World News - The Morning Sun

In this undated photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, attends a meeting of the North Korean ruling Workers’ Party’s central military commission in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

North Korean leader Kim calls for his military to sharpen war plans as his rivals prepare drills

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered his military to sharpen its war plans and signed off on expanding combat operations of frontline units. That's according to state media Thursday. Kim’s … more

By KIM TONG-HYUNG | 8/10/23

Agreement to reopen crossing to Syria's northwest will safeguard independent UN operations, UN says

The United Nations says the agreement it reached with Syria to reopen the main border crossing from Turkey to the country’s rebel-held northwest for six months safeguards the independence of U.N. … more

By EDITH M. LEDERER | 8/9/23

People struggle to hold onto their umbrellas in the rain and wind as the tropical storm named Khanun approaches to the Korean Peninsular, in Busan, Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Khanun blows strong winds and heavy rains into South Korea, where thousands evacuated the coast

A strong tropical storm has begun blowing its strong winds and heavy rains into South Korea before making landfall soon. Khanun is forecast to pound the peninsula for hours, and thousands of people … more

By KIM TONG-HYUNG, YONG JUN CHANG and AHN YOUNG-JOON | 8/9/23

FILE - People board a truck as they leave Khartoum, Sudan, on June 19, 2023. A leading human rights group called Friday Aug.4, 2023 on the United States and the United Nations to impose further sanctions on the Sudanese individuals "responsible for the atrocities" in Darfur, as evidence of scorched-earth attacks mount. The northeast African country plunged into chaos in April when monthslong tensions between the military, led by Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, exploded into open fighting in the capital of Khartoum, and elsewhere. (AP Photo, File)

Sudan fighting is driving country to collapse and millions face a 'humanitarian calamity', UN says

UN officials say nearly four months of brutal fighting is driving Sudan to collapse with millions of people trapped in a “humanitarian calamity” and the possibility of a new ethnic conflict … more

By EDITH M. LEDERER | 8/9/23

FILE - Migrants gather in a desert area on the Libyan side of the Tunisia-Libya border on Sunday July 23, 2023. Libyan authorities said on Wednesday, Aug, 9 at least 27 suspected African migrants have died in the country’s western desert near the border with Tunisia. In a statement posted on Facebook, Libya’s Interior Ministry said the bodies were discovered recently near the border and that a forensic team had been deployed to the area. (AP Photo/Yousef Murad, file)

At least 27 migrants found dead in the desert near Tunisian border, Libyan government says

Libyan authorities said at least 27 African migrants have died in the country’s western desert near the border with Tunisia. In a statement posted on Facebook, Libya’s Interior Ministry said the … more

By JACK JEFFERY | 8/9/23

In this photo released on the official Telegram page of the Syrian Presidency, Syrian President Bashar Assad speaks during an interview in Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Assad blasted Turkey in comments published Wednesday blaming it for the spread of "terrorism" and trying to make its military presence in the war-torn country legitimate. (Syrian Presidency Telegram page via AP)

Assad blames Erdogan for violence in Syria and insists on a pullout of Turkish troops

Syrian President Bashar Assad has slammed Turkey and blamed Ankara for the uptick in violence in his war-torn country. Assad also insisted on the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syria. Assad spoke … more

By BASSEM MROUE and KAREEM CHEHAYEB | 8/9/23

Trucks with humanitarian aid for Artsakh parked in a road towards the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh, in Armenia, Friday, July 28, 2023. The former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court warned that Azerbaijan is preparing genocide against ethnic Armenians in its Nagorno-Karabakh region and called for the UN Security Council to bring the matter before the ICC. A report by Luis Moreno Ocampo issued Tuesday said Azerbaijan's blockade of the only road leading from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh seriously impedes food, medical supplies and other essentials to the region of about 120,000 people. (Hayk Manukyan/PHOTOLURE via AP)

Armenians face genocide in Azerbaijan, former International Criminal Court prosecutor warns

The former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is warning that Azerbaijan is preparing genocide against ethnic Armenians in its Nagorno-Karabakh region. Luis Moreno Ocampo called for … more

