World News - The Morning Sun

Rosa Hernández shows a photo of her late daughter Rosaura Almonte in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. Hernández asked for an exception for her daughter to get an abortion in order to use chemotherapy as her leukemia treatment, but was denied because that would put the fetus at risk of death in the Dominican Republic where abortion is criminalized without exceptions. Both her daughter and daughter's 13-week-old fetus died in 2012. (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez)

What does a total abortion ban look like in Dominican Republic?

In Latin America, only Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and the Dominican Republic maintain total abortion bans. Decriminalization, though, seems unlikely for Dominican women. Their country keeps an … more

By MARÍA TERESA HERNÁNDEZ | 1/2/24

Fire and smoke rises after a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Russian ballistic missiles strike Ukraine's largest cities, killing at least 4 people

Ukraine’s two largest cities have come under Russian hypersonic ballistic missile attacks. Officials said the Tuesday morning assaults killed at least four people and injured almost 100, as the war … more

By ILLIA NOVIKOV and HANNA ARHIROVA | 1/2/24

South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is seen after he was injured in Busan, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Lee was attacked and injured by an unidentified man during a visit Tuesday to the southeastern city of Busan, emergency officials said. (Sohn Hyung-joo/Yonhap via AP)

South Korean opposition leader is stabbed in the neck by a knife-wielding man

South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has been stabbed in the neck by an unidentified man during a visit to the southeastern city of Busan. Emergency officials say Lee was attacked Tuesday as … more

By HYUNG-JIN KIM and JIWON SONG | 1/1/24

Ashes of Canadian 'Star Trek' fan to be sent into space along with those of TV series' stars

The family of a mother of eight who was a huge “Star Trek” fan has ensured the final frontier will be her ultimate resting place. Gloria Knowlan died 12 years ago. A small quantity of ashes from … more

1/1/24

Japan dropped its highest-level tsunami alert, issued following a series of major earthquakes. (Jan. 1)

Powerful earthquakes leave at least four dead, destroy buildings along Japan's western coast

A series of powerful earthquakes has hit western Japan, leaving at least four people dead and damaging buildings, vehicles and boats. Officials are warning people in some areas on Tuesday to stay … more

By HIRO KOMAE and YURI KAGEYAMA | 1/1/24

A member of Korea coast guard patrols to watch for possible changes in sea levels on a beach in Gangneung, South Korea, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. (You Hyung-jae/Yonhap via AP)

Japan lowers tsunami warning after a series of earthquakes but tells people to stay away from coast

Japan has dropped its highest-level tsunami alert, issued following a series of major earthquakes on Monday. But it is telling residents of coastal areas not to return to their homes as deadly waves … more

By YURI KAGEYAMA | 1/1/24

FILE - Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali speaks during a panel session at the 49th annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, Jan. 23, 2019, in Davos, Switzerland. Landlocked Ethiopia took the first steps toward gaining access to the sea on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, signing an agreement in its capital Addis Ababa with the breakaway Somali region of Somaliland to access the Somaliland coastline. The memorandum of understanding was signed by Ahmed Ali and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP, File)

Ethiopia and a breakaway Somali region sign a deal giving Ethiopia access to the sea, leaders say

Landlocked Ethiopia has taken the first steps toward gaining access to the sea, signing an agreement in the capital of Addis Ababa with the breakaway Somali region of Somaliland to access the … more

By OMAR FARUK | 1/1/24

An Israeli who fought Hamas for 2 months indicted for impersonating a soldier and stealing weapons

An Israeli man who never served in the military has been charged with impersonating a soldier and stealing weapons after sneaking into an army unit and joining the fighting against Hamas. An … more

By MELANIE LIDMAN | 1/1/24

File - South African photographer Peter Magubane, speaks with The Associated Press during an interview at his home, in Johannesburg, Thursday June 2, 2016. Magubane, a fearless photographer who captured the violence and horror of South Africa’s brutal apartheid era of racial oppression and was then entrusted with documenting Nelson Mandela’s first years of freedom after his release from prison, has died. He was 91. The South African National Editors’ Forum said it had been informed by Magubane's family that he died on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell, File)

Peter Magubane, a South African photographer who captured 40 years of apartheid, dies at age 91

Peter Magubane, a fearless photographer who captured the violence and horror of South Africa’s brutal apartheid era of racial oppression, and was entrusted with documenting Nelson Mandela’s first … more

By GERALD IMRAY | 1/1/24

Munizae Jahangir, the co-chairperson at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, speaks during a news conference, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Pakistan's rights body said Monday there is little chance of free and fair parliamentary elections next month because of "pre-poll rigging." It also expressed concerned about authorities rejecting most candidates from former premier Imran Khan's party, including Khan himself. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan human rights body says an upcoming election is unlikely to be free and fair

Pakistan’s independent human rights commission says there is little chance of free and fair parliamentary elections in the country next month because of “pre-poll rigging.” It also expressed … more

