World News - The Morning Sun

FILE - In this image made from a 2005 video, Abdul Benbrika, an Algerian-born Muslim cleric, speaks during an interview at his home in Melbourne, Australia. Benbrika, a convicted terrorist whom Australia had wanted to strip of citizenship and deport is to be released into the community under strict conditions Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation via AP, File)

Australia releases a man convicted on terrorism charges from prison under strict conditions

A man convicted on terrorism charges whom Australia had wanted to strip of his citizenship and deport has been released into the community under strict conditions. Algerian-born Muslim cleric Abdul … more

By ROD McGUIRK | 12/19/23

Sosthene Munyemana, a Rwandan doctor arrives at Paris court house, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023 over his alleged role in the 1994 genocide in his home country. Munyemana who has been living in France for decades faces charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and complicity in such crimes. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A Rwandan doctor in France faces 30 years in prison for alleged role in his country's 1994 genocide

A French court is expected to rule Tuesday on charges against a Rwandan doctor for his alleged role in the 1994 genocide in his home country. Prosecutors have requested a sentence of 30 years in … more

By SYLVIE CORBET | 12/19/23

Members of the public line up to enter the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, where activist publisher Jimmy Lai's trial takes place, in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. The national security trial of Hong Kong's most famous activist publisher Jimmy Lai entered its second day, with judges expected to rule on his lawyer's bid to throw out a sedition charge that has been increasingly used to target dissidents under Beijing's crackdown on Friday. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Hong Kong court begins Day 2 of activist publisher Jimmy Lai's trial

The national security trial of Hong Kong’s famous activist publisher Jimmy Lai entered its second day with the expectation that judges will rule by the end of the week on his lawyers' bid to throw … more

By KANIS LEUNG | 12/19/23

North Korea's Kim threatens 'more offensive actions' against US after watching powerful missile test

North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un has vowed “more offensive actions” to repel what he called U.S.-led threats after watching the third test of his country’s most advanced long-range missile. … more

By HYUNG-JIN KIM | 12/18/23

FILE - The sun sets behind the Palais Coburg, where closed-door nuclear talks on the revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) take place, in Vienna, Austria, on Aug. 5, 2022. The Western powers in the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran accused Tehran on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, of developing and testing ballistic missiles, transferring hundreds of drones to Russia, and enriching uranium to an unprecedented 60% level for a country without a nuclear weapons program — all in violation of a U.N. resolution endorsing the deal. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter, File)

West accuses Iran of illegally testing missiles, transferring drones to Russia, enriching uranium

The Western powers in the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran are accusing Tehran of developing and testing ballistic missiles, transferring hundreds of drones to Russia, and enriching uranium to an … more

By EDITH M. LEDERER | 12/18/23

CORRECTS DATE U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin makes a joint statement with Israel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, after their meeting about Israel's military operation in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/ Maya Alleruzzo)

Pentagon announces new international mission to counter attacks on commercial vessels in Red Sea

The U.S. and a host of other nations are creating a new force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea that have come under attack by drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas … more

By TARA COPP and LOLITA C. BALDOR | 12/18/23

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a video address to participants of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Heads of Government Council meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Vladimir Putin submits documents to register as a candidate for the Russian presidential election

Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted documents to Russia’s Central Election Commission to register as a candidate in the 2024 presidential election. Supporters of Putin on Saturday … more

12/18/23

FILE - In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Valeriy Zaluzhny, front, attends an event for marking Statehood Day in Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv, Friday, July 28, 2023. Ukraine’s military chief said Monday that a covert listening device was found in one of the offices where he works and hinted without elaborating that other bugs were detected in other locations. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP, File)

Ukraine’s military chief says one of his offices was bugged and other devices were detected

Ukraine’s military chief says a covert listening device was found in one of the offices where he works and he is hinting that other bugs were detected in other locations. Army Cmdr. Valeriy … more

By ILLIA NOVIKOV | 12/18/23

Qais al-Khazali, center, the leader of the militant Shiite group Asaib Ahl al-Haq, casts his vote in the country's provincial elections in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Dec.18, 2023. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

A boycott call and security concerns mar Iraq's first provincial elections in a decade

Baghdad’s streets are nearly empty on Monday, the main day of polling in the country’s first provincial elections in a decade. The vote has been boycotted by an influential political bloc and … more

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA | 12/18/23

The bow of a pirogue, a typical Senegalese fishing boat that's also used by migrants bound for Europe, as a storm approaches near Dakar, Senegal, Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

36 days at sea: How these castaways survived hallucinations, thirst and desperation

Too often migrants disappear without a trace and witnesses. While accurate figures on the number of deaths do not exist, entire boats have gone missing in the Atlantic, becoming what are known as … more