By ABBY SEWELL | 8/9/23

People walk past a mural painted in colours of the Serbian flag, that reads: "When the Army returns to Kosovo…" in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, July 13, 2023. Kosovo is a former province in Serbia whose 2008 declaration of independence Belgrade does not recognize. Most ethnic Serbs in Kosovo also have refused to acknowledge Kosovo's statehood that is backed by the United States and most EU nations but not Russia and China. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Top US and EU lawmakers say West is too soft on Serbia when it comes to easing Kosovo tensions

Senior lawmakers from the United States and Europe are calling for a change in the Western diplomatic approach toward Serbia and Kosovo. They fear that tensions between the two could rapidly spiral … more

By LORNE COOK | 8/9/23

Latif Khosa, center, a lawyer of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan's legal team, speaks with media outside a court after Khan's appeal hearing, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. A top Pakistani court Wednesday said it wanted to hear from the government before deciding over the imprisonment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on corruption charges. Khan was arrested at his Lahore home on Saturday and given a three-year jail sentence on charges of concealing assets. He is held at the high-security prison Attock while his legal team seeks his release. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistani court seeks 'government response' over Imran Khan's appeal, refuses to release him

A top Pakistani court says it wanted to hear from the government before deciding over former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s appeal against his imprisonment on corruption charges and refused to release … more

By MUNIR AHMED | 8/9/23

India's top opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, center, arrives at the Parliament in New Delhi, India, Monday, Aug.7, 2023. India's Parliament on Monday reinstated Gandhi as a lawmaker three days after the country's top court halted his criminal defamation conviction for mocking the prime minister's surname. (AP Photo)

India's opposition leader Rahul Gandhi calls for army deployment to end ethnic violence in Manipur

India’s opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for its failure to control bloodshed in a remote northeastern state which he said has … more

By ASHOK SHARMA | 8/9/23

A rescue worker climbs over tree trunks after a mudslide has hit several residential buildings in Bagn in Valdres, Norway, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. Officials in northern Europe are warning people to stay inside as stormy weather batters the region. Storm Hans has cancelled ferries, delayed flights, flooded streets and injured people. Norwegian authorities expected “extremely heavy rainfall” on Tuesday. (Cornelius Poppe/NTB Scanpix via AP)

Landslides triggered by heavy rain hit Norway as hundreds are evacuated, with more showers expected

Landslides triggered by heavy rain have occurred overnight across mountainous southern Norway, with police saying that more than 600 people were evacuated in the region north of Oslo. They described … more

8/9/23

In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, a Russian multiple rocket launcher fires toward Ukrainian positions at an undisclosed location. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Russian officials say 2 drones approaching Moscow were shot down overnight, blame Ukraine

Russian officials say air defenses have shot down two drones aimed at Moscow overnight. They say it was Ukraine’s latest attempt to strike the Russian capital in an apparent campaign to unnerve … more

8/9/23

People attend an early morning Mass at the Urakami Cathedral on the 78th anniversary of the atomic bombing in Nagasaki, southern Japan, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Nagasaki holds its 78th peace memorial ceremony later Wednesday to mark the day an atomic bomb was dropped on the city. (Kyodo News via AP)

Nagasaki marks 78th anniversary of atomic bombing with mayor urging world to abolish nuclear weapons

Nagasaki has marked the 78th anniversary of the U.S dropping an atomic bomb on the city, with its mayor urging an end to nuclear weapons. Mayor Shiro Suzuki made the remark Wednesday after the Group … more

By MARI YAMAGUCHI | 8/9/23

FILE - The World Bank building is seen on April 5, 2021, in Washington. The World Bank said it will not consider new loans to Uganda after the East African country earlier in 2023 enacted an anti-gay bill that rights groups and others have condemned. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

World Bank says no new funding to Uganda over anti-gay law

The World Bank says it will not consider new loans to Uganda after the East African country earlier this year enacted an anti-gay bill that rights groups and others have condemned. The bank said in a … more

