World News - The Morning Sun

FILE - A North Korean flag flutters in the wind atop a 160-meter (525-foot) tower in the North's Kijong-dong village near the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone in Paju, South Korea on Sept, 28, 2017. North Korea hurled misogynistic insults Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 at a newly confirmed United States special envoy to monitor the country’s human rights issues and warned of unspecified security consequences if Washington continues to criticize its human rights conditions. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

North Korea calls US human rights envoy a 'political housemaid' in protest of criticisms

North Korea on Wednesday hurled misogynistic insults at a newly confirmed United States special envoy to monitor the country’s human rights issues and warned of unspecified security consequences if … more

By KIM TONG-HYUNG | 8/2/23

With the headquarters of the ruling party burning in the back, supporters of mutinous soldiers demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, Thursday, July 27 2023. Not everyone is hostile to last week's coup in Niger. Neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali have taken the unusual step of declaring that foreign military intervention in Niger would be a declaration of war against them, too. Both have had coups in recent years. (AP Photo/Fatahoulaye Hassane Midou)

Some of Niger's neighbors defend the coup there, even hinting at war. It's a warning for Africa

Not everyone is hostile to last week's coup in Niger. Neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali have taken the unusual step of declaring that foreign military intervention in Niger would be a declaration of … more

By CARA ANNA | 8/2/23

People use umbrellas to protect themselves from rainfall brought about by tropical storm as they walk through an underneath highway in Beijing, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. Days of unusually heavy rains around China's capital, Beijing, have flooded houses, torn apart roads and left more than dozen people dead and missing, state media reported Tuesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

29 inches of rain from Saturday to Wednesday was Beijing's heaviest rainfall in 140 years

China’s capital has recorded its heaviest rainfall in 140 years over the past few days. The city recorded 29.3 inches of rain between Saturday and Wednesday morning, the Beijing Meteorological … more

8/2/23

A group of Vietnamese from the United States travelling to attend International World Youth Day stand in front of the 16th century Jeronimos monastery in Lisbon, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. Pope Francis will visit the monastery when he arrives Aug. 2 to attend the event that is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of young Catholic faithful to Lisbon and goes on until Aug. 6. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)

Pope Francis will be in Portugal for 5 days. Here's what he will visit

Pope Francis is beginning a five-day trip to Portugal for World Youth Day. The international Catholic jamboree is expected to attract around 1 million people. Francis is in Portugal from Wednesday. … more

By BARRY HATTON | 8/1/23

A World Youth Day pilgrim waves a Spanish flag by the water on the Tagus river bank Comercio square in Lisbon, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. Pope Francis will arrive in Portugal Aug. 2 to attend the international event that is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of young Catholic faithful to Lisbon and goes on until Aug. 6. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)

Pope Francis can expect to find heat and hope in Portugal, along with fallout from sex abuse scandal

Pope Francis is heading to Portugal to open the first post-pandemic edition of World Youth Day. He's hoping to inspire the next generation of Catholics while coping with fallout from the ongoing … more

By NICOLE WINFIELD, HELENA ALVES and BARRY HATTON | 8/1/23

Relatives of Abhishek, who was killed in communal clashes, wait for his body outside a hospital in Nuh in Haryana state, India, Tuesday, Aug., 1, 2023. Deadly clashes between Hindus and Muslims began in the area Monday afternoon during a religious procession by a Hindu nationalist group forcing Indian authorities to impose a curfew and suspend Internet services. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

India's northern Haryana state tense after 5 killed in communal clashes between Hindus and Muslims

Indian authorities have imposed a curfew, suspended internet service and deployed thousands of paramilitary forces to parts of northern Haryana state after deadly communal clashes. The violence began … more

By PIYUSH NAGPAL | 8/1/23

People enter the Lagardere News headquarters Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Paris. The journalists of French emblematic Sunday newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche have decided to put an end to a 40-day strike as they unsuccessfully protested against the appointment of a new editor-in-chief, Geoffroy Lejeune, they denounce as an outspoken far-right supporter. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

French reporters end an unsuccessful strike against a new editor known as a far-right supporter

The journalists of French emblematic Sunday newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche have decided to put an end to a 40-day strike. They unsuccessfully protested against the appointment of a new … more

By SYLVIE CORBET | 8/1/23

Son of Colombia's president is charged with money laundering

The son of Colombia’s president has been charged with money laundering and illicit enrichment. Prosecutors at a hearing Tuesday said he took tens of thousands of dollar from drug traffickers and … more

By MANUEL RUEDA | 8/1/23

Israeli police inspect the site of a shooting attack in the West Bank Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023. A Palestinian gunman opened fire in an Israeli settlement east of Jerusalem on Tuesday, wounding at least four people, Israeli medics said. The Palestinian assailant was shot and killed by an off-duty Israeli police officer outside a shopping mall. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Palestinian opens fire in West Bank settlement, wounding 6 people before being killed

Israeli authorities say a Palestinian gunman has opened fire in an Israeli settlement east of Jerusalem, wounding at least six people before being shot and killed. The shooting in the sprawling … more

By ISABEL DEBRE and OHAD ZWIGENBERG | 8/1/23

Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the U.N. World Food Program (WFP), speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. A halted landmark wartime grain deal that allowed grain Ukrainian grain to flow and donor fatigue is rattling the operations' of the United Nations food agency. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Halted Ukraine grain deal, funding shortages rattle UN food aid programs