By MUNIR AHMED | 1/1/24

Before the end-of-year pontifical mass in Cologne Cathedral with Cardinal Woelki, the area around the cathedral is heavily guarded by police with machine guns, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. German authorities say they have detained three more people in connection with a reported threat to Cologne Cathedral over the holiday period. (Thomas Banneyer/dpa via AP)

German officials detain a fifth suspect in connection with a threat to attack Cologne Cathedral

German authorities have detained another suspect in connection with an alleged threat of an attack on the world-famous Cologne Cathedral over the holidays. That brings the overall number of people … more

1/1/24

A light show is projected on the Arc de Triomphe during New Year celebrations on the Champs Elysees in Paris, France, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Olympic host country France sees less New Year's Eve disorder as it celebrates 2024's arrival

France's interior minister says the Olympic host country saw fewer of the car burnings that usually blight the arrival of a new year as it celebrated the start of 2024. Gerald Darmanin said Monday … more

1/1/24

FILE - Workers install decorations ahead of the Christmas festival at a mall in Beijing on Dec. 14, 2023. A survey of factory managers in China shows manufacturing contracted in December in the latest sign the world’s No. 2 economy is still sluggish. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

China's manufacturing activity slows in December in latest sign the economy is still struggling

A survey of factory managers in China shows manufacturing contracted in December in the latest sign the world's No. 2 economy is still sluggish. The official purchasing managers index, or PMI, fell … more

By ELAINE KURTENBACH | 1/1/24

Maria, 22 years-old, a member of the Sipoteni bear pack, poses for a portrait in Comanesti, northern Romania, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. Maria first wore the bear fur costume when she was 5 years old and feels a connection to her departed father who introduced her to the tradition 17 years ago, shortly before his death. She feels the bear dance chases the bad spirits away and liberates her soul. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

AP PHOTOS: Dancing with the bears lives on as a unique custom in Romania

COMANESTI, Romania (AP) — A small industrial town in northeast Romania may seem like an unlikely tourist destination, but Comanesti is where huge numbers of visitors from as far away as Japan … more

By VADIM GHIRDA and ANDREEA ALEXANDRU | 1/1/24

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a year-end plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party, which was held between Dec. 26, and Dec. 30, 2023, in Pyongyang, North Korea. 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 Korea's Kim orders military to 'thoroughly annihilate' US, South Korea if provoked

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered his military to “thoroughly annihilate” the United States and South Korea if provoked, State media reported Monday that Kim made the order during a … more

By HYUNG-JIN KIM | 12/31/23

FILE - Uganda's Benjamin Kiplagat, front, competes in round one of the men's 3000m steeplechase during the World Athletic Championships at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015. Police in Kenya say they are investigating the slaying of three-time Ugandan Olympian Benjamin Kiplagat. A local police official says Kiplagat's body was found with stab wounds inside his brother’s car on Sunday morning. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip), File)

Former Ugandan steeplechase Olympian Benjamin Kiplagat found fatally stabbed in Kenya

Police in Kenya say they are investigating the slaying of three-time Ugandan Olympian Benjamin Kiplagat. A local police official says Kiplagat's body was found with stab wounds inside his brother’s … more

12/31/23

Queen Margrethe II gives a New Year's speech and announces her abdication from Christian IX's Palace, Amalienborg Castle, in Copenhagen, Sunday, Dec. 31 2023. (Keld Navntoft/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II to step down from throne on Jan. 14

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II has announced that she plans to leave the throne to make way for her son, Crown Prince Frederik. The queen announced during her New Year’s speech on Sunday that she … more

By DAVID KEYTON | 12/31/23

German officials detain 3 more suspects in connection with a Cologne Cathedral attack threat

German authorities say they have detained three more people in connection with a reported threat of an attack on the Cologne Cathedral over the holiday period. The detentions Sunday morning come only … more

By KIRSTEN GRIESHABER | 12/31/23

FILE - Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi waves to his supporters after casting his ballot inside a polling station during the presidential elections in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi wins reelection with over 70% of vote, election commission says. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy, File)

Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi is declared winner of election that opposition wants redone

Congo’s election commission says President Felix Tshisekedi has won reelection with more than 70% of the vote. The preliminary results of the Dec. 20 election were announced on Sunday in the … more

By SAM MEDNICK and JEAN-YVES KAMALE | 12/31/23

FILE - Journalist, John Pilger, a supporter of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange arrives at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court in London where Julian Assange is in court for his bail hearing, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010. John Pilger, the Australia-born journalist and documentary maker known for his coverage of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, has died. He was 84. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, File)

John Pilger, Australia-born journalist and filmmaker known for covering Cambodia, dies at 84

An Australia-born journalist and documentary filmmaker known for his coverage of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia has died. John Pilger was 84. A statement from his family posted Sunday on X said Pilger … more

12/31/23