World News - The Morning Sun

FILE - European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell speaks during a media conference after a meeting 'Supporting the future of Syria and the region' at the European Council building in Brussels, June 15, 2023. The European Union says China has abruptly cancelled a visit by the EU's top diplomat for unspecified reasons. Borrell, the E.U.’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, was due to arrive in China on July 10 for talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and other officials, according to an announcement by the E.U. ambassador to Beijing on Sunday. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)

China and the EU at odds over top diplomat’s visit, cancellation at the last minute

The European Union says China has abruptly cancelled a visit by the EU's top diplomat for unspecified reasons. Josep Borrell, the E.U.’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, … more

By SIMINA MISTREANU | 7/5/23

FILE - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during a joint press conference with Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic following their meeting at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Feb. 26, 2020. China on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, dismissed criticism of racially tinged comments by its top diplomat, who said Europeans and Americans are incapable of distinguishing among Chinese, Koreans and Japanese. “No matter how yellow you dye your hair, or how sharp you make your nose, you’ll never turn into a European or American, you’ll never turn into a Westerner," said Wang Yi, a former foreign minister who now heads the ruling Communist Party's foreign affairs commission. (Roman Pilipey/Pool Photo via AP, File)

China dismisses criticism of top diplomat's comments appearing to push for race-based alliance

China is dismissing criticism of racially tinged comments by its top diplomat. At a forum on Monday, Wang Yi said Europeans and Americans were incapable of distinguishing among Chinese, Koreans and … more

7/5/23

Crowds across France showed solidarity at town halls targeted in rioting following police shooting. (July 3)

France sees itself as blind to race. After a teen is killed by police, how does one discuss racism?

The race of the police officer who shot and killed a French teenager during a traffic stop last week hasn’t been disclosed, and there’s no reason why it would be. Officially, race doesn’t exist … more

By CARA ANNA | 7/5/23

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, workers clean up silt and mud along a street in the Wanzhou district of Chongqing, China, Tuesday, July 4, 2023. More than a dozen people have been killed by floods in southwestern China as seasonal torrents hit mountain areas, authorities said Wednesday. (Ran Mengjun/Xinhua via AP)

15 killed by floods in southwestern China as seasonal torrents hit mountain areas

Authorities say floods have killed 15 people in southwestern China as seasonal torrents hit mountain areas. As of Wednesday, another four people were reported missing in Chongqing, a vast mountainous … more

7/5/23

Kim Neineng, 43, a tribal Kuki, cries as she narrates the killing of her husband, at a relief camp in Churachandpur, in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Neineng escaped with her four children to a nearby relief camp when a Meitei mob descended on their village. Her husband was killed by the mob — beaten with iron bars, his legs chopped off and then picked and tossed in the raging fire that had already engulfed his home. The deadly conflict between the two ethnic communities has killed at least 120 people. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Armed mobs rampage through villages and push remote Indian region to the brink of civil war

India's remote northeastern state of Manipur is caught in a deadly conflict between two ethnic communities that have armed themselves and launched brutal attacks against one another. At least 120 … more

By SHEIKH SAALIQ | 7/5/23

FILE - Supporters of Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) gather on the election nomination day outside an nomination center in Langkawi, Malaysia, on April 28, 2018. Election Commission chief Abdul Ghani Salleh said Wednesday, July 5, 2023 that over 9.7 million voters will head to the ballot box on Aug. 12 to elect 245 assemblymen for six states. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar faces crucial test of support in state polls next month

Less than a year after taking office, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim faces a critical first test in state elections next month that pits his government against a powerful Islamic opposition. … more

By EILEEN NG | 7/5/23

In this image made from video provided by AuBC, Kevin Yam, Australian pro-democracy lawyer and activist, speaks during an interview in Sydney, Tuesday, July 4, 2023. Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee said Tuesday that eight pro-democracy activists including Kevin Yam will be pursued for life for alleged national security offenses, dismissing criticism that the move to have them arrested was a dangerous precedent. Those former pro-democracy lawmakers now live in the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia. (AuBC via AP)

Australian leader criticizes Hong Kong authorities over arrest warrants for activists in Australia

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticized Hong Kong authorities over their pursuit of two pro-democracy activists who live in Australia. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee said … more

7/4/23

FILE - Jean Messiha, head of the Apollon Institute, takes part to a demonstration on Feb. 20, 2021, in Paris. Messiha, a French far-right figure behind a divisive, and hugely successful, crowdfunding campaign for the family of a police officer jailed in the killing of a 17-year-old that triggered riots around France announced on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, that he’s closing the account which topped more than 1.5 million euros ($1.63 million). (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)

Far-right figure ends divisive crowdfunding for police officer who shot boy, triggering riots

A French far-right figure behind a divisive, and hugely successful, crowdfunding campaign for the family of a police officer jailed in the killing of a 17-year-old that triggered riots around France … more

7/4/23

FILE - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street to attend the weekly Prime Minister's Questions at the Houses of Parliament, in London, on May 25, 2022. Britain’s House of Commons is likely to endorse a report that found Johnson lied to lawmakers about lockdown-flouting parties in his office. That would be a humiliating censure that would strip the former prime minister of his lifetime access to Parliament. Lawmakers on Monday, June 19, 2023 will debate a report by the Privileges Committee that found Johnson in contempt of Parliament, and are expected to approve its findings. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)

UK police reopen partygate probe into lockdown-breaching Conservative 'jingle and mingle' bash

British police have reopened an investigation into lockdown-breaching government parties after viewing video of Conservative Party staffers dancing and drinking at a 2020 Christmas soiree. The … more