By RODNEY MUHUMUZA | 8/9/23

In this image released on July 27, 2023 by the Center of Legal Resources Romania, a malnourished child lies on an improvised bed in the basement of a care home in in the village of Bardesti in the central Romanian Mures County. The Centre for Legal Resources, or CLR, which conducted an unannounced inspection of the home, found alarming levels of neglect and abuse, saying that, on top of 23 residents inside the main building, seven more were found living in appalling conditions in a dingy basement beneath. Four of the residents who had severe disabilities, they said, were "lying on mattresses soiled with feces, urine, and blood." (Center of Legal Resources via AP)

Romanian care homes scandal spotlights abuse described as 'inhumane and degrading'

A string of disturbing revelations of “inhumane and degrading” maltreatment of older and disabled people at Romanian care homes have sparked concerns over the country’s capacity to adequately … more

By STEPHEN MCGRATH and VADIM GHIRDA | 8/9/23

Police stand near the gutted remains of cars, at the Eritrean cultural festival "Eritrea Scandinavia" in Stockholm Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. A violent clash at an Eritrea-themed culture festival in Sweden has caused a chaos as about a thousand anti-Eritrean government protesters stormed the outdoor festival venue throwing stones, setting fire on booths and tearing down tents. (Magnus Lejhall/TT News Agency via AP)

Eritrean festivals have been attacked in Europe, North America. The government blames 'asylum scum'

As one of the world’s most repressive countries marks 30 years of independence, festivals held by Eritrea’s diaspora in Europe and North America have been attacked by exiles that the regime … more

By CARA ANNA | 8/9/23

Soldiers and workers clear muds clogged on a square of a commercial office building in the aftermath of flood waters from an overflowing river in the Mentougou district on the outskirts of Beijing, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023. Rain continued to pelt northeastern China in the wake of Typhoon Doksuri, as authorities reported more fatalities and missing people while evacuating thousands more. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Death toll in recent Beijing flooding rises to 33, with 18 still missing

The death toll in recent flooding in China's capital has risen to 33, including five rescuers, and another 18 people remain missing. Days of heavy rain hit areas in the city's mountainous western … more

8/9/23

FILE - Trucks loaded with United Nations humanitarian aid for Syria following a devastating earthquake are parked at Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey, in Syria's Idlib province, on Feb. 10, 2023. On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, the U.N. Security Council failed to renew the Bab al-Hawa border crossing into opposition-held northwestern Syria from Turkey. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed, File)

The UN announces that a deal has been reached with Syria to reopen border crossing from Turkey

The United Nations has announced that an agreement has been reached with Syria to reopen the main border crossing from Turkey to its rebel-held northwest for six months. U.N. Secretary-General … more

By EDITH M. LEDERER | 8/9/23

Fishing boats are anchored in a port as Tropical Storm Khanun approaches to Korean peninsular on Jeju Island, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Dozens of flights and ferry services were grounded in South Korea on Wednesday ahead of the tropical storm that has dumped rain on Japan's southwestern islands for more than a week. (Park Ji-ho/Yonhap via AP)

Flights and ferries halted in South Korea ahead of storm that's dumped rain on Japan for a week

Dozens of flights and ferry services were grounded in South Korea ahead of a tropical storm that has dumped rain on Japanese islands for a week. Khanun’s rains and winds were expected in South … more

By KIM TONG-HYUNG | 8/8/23

FILE - Tourists walk through the docking area after exiting Carnival's Mardi Gras cruise ship in the bay of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aug. 3, 2021, marking the first time a cruise ship visits the U.S. territory since the COVID-19 pandemic began. On Aug. 8, 2023, San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero signed a measure to prohibit alcohol sales after certain hours, which goes into effect in November 2023. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti, File)

Hard-partying Puerto Rico capital faces new code that will limit alcohol sales

San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero has signed a new measure to prohibit alcohol sales after certain hours in the capital of Puerto Rico, renowned for its all-night partying. He says he was “morally … more

By DÁNICA COTO | 8/8/23