World News - The Morning Sun

A new China map shows the South China Sea with nine-dash line claims under Chinese territory and a new line next to Taiwan are seen on the map, at a bookstore in Beijing, Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.China has upset many in the Asia-Pacific region with the release of a new official map that lays claim to most of the South China Sea, as well as contested parts of India and Russia, and official objections continue to mount. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

China's new national map has set off a wave of protests. Why?

China has upset many countries in the Asia-Pacific region with the release of a new official map that lays claim to most of the South China Sea, as well as contested parts of India and Russia, and … more

9/1/23

FILE - A Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020 file photo of a Nobel medal displayed during a ceremony in New York. The foundation that administers the prestigious Nobel awards has reversed its invitation policy and invited Russia, Belarus and Iran, and all members of the Swedish parliament, including a far-right party leader, who earlier have been banned. Vidar Helgesen, head of the private foundation said Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 “that by inviting them “dialogue between those with differing views is being reduced. (Angela Weiss/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Sweden's Nobel reverses invitation policy. Russia, Belarus, Iran and far-right leader are welcome

The foundation that administers the prestigious Nobel prizes has reversed its policy and invited Russia, Belarus and Iran, as well as a far-right Swedish politician, who all were previously banned. … more

9/1/23

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, second left, speaks during a disaster drill at his office in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. On Friday, Japan marked the centennial of the 1923 Great Kanto Quake that killed more than 100,000. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan marks 100 years since the devastating Great Kanto Quake, with disaster drills nationwide

Japan's prime minister has staged a televised a disaster drill in which he declared a fictional state of emergency based on a real-life earthquake that devastated the capital region a century ago. … more

By MARI YAMAGUCHI | 9/1/23

FILE - Supporters of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) community attend a sit-in to protest the ongoing criminalization of homosexuality and arbitrary arrests in front of Hobeich police station, where protesters say four men are being held for homosexuality, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, May 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)

Rainbows, drag shows, movies: Lebanon's leaders go after perceived symbols of the LGBTQ+ community

In recent weeks, Lebanon's sharply divided political and religious leaders have come together to fight the LGBTQ+ community. The country that long showed a relative tolerance has seen a series of … more

By BASSEM MROUE and KAREEM CHEHAYEB | 9/1/23

Police inspect a truck that exploded outside an office used by the government's National Service for Attention for People Deprived of Liberty (SNAI), which runs the jail system, in Quito, Ecuador, early Thursday Aug. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Carlos Noriega)

Car bomb explosions and hostage-taking inside prisons underscore Ecuador's fragile security

The fragile security of Ecuador has been underscored by the explosions of four car bombs and the hostage-taking of more than 50 law enforcement officers inside various detention facilities. … more

9/1/23

FILE - Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., questions witnesses during a hearing of a special House committee dedicated to countering China, on Capitol Hill, on Feb. 28, 2023, in Washington. A U.S. congressional delegation visiting Taiwan said Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 the U.S. would act if the island was attacked and promised to resolve the $19 billion backlog in its defense purchases from the U.S. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

US vice chair of Armed Services Committee promises 'resolute reaction' if Taiwan is attacked

A U.S. congressional delegation visiting Taiwan says the U.S. would act if the island was attacked and promised to resolve the $19 billion backlog in its defense purchases from the U.S. Rob Wittman, … more

By HUIZHONG WU | 9/1/23

Afghan women's cricketer Firooza Amiri poses at her parent’s home in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Forced to flee with her family when the Taliban again took power in Afghanistan on Aug. 15, 2021, Amiri and her family first traveled to Pakistan and then were evacuated to Australia, where most of her 25 teammates still live. (Firooza Amiri via AP)

Afghanistan's female cricketers plead with sport's world governing body: help us play again

Two years ago Firooza Amiri was an 18-year-old batter for the Afghanistan women’s cricket team and ready to take on the world. But just like that, her world and that of millions of others in her … more

By DENNIS PASSA | 9/1/23

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb speaks to media during a press conference at the ACCC Office in Sydney, Australia, on June 8, 2022. Australia’s consumer watchdog on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, called for Qantas Airways to be punished with a record fine for allegedly selling tickets on thousands of flights that had already been canceled. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP Image via AP)

Australian consumer watchdog calls for record fine against Qantas over canceled flights

Australia’s consumer watchdog has called for Qantas Airways to be punished with a record fine for allegedly selling tickets on thousands of flights that had already been canceled. Australian … more

By ROD McGUIRK | 8/31/23

FILE - Passenger planes take off from Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City, May 12, 2022. The Mexican government ordered Mexico City's old airport to cut flights by 17% on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, sparking warnings by airlines of possible mass flight cancellations. The new rules are scheduled to take effect by Oct. 29. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File)

Mexico City's old airport told to cut flights by 17%, leading airlines to warn of mass cancellations

The Mexican government has ordered Mexico City’s old airport to cut flights by 17%, sparking warnings by airlines of possible mass flight cancellations. The new rules scheduled to take effect by … more

8/31/23

A woman walks past a fashion store with windows taped early in the morning, as a precaution against the approaching Super Typhoon Saola, in Hong Kong, on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. The Hong Kong Observatory raised a No. 8 typhoon signal, the third-highest warning under the city's weather system, early Friday, and schools are suspended. (AP Photo/Daniel Ceng)