By JILL LAWLESS | 7/4/23

A mourner kneels while paying his final respects for Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina during a memorial service for Amelina in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The award-winning writer was killed in June by a Russian missile attack on a popular restaurant frequented by journalists and aid workers in eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Ukrainians honor award-winning writer killed in Russian missile attack on restaurant

Dozens of people with flowers have come to say goodbye to an award-winning Ukrainian writer who was killed by a Russian missile attack on a popular restaurant in east Ukraine. The memorial service … more

By HANNA ARHIROVA | 7/4/23

FILE - A woman wearing a face mask reads a book on a subway in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. The Spanish government on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, declared an end to the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and says people no longer have to wear masks in health and care centers as well as pharmacies. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

Spain calls an end to COVID-19 health crisis and obligatory use of masks in hospitals, pharmacies

The Spanish government has declared an end to the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and says people no longer have to wear masks in health and care centers as well as pharmacies. Spain … more

7/4/23

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in a courtroom at the Moscow City Court in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, June 22, 2023. Gershkovich, a reporter detained on espionage charges in Russia, appeared in court Thursday to appeal his extended detention. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov)

Kremlin open to talks over potential prisoner swap involving detained US reporter Evan Gershkovich

The Kremlin is holding the door open for contacts with the U.S. regarding a possible prisoner exchange that could potentially involve jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. But it has … more

7/4/23

Jose Manuel Perez Reyes uncoils a hose as he delivers water to an auto mechanic shop from his water truck Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Tijuana, Mexico. Among the last cities downstream to receive water from the shrinking Colorado River, Tijuana is staring down a water crisis. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Tijuana, reliant on the Colorado River, faces a water crisis

Among the last cities to receive water from the shrinking Colorado River, Tijuana is staring down a water crisis driven by problems closer to home: the city’s frenetic growth, its aging and … more

By SUMAN NAISHADHAM | 7/4/23

FILE — Then former African National Congress (ANC) treasurer general and now South African Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, center, walks out following a meeting of the ANC's national executive committee, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday Dec. 2, 2022. Mashatile's office said Tuesday, July 4, 2023 that a video showing armed police assaulting a man on a freeway until he lay motionless were part of the security team protecting Mashaile. There are no indications that Mashatile was present during the incident. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

Outrage erupts in South Africa over video of deputy president's security officers stomping on man

A group of armed plainclothes officers assigned to protect South Africa’s deputy president were caught on video dragging a man out of a car and then stomping on his head until he lies motionless, … more

By GERALD IMRAY | 7/4/23

FILE - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House following his meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary general, visited the White House on June 13, where the two leaders pledged continued cooperation and vowed that the alliance remains united in defending Ukraine against Russia. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

NATO again extends Stoltenberg's mandate, happy with a safe pair of hands as the war drags on

NATO has extended the mandate of Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg for another year. The former Norwegian prime minister has been NATO’s top civilian official since 2014. His term was due to … more

By LORNE COOK | 7/4/23

FILE - Then First lady Michelle Obama, left, and then Secretary of State John Kerry, right, honor Russian human rights activist, journalist Elena Milashina, with a Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award during a ceremony at the State Department in Washington, Friday, March 8, 2013. Unidentified masked assailants in the Russian province of Chechnya have attacked and beaten a journalist and a lawyer. Novaya Gazeta journalist Elena Milashina and lawyer Alexander Nemov had just arrived in Chechnya. Outside the airport, they were beaten by several masked assailants. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

Masked assailants attack journalist and lawyer in Russia's Chechnya province

Unidentified masked assailants in the Russian province of Chechnya have attacked and beaten a journalist and a lawyer. The violent incident underlines human rights abuses in the region. Novaya Gazeta … more

7/4/23

FILE - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugs Russian President Vladimir Putin before their meeting in New Delhi, India, Oct. 5, 2018. Putin will participate on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a security grouping founded by Russia and China to counter Western alliances from East Asia to the Indian Ocean. This year’s event is hosted by India, which became a member in 2017. It's the latest avenue for Modi to showcase the country’s growing global clout. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File)

Modi uses speech to Russia-China-led group to swipe at Pakistan, avoids mentioning Ukraine

India’s prime minister on Tuesday took a veiled swipe at rival neighbor Pakistan and avoided mentioning the war in Ukraine while addressing a group of Asian countries led by China and Russia. … more

By ASHOK SHARMA and KRUTIKA PATHI | 7/4/23

People protest in front of the Electoral Court building after Guatemala's highest court suspended the releasing of official results of the June 25 general elections, in Guatemala City, Monday, July 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Why a Guatemalan court’s decision to freeze presidential election results is stirring criticism

A week after Guatemala’s June 25 elections boosted a relative long-shot candidate into the final second round of voting, the country’s top court has frozen certification of the election results. … more

By SONIA PÉREZ D. | 7/4/23

FILE - In this Sept. 1, 2020, file photo, Hong Kong activist Nathan Law, center, takes part in a protest during the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Berlin, Germany. Hong Kong police on Monday, July 3, 2023, accused eight self-exiled pro-democracy activists, including Nathan Law, of violating the territory's tough National Security Law and offered rewards of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($127,600) each for information leading to their arrests. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

The 8 wanted overseas-based Hong Kong activists will be pursued for life, city leader says

Hong Kong's leader says the eight overseas-based activists who are wanted for alleged national security offenses will be pursued for life, dismissing criticism from Western governments over the … more

By KANIS LEUNG | 7/4/23

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speak to reporters before their talks Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier that he has called a meeting of senior officials from Turkey, Sweden and Finland on July 6 to try to overcome Turkish objections to Sweden joining the military organization. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Erdogan signals Turkey isn't ready to ratify Sweden NATO membership, saying there's more work to do

Turkey's president has signaled once again that his country is not ready to ratify Sweden’s membership in NATO. Speaking after a Cabinet meeting on Monday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sweden had to … more

7/3/23