National News - The Morning Sun

FILE - A general view shows the courtroom at the beginning of the trial of defendant Vadim K. in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. Associates of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 that talks were underway shortly before his death to exchange him for a Russian imprisoned in Germany. That Russian prisoner was Krasikov. (Odd Andersen/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Who is Vadim Krasikov, a Russian jailed in Germany and linked to a possible prisoner exchange?

Vadim Krasikov’s name has come up in recent weeks in relation to prisoner swaps involving now deceased Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. … more

By ELISE MORTON | 2/26/24

FILE - Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh speaks during a meeting with officials from Western and Arab nations, the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. Prime Minister Shtayyeh says his government is resigning, in a move that could open the door to U.S.-backed reforms in the Palestinian Authority. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP, File)

What would a new Palestinian government in the West Bank mean for the war in Gaza?

The Palestinian Authority’s prime minister has announced his government’s resignation. It's seen as the first step in a reform process demanded by the United States as part of its latest … more

By JOSEPH KRAUSS | 2/26/24

A general view of atmosphere during the 96th Academy Awards Oscar nominees luncheon on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP)

Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer will present at the Oscars (plus everything else you need to know)

After a winter barrage of award shows — the Emmys, the Golden Globes, the Grammys — the grandaddy of them all, the Academy Awards, are around the corner. The 96th Oscars may be a coronation for … more

2/26/24

A Palestinian flag flies outside the United Nations' highest court, rear, during historic hearings in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, into the legality of Israel's 57-year occupation of the West Bank and east Jerusalem, plunging the 15 international judges back into the heart of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Six days of hearings at the International Court of Justice, during which an unprecedented number of countries will participate in proceedings, are scheduled as Israel continues its devastating assault on Gaza. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Majority of countries argue Israel violated international law in last historic hearing at UN court

The United Nations top court has wrapped up historic proceedings into the legality of Israel’s occupation of lands sought by Palestinians for a future state. The International Court of Justice … more

By MOLLY QUELL | 2/26/24

People watch the sunset at a park on an unseasonably warm day, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. A warm front is sweeping springlike weather across a large swath of the country in what is usually one of the coldest months of the year. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Wild weather's coming: West readies for snow as Midwest gets a taste of summer

A strong winter storm is expected to dump heavy mountain snow in parts of West while much of the Midwest will be basking in unseasonable warm conditions. The National Weather Service says the winter … more

By MICHAEL CASEY | 2/26/24

Amazon joins 29 other 'blue chip' companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average

Amazon.com is joining the ranks of one of Wall Street’s oldest and most exclusive stock indexes: The Dow Jones Industrial Average. The e-commerce pioneer will officially take its position in the … more

By ALEX VEIGA | 2/26/24

This photo taken from video released by Russian Federal Penitentiary Service via SOTAVISION shows Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny appears via a video link from the Arctic penal colony in Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenetsk region about 1,900 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow, where he is serving a 19-year sentence, in Kovrov, Russia, on Feb. 15, 2024. Shortly after Navalny's death was reported on Friday Feb. 16, 2024, the Russian SOTA social media channel shared images of the opposition politician reportedly in court yesterday. In the footage, Navalny is seen standing up and is laughing and joking with the judge via video link. (Russian Federal Penitentiary Service via SOTAVISION via AP)

A swap for Navalny was in the final stages before the opposition leader's death, an associate says

Associates of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny say talks had been underway to exchange him for a Russian imprisoned in Germany. Close Navalny ally Maria Pevchikh said in a video statement on … more

By DASHA LITVINOVA | 2/26/24

The co-chair of the Nobel Peace Prize winning Memorial Human Rights Centre Oleg Orlov attends a court session for a new trial on charges of repeated discrediting Russian military, in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russia seeks to imprison veteran rights advocate for nearly 3 years over Ukraine war criticism

The Russian authorities have sought a prison sentence of nearly three years for a veteran human rights advocate who spoke out against the war in Ukraine. The prosecution demanded that Oleg Orlov, 70, … more

By The Associated Press | 2/26/24

A Palestinian child wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip is brought to Al Najjar hospital in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Live updates | Israeli military presents a plan for a Rafah offensive to the War Cabinet

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says the army had presented to the War Cabinet its operational plan for a ground offensive into Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost town along the border … more

By The Associated Press | 2/26/24

Cillian Murphy, from left, Emily Blunt, and Robert Downey Jr. arrive at the 35th Annual Producers Guild Awards on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, at The Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

'The Bear,' 'Spider-Verse' among the early winners at Producers Guild awards

“The Bear” and “Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse” are among the early winners at the Producers Guild of America Awards. “The Bear” won the award for producer of comedy episodic … more