Hong Kong and parts of southern China grind to near standstill as Super Typhoon Saola edges closer

Most of Hong Kong and some other areas in southern China ground to a near standstill as Super Typhoon Saola edged closer to the region on Friday. As the typhoon could make a landfall in parts of … more

By KANIS LEUNG | 8/31/23

FILE - Senator Xochitl Galvez, an opposition presidential hopeful, rides a bike upon her arrival to a hotel for the announcement of the opposition presidential candidates in Mexico City, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. The main opposition parties declared on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, Galvez as their virtual candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)

Mexico's broad opposition coalition announces Sen. Xóchitl Gálvez will run for presidency in 2024

Mexico’s broad opposition coalition announced it has chosen Senator Xóchitl Gálvez as its candidate in the June 2, 2024 presidential elections. The de-facto nomination — which will be … more

8/31/23

FILE - The Canadian and U.S. flags are displayed on lamp posts in the downtown area, March 22, 2023, near Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. On Tuesday, Aug. 29, Canada updated its travel advisory to the U.S., warning members of the LGBTQ+ community that some American states have enacted laws that may affect them. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

Canada issues US travel advisory warning LGBTQ+ community about laws thay may affect them

Canada has updated its travel advisory to the U.S., warning members of the LGBTQ+ community that some American states have enacted laws that may affect them. The country’s Global Affairs department … more

By ROB GILLIES | 8/31/23

US military calls for end of fighting in east Syria and warns it could lead to IS resurgence

The United States military called for an end to days of fighting between rival U.S.-backed groups in east Syria, warning it may help the resurgence of the Islamic State group. The fighting that broke … more

8/31/23

Mongolia prepares for Pope Francis visit to one of world’s tiniest and newest Catholic communities. (Aug. 31)(AP video/Wayne Zhang)

Pope makes first visit to Mongolia as Vatican relations with Russia and China are again strained

Pope Francis is travelling to Mongolia to encourage one of the world’s smallest and newest Catholic communities. It's the first time a pope has visited the Asian country and comes at a time when … more

By NICOLE WINFIELD and SARUUL ENKHBOLD | 8/31/23

FILE - Sudan's Army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan speaks following the signature of an initial deal aimed at ending a deep crisis caused by last year's military coup, in Khartoum, Sudan, on Dec. 5, 2022. The head of Sudan’s army warned Thursday Aug. 31, 2023 that the northeast African country will be divided if the conflict between the military and rival paramilitary force is not resolved. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File)

Sudan's army chief warns that the country will be fragmented if the deadly conflict is not resolved

The head of Sudan’s army warned that the northeast African country will be divided if its deadly conflict between the military and rival paramilitary force is not resolved. The army chief made the … more

Associated Press | 8/31/23

This image made from a social media and and provided by Ostorozhno Novosti shows smoke billowing over the city and a large blaze in Pskov, Russia, on Aug. 29, 2023. Russian officials accused Ukraine of targeting six Russian regions early Wednesday in what appeared to be the biggest drone attack on Russian soil since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine 18 months ago. (Ostorozhno Novosti via AP)

Zelenskyy says Ukraine has developed a long-range weapon, a day after a strike deep inside Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country has developed a weapon that hit a target 700 kilometers (400 miles) away. His comment Thursday appeared to be a reference to the previous … more

8/31/23

FILE - Supporters of Niger's ruling junta hold a Russian flag at the start of a protest called to fight for the country's freedom and push back against foreign interference in Niamey, Niger, on Aug. 3, 2023. The mutinous soldiers who overthrew democratically elected Niger President Mohamed Bazoum have announced a raft of measures that analysts say are aimed at strengthening their grip on power while preparing to defend against any military attempt by regional leaders to reinstate Bazoum, it was reported on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick, File)

Niger's military regime orders police to expel French ambassador and revokes his diplomatic immunity

A statement from Niger's military regime says the junta has revoked the diplomatic immunity of France’s ambassador and ordered police to expel him from the African country. A communique from … more

By SAM MEDNICK | 8/31/23

Iran accuses Israel of supplying potentially exploding parts for ballistic missile program

Iran has accused Israel of trying to sabotage its ballistic missile program through faulty foreign parts that could explode, damaging or destroying the weapons before they could be used. Israel did … more

8/31/23

This video grab shows coup supporters cheering police officers in Libreville, Gabon, Wednesday Aug. 30, 2023. Mutinous soldiers speaking on state television announced that they had seized power in and were overturning the results of a presidential election that had seen Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba extend his family's 55-year hold on power. ( AP Photo/Betiness Mackosso)

Some in Africa are celebrating the coups. Many are fed up and desperate for change, analysts say

Coups that have resurfaced in Africa after years of stability are being celebrated by some. Experts warn that's because of widespread frustration over unmet expectations in countries whose rich … more

By CHINEDU ASADU | 8/31/23

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, centre, sits with Spain's acting Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, left and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell at the start of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Toledo, central Spain, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. EU foreign ministers are gathering for a one-day informal meeting in Toledo. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas)

EU examines its training of African armies as another coup rocks the continent

The European Union is growing increasingly concerned about “domino effects” as yet another military coup rocks Africa. Oil-rich Gabon this week became the eighth Central or West African country … more

By LORNE COOK | 8/31/23