By RENATA BRITO and FELIPE DANA | 12/18/23

FILE - Democratic Republic of the Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, center, flanked by his wife Denise Nyakeru, greets supporters at a rally in Goma, Eastern Congo, on Dec. 10, 2023. Tshisekedi is seeking reelection in Dec. 20 elections. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa, File)

Congo's elections face enormous logistical problems sparking concerns about the vote's credibility

Congo’s president says he has confidence an upcoming vote will be rolled out credibly, as tensions mount that a severe lack of electoral preparation could throw the conflict-riddled nation into … more

By SAM MEDNICK | 12/18/23

FILE - Ukrainian soldiers practice on a tank during military training, in Ukraine, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. A gloomy mood hangs over Ukraine’s soldiers nearly two years after Russia invaded their country. Ukrainian soldiers remain fiercely determined to win, despite a disappointing counteroffensive this summer and signs of wavering financial support from allies. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)

A gloomy mood hangs over Ukraine's soldiers as war with Russia grinds on

A gloomy mood hangs over Ukraine’s soldiers nearly two years after Russia invaded their country. Ukrainian soldiers remain fiercely determined to win, despite a disappointing counteroffensive this … more

By SAMYA KULLAB | 12/18/23

Friends that attended the funeral of 26-year-old Alon Shamriz mourn over the grave of a victim of the Oct. 7th attack buried in the same cemetery in Kibbutz Shefayim, Israel, Sunday Dec. 17, 2023. Shamriz was one of three hostages mistakenly shot to death by Israeli troops Friday in a neighborhood of Gaza City.(AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

In Israel's killing of 3 hostages, some see the same excessive force directed at Palestinians

Israelis were left stunned and speechless when three hostages held by Hamas were killed by Israeli forces in the middle of an active war zone, after they waved a white flag and screamed out in Hebrew … more

By TIA GOLDENBERG | 12/18/23

Journalists wait at a designated press area outside West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts where Jimmy Lai's trial will be held in Hong Kong, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Vernon Yuen)

Landmark national security trial opens in Hong Kong for prominent activist publisher Jimmy Lai

A landmark national security trial has opened in Hong Kong for prominent activist publisher Jimmy Lai. He faces a possible life sentence if convicted under a law imposed by Beijing to crush … more

By KANIS LEUNG | 12/17/23

FILE - This photo provided by the North Korean government shows what it says is an intercontinental ballistic missile in a launching drill at the Sunan international airport in Pyongyang, North Korea on March 16, 2023. 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, File)

South Korea's military says North Korea has fired a ballistic missile toward its eastern waters

South Korea’s military says it has detected that North Korea has fired at least one ballistic missile toward its eastern waters. It adds to a torrent of weapons tests in recent months that elevated … more

By KIM TONG-HYUNG | 12/17/23

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, center left, talks with Israeli Col. Olivier Rafowicz as she arrives at the Shura military base, central Israel Sunday Dec. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

European diplomacy steps up calls for Gaza cease-fire

Some of Israel’s closest European allies have pressed for a cease-fire in the war with Hamas, underscoring growing international unease with the devastating impact of the conflict on Gaza’s … more

12/17/23

Ukrainian servicemen of the 72nd mechanized brigade listen to a prayer during the sacred liturgy before the upcoming Christmas at the frontline near Vuhledar, Ukraine, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Valentyn Kuzan)

Russia and Ukraine launch numerous drone attacks targeting a Russian air base and Black Sea coast

Russia and Ukraine have launched over a dozen drones at each other's territory for a second straight day. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a post on the messaging app Telegram that its forces … more

By KARL RITTER | 12/17/23

FILE - Aviv Asher, 2.5 years old, her sister Raz Asher, 4.5 years old, and mother Doron, returned to Israel on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. An Israeli mother who was held in Hamas captivity for 49 days described in an interview the trials of caring for two young children as a hostage. Doron Katz Asher told Israeli Channel 12 TV that she feared her daughters would be taken from her if she took her eyes off of her. (IDF via AP, File)

In Hamas captivity, an Israeli mother found the strength to survive in her 2 young daughters

An Israeli mother who was held in Hamas captivity for 49 days has described in an interview the trials of caring for two young children as a hostage. Doron Katz Asher told Israeli Channel 12 TV that … more

By TIA GOLDENBERG | 12/17/23

Ukrainian drone video provides a grim look at casualties as Russian troops advance toward Avdiivka

As Russian forces press forward with an attempt to capture the town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, The Associated Press obtained aerial footage that indicates their staggering losses. The bodies of … more

By EVGENIY MALOLETKA | 12/17/23

FILE - Haitian migrants wade through water as they cross the Darien Gap from Colombia to Panama in hopes of reaching the U.S., May 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia, File)

Jungle between Colombia and Panama becomes highway for hundreds of thousands from around the world

The jungle between Colombia and Panama used to be impenetrable for migrants heading north from Latin America. This year, it became a highway for hundreds of thousands of people from around the world. … more

By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN | 12/17/23