A halted landmark grain deal that allowed Ukrainian grain to flow to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia is rattling the operations of the United Nations food agency, its deputy executive … more

By KAREEM CHEHAYEB | 8/1/23

Hospital staff and relatives transport the body of a police officer at a hospital, in Quetta, Pakistan Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. Gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on police escorting a team of polio workers on Tuesday during a door-to-door vaccination campaign in the southwest, killing two police officers before fleeing, police said. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)

Gunmen open fire on police officers during anti-polio drive in southwest Pakistan, killing 2

Police say gunmen have opened fire on Pakistani police escorting a team of polio workers during a door-to-door vaccination campaign in the southwest, killing two police officers. The polio workers … more

8/1/23

The carcass of a Bryde's whale is seen in the waters of Hong Kong, Monday, July 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Hong Kong official vows to mull legal changes after discovery of whale carcass sparked anger

A Hong Kong government official has vowed to mull legal changes and set up protocols to better protect whales after the discovery of a carcass sparked anger on social media and speculation that … more

By KANIS LEUNG | 8/1/23

FILE - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese briefs the media during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Monday, July 10, 2023. Albanese said Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, his government stands firm against the United States over the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, an Australian citizen fighting extradition from Britain on U.S. espionage charges.(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

Australia's prime minister stands firm against the US on WikiLeaks founder's prosecution

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government is standing firm against the United States over the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Albanese’s center-left Labor … more

By ROD McGUIRK | 8/1/23

Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, pictured, in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023. Days after after mutinous soldiers ousted Niger's democratically elected president, uncertainty is mounting about the country's future and some are calling out the junta's reasons for seizing control. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

France planning an evacuation of people seeking to leave Niger after the coup in its former colony

The French Foreign Ministry says France is planning an imminent evacuation of people seeking to leave Niger after the coup last week in the former French colony. In a brief statement to The … more

8/1/23

In this handout photo from the U.S. Navy, the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan travels through Atlantic Ocean on July 20, 2023. Thousands of Marines backed by the United States' top fighter jet, warships and other aircraft are slowly building up in the Persian Gulf. It's a sign that while America's wars in the region may be over, its conflict with Iran over its advancing nuclear program only continues to worsen with no solutions in sight. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Danilo Reynoso/U.S. Navy, via AP)

Analysis: Buildup of American forces in Persian Gulf a new signal of worsening US-Iran conflict

Thousands of Marines backed by advanced U.S. fighter jets and warships are slowly building up a presence in the Persian Gulf. It’s a sign that while America’s wars in the region may be finished, … more

By JON GAMBRELL | 8/1/23

FILE - People gather at the beach area of the Black Sea, in Balaklava's bay, a part of Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015. The Crimean Peninsula's balmy beaches have been vacation spots for Russian czars and has hosted history-shaking meetings of world leaders. And it has been the site of ethnic persecutions, forced deportations and political repression. Now, as Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its 18th month, the Black Sea peninsula is again both a playground and a battleground. (AP Photo, File)

The Crimean Peninsula is both a playground and a battleground, coveted by Ukraine and Russia

The Crimean Peninsula's balmy beaches have been vacation spots for Russian czars and Soviet general secretaries. It has hosted history-shaking meetings of world leaders and boasts a strategic naval … more

By DASHA LITVINOVA | 8/1/23

People march to demand the freedom of New Hampshire nurse Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter, who have been reported kidnapped, in the Cite Soleil neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, July 31, 2023. Dorsainvil works for the El Roi Haiti nonprofit organization and the U.S. State Department issued a "do not travel advisory" ordering nonemergency personnel to leave the Caribbean nation amid growing security concerns. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

Fate of American nurse and daughter kidnapped by armed men in Haiti remains uncertain

The fate of an American nurse and her daughter kidnapped in Haiti last week remains unknown as the State Department refused to say whether the abductors made demands. Hundreds of Haitians marched in … more

By EVENS SANON and MICHAEL CASEY | 8/1/23

FILE - A Bumphead parrotfish swims above corals on Moore Reef in Gunggandji Sea Country off the coast of Queensland in eastern Australia on Nov. 13, 2022. The Australian government on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, welcomed a draft UNESCO decision to a lift a threat of downgrading the Great Barrier Reef to an endangered World Heritage site. (AP Photo/Sam McNeil, File)

Australia welcomes lifting of UNESCO threat to list Great Barrier Reef as World Heritage in danger

The Australian government has welcomed a draft UNESCO decision to a lift a threat of downgrading the Great Barrier Reef to an endangered World Heritage site. The U.N. cultural agency and the … more

By ROD McGUIRK | 7/31/23

14 workers killed in the collapse of a crane being used to build a bridge in India

Officials say at least fourteen workers are dead in the collapse of a crane at a highway construction site in western India. The crane was being used for the construction of a bridge on the highway … more

7/31/23

An apartment building after it was hit during a Russian missile strike in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, Monday, July 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Libkos)

The $3.9 billion UN humanitarian appeal for Ukraine is only 30% funded, UN aid official says

The $3.9 billion humanitarian appeal for war-torn Ukraine is less than 30% funded as the country starts preparing for a second winter with more residential buildings damaged and destroyed and … more

By EDITH M. LEDERER | 7/31/23