By ANDREW DALTON | 2/26/24

Elena Koposova sits in her house in the village of Rogaca, Serbia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. When Elena Koposova signed an open letter denouncing the Russian invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago, she never thought it could lead to an express order to leave Serbia where she has been living with her family since 2019. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Moscow ally Serbia cracks down on anti-war Russians living in the Balkan country

Moscow ally Serbia is cracking down on anti-war Russians living in the Balkan country. Serbia opened its borders in recent years to tens of thousands of Russians fleeing the government of President … more

By DUSAN STOJANOVIC and JOVANA GEC | 2/26/24

Celine Song accepts the award for best director for "Past Lives" during the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

'Past Lives,' 'American Fiction' and 'The Holdovers' are big winners at Independent Spirit Awards

Celine Song’s quiet romance “Past Lives” won two of the biggest awards at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Sunday afternoon. The honors included recognition for best feature and best … more

By LINDSEY BAHR | 2/25/24

AT&T will give $5 to customers hit by cellphone network outage

AT&T says it will give affected customers $5 each to compensate for last week’s network outage. Many customers were left many without cellphone service for hours on Thursday. The company now says … more

2/25/24

FILE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaks during a public address in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Serbia on Sunday Feb. 25, 2024, sent a protest note to Croatia over a statement made by Croatia's foreign minister that Serbia's populist president Aleksandar Vucic is a Russian "satellite" in the Balkans. It was the latest spate between the two neighboring states that have been at odds for most of the time since the bloody breakup of former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)

Serbia protests after Croatia's foreign minister calls Vučić a Russian 'satellite' in the Balkans

Serbia has sent a protest note after the Croatian foreign minister called President Aleksandar Vučić a Russian “satellite” in the Balkans. It's the latest spat between the two neighbors that … more

By DUSAN STOJANOVIC | 2/25/24

Cillian Murphy, right, and Emily Blunt embrace during the 30th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Inside the SAG Awards: A mostly celebratory mood for 1st show since historic strike

Inside the ballroom at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards, “Oppenheimer” was front and center — literally and figuratively — snagging the night’s top prize along with awards for Cillian … more

By KRYSTA FAURIA | 2/25/24

Homes are seen on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, in the southwest Portland, Ore., suburb of Beaverton. The so-called urban growth boundary, established by a 1973 law that placed boundaries around cities to prevent urban sprawl and preserve nature and farmland, is seen in the background along SW Tile Flat Road. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

A housing shortage is testing Oregon's pioneering land use law. Lawmakers are poised to tweak it

Facing a housing shortage, Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill that would tweak the state's pioneering land use law. The 1973 law placed growth boundaries on cities to prevent urban sprawl and … more

By CLAIRE RUSH | 2/25/24

FILE - A Eurasian eagle-owl named Flaco sits in a tree in New York's Central Park, Feb. 6, 2023. Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl who escaped from New York City’s Central Park Zoo and became one of the city’s most beloved celebrities as he flew around Manhattan, has died, zoo officials announced Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Death of beloved New York City owl, Flaco, in apparent building collision devastates legions of fans

Tributes are pouring in for Flaco, the beloved Eurasian eagle-owl that became a feel-good New York story after escaping its Central Park Zoo enclosure and flying free around Manhattan. Flaco was … more

By CAROLYN THOMPSON | 2/24/24

FILE - Judge Robert Adrian presides over court on Aug. 26, 2020, in Adams County, Ill. The Illinois Courts Commission removed Adrian from the bench Friday, Feb. 24, 2024, after sustaining a complaint filed against him. (Jake Shane/Quincy Herald-Whig via AP, File)

Illinois judge who reversed rape conviction removed from bench after panel finds he circumvented law

An Illinois judge who sparked outrage by reversing a man’s rape conviction involving a 16-year-old girl has been removed from the bench after a judicial oversight body found he circumvented the law … more

2/24/24

In this frame grab taken from body camera video provided by the Owasso, Okla., Police Department, an officer, hand at right, speaks to 16-year-old Nex Benedict, left, and their mother, Sue Benedict, at a hospital, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. Sue says that Nex was knocked to the floor during a fight in a school bathroom earlier in the day. Nex died the following day. (Owasso Police Department via AP)

Vigil held for nonbinary Oklahoma teenager who died following a school bathroom fight

More than two dozen people gathered at an Oklahoma church for a vigil for Nex Benedict, a nonbinary teenager who died one day after a fight in a high school bathroom. The vigil Friday night at All … more

By KEN MILLER | 2/24/24

Palestinians morn by the bodies of their relatives killed in the Israeli bombardments of the Gaza Strip in front of the morgue of the Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al Balah on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Brazil's president accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, doubling down after earlier uproar

Brazil’s president has alleged that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians. He is doubling down on the strong rhetoric after stirring controversy a week ago by comparing Israel’s … more

By WAFAA SHURAFA and SAMY MAGDY | 2/24/24