outside England and Wales. The Anglican Communion includes the Church of England and the Episcopal Church. The 2.3 million U.S. Episcopalians aren’t bound by his decisions.

Williams, of Wales, will be the first non-Englishman in the post in 300 years

Australia: Expert says giant squid is not a new species

A giant squid found washed up on an Australian beach was not a new species as first thought but a damaged specimen, a scientist said Tuesday.

The 550-pound creature was found dead Saturday on a beach in Hobart in Tasmania state. It had lost its two tentacles but would have been about 50 feet long.

Experts at the Tasmanian Museum were studying long, thin flaps of muscle attached to each of its eight arms like keels that they believed were unique to the squid.

But Steve O’Shea, a squid specialist with New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, said all giant squid had the keels, which aid in swimming.

“It definitely isn’t a new species,” said O’Shea, who had studied photos of the squid sent by Australian scientists. “The specimen has obviously been damaged … and the membranes have come away from the arms.”

Giant squid live on the edge of continental shelves, about 1,600 feet below the ocean’s surface.

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Mass grave thought to hold Muslim victims

Forensic experts discovered a mass grave in northeastern Bosnia that may contain up to 100 bodies of Muslims killed at the end of the country’s 1992-95 war, officials said Tuesday.

Murat Hurtic, a member of the Muslim Commission for Missing Persons, said the mass grave was found Monday near the Serb-held village of Kamenica, 45 miles northeast of Sarajevo.

“We believe they were Muslims killed in Srebrenica in 1995,” Hurtic said.

Srebrenica was declared a U.N. “safe haven” during the end of Bosnia’s war, and thousands of Muslims flocked there to escape Serb attacks. But Bosnian Serb troops later overran the town, rounding up and executing men and boys.

Denmark: World’s Santas gather for annual convention

More than 100 Santa Clauses, Mrs. Clauses and elves from around the world gathered in an amusement park near Copenhagen to discuss topics ranging from the size of presents to reindeer food.

It was the 39th straight year Santas from Europe, South America, Asia and Africa assembled for the three-day convention at Bakken park, nine miles north of Copenhagen. Bakken, founded in 1583, claims to be the world’s oldest amusement park.

“Why do the Santas meet in the middle of the summer? It’s the only time of the year they have time to sit down and talk shop,” convention spokeswoman Tina Baungaard said.

Delegates debated what date Christmas should be celebrated most favor Dec. 24 or 25 the size of presents, and proper fodder for reindeer.

The conference ends today with a traditional Danish Christmas dinner of roast pork, potatoes and rice pudding.