World News - The Morning Sun

Afghans read books in a specialized religious bookstore in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, April 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

Phones, Islamic books and currency exchange. Some businesses are making money out of Taliban rule

The Taliban takeover three years ago has sent Afghanistan's economy into a tailspin. Billions in international funds were frozen, and tens of thousands of highly skilled Afghans fled the country and … more

By RIAZAT BUTT | 5/1/24

Zhang Yongzhen, the first scientist to publish a sequence of the COVID-19 virus, looks at a presentation on his laptop in a coffeeshop in Shanghai, China on Dec. 13, 2020. Zhang was staging a sit-in protest after authorities locked him out of his lab. Zhang wrote in an online post on Monday, April 29, 2024, that he and his team were suddenly notified they were being evicted from their lab, the latest in a series of setbacks, demotions and ousters since he first published the sequence in early January 2020.(AP Photo/Dake Kang)

Chinese scientist who published COVID-19 virus sequence allowed back in his lab after sit-in protest

The first scientist to publish a sequence of the COVID-19 virus in China says he has been allowed back into his lab after days of protest. Zhang Yongzhen posted online early Wednesday that … more

5/1/24

Firefighters of the 1st Wildfire Special Operation Unit, take part in a drill near Villia village some 60 kilometers (37 miles) northwest of Athens, Greece, Friday, April 19, 2024. Greece's fire season officially starts on May 1 but dozens of fires have already been put out over the past month after temperatures began hitting 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in late March. This year, Greece is doubling the number of firefighters in specialized units to some 1,300, adopting tactics from the United States to try and outflank fires with airborne units scrambled to build breaks in the predicted path of the flames. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Greece boosts special firefighting units to cope with its growing heat risk

Under pressure to cope with the impact of rising temperatures, Greece's emergency response planners are shifting tactics this summer. They'll be relying more heavily on specialized units to fight … more

By DEREK GATOPOULOS | 5/1/24

Over 7 million people in South Sudan likely to face acute food insecurity between now, July, UN says

The United Nations says over 7 million people in South Sudan are expected to face acute food insecurity or worse during “the lean season” between now and July. The report released Tuesday by … more

4/30/24

Protesters converged on downtown Buenos Aires on Monday as Argentina's lower house began to debate a dramatically downsized version of President Javier Milei's economic overhaul bill. In his drive to reach zero deficit, Milei is slashing spending across Argentina — shuttering ministries, defunding cultural centers, laying off state workers and cutting subsidies. Monday's protest comes days after hundreds of thousands of Argentines demanded increased funding for the country’s public universities, in an outpouring of anger at Milei’s harsh austerity measures. (AP Video/Victor R. Caivano) (April 30)

This fiery economist became Argentina's president railing against politicians. Now he's wooing them

Argentina’s lower house has voted to approve a dramatically downsized version of President Javier Milei’s economic overhaul package, known as the omnibus bill. Crowds of protestors converged … more

By ISABEL DEBRE | 4/30/24

FILE - Children flee floodwaters that wreaked havoc at Mororo, border of Tana River and Garissa counties, Kenya, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku, File)

What's causing the catastrophic rainfall in Kenya?

The torrential rains and deadly floods that have hit Kenya since March have been some of the most catastrophic in the country in recent years. The devastating rains are a result of a mix of factors, … more

By CARLOS MUREITHI | 4/30/24

Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip. Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Mohammad Jahjouh)

Why Israel is so determined to launch an offensive in Rafah. And why so many oppose it

Israel is determined to launch an offensive against Hamas in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost town, a plan that has raised global alarm because of the potential for harm to more than a million … more

By The Associated Press | 4/30/24

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian National Police of Donetsk region, 98-year-old Lidia Lomikovska sits in a shelter after she escaped Russian-occupied territory in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, April 26, 2024. Lomikovska left the frontline town of Ocheretyne last week by walking almost 10 km (6 miles) alone, after Russian troops entered it and fighting intensified. (Ukrainian National Police of Donetsk region via AP)

A 98-year-old in Ukraine walked miles to safety from Russians, with slippers and a cane

A 98-year-old woman in Ukraine has escaped Russian-occupied territory by walking almost 10 kilometers (6 miles) alone, wearing a pair of slippers and supported by a cane. Lidia Stepanivna Lomikovska … more

By SUSIE BLANN | 4/30/24

FILE - Former South African President Jacob Zuma addresses supporters of the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) in Durban, South Africa, Wednesday, March 27, 2024. South African police are investigating if former President Jacob Zuma’s new political party forged supporters’ signatures to register for national elections next month. (AP Photo, File)

South African police investigate if former president's party forged signatures to contest elections

South African police are investigating if former President Jacob Zuma’s new political party forged supporters’ signatures to register for national elections next month. The MK Party has been … more

By GERALD IMRAY | 4/30/24

FILE - A general view of the stars above Sycamore Gap prior to the Perseid Meteor Shower above Hadrian's Wall near Bardon Mill, England, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015. Two men have been charged with causing criminal damage for cutting down a popular 150-year-old tree next to Hadrian's Wall and featured in a Kevin Costner’s 1991 film “Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves,” prosecutors said Monday April 29, 2024. Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were also charged with damaging the wall that was built in AD 122 by Emperor Hadrian to to guard the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)

2 men are charged with cutting down famous 150-year-old tree near Hadrian's Wall in England

Prosecutors in England say two men have been charged with cutting down the popular 150-year-old Sycamore Gap tree next to Hadrian’s Wall. Prosecutors say the men are charged with causing criminal … more

By BRIAN MELLEY | 4/30/24

In this 2018 photograph released by Mouvement pour le Salut de l'Azawad, Islamic State group commander Abu Huzeifa, known by the alias Higgo, poses in uniform. Mali's army said in a statement late Monday, April 29, 2024, that Huzeifa was killed by Malian state forces. The United States had announced a reward of up to $5 million reward for anyone providing information about him. Huzeifa was believed to have helped carry out an attack in 2017 on U.S. and Nigerien forces in Tongo Tongo, Niger, which led to the deaths of four Americans and four Nigerien soldiers. (AP Photo)

Mali says it killed extremist commander who took part in one of worst attacks on US forces in Africa

Mali's army says a senior Islamic State group commander wanted in connection with one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. forces in Africa has been killed. Abu Huzeifa was a commander in the group known … more

By BABA AHMED | 4/30/24

People try to clear the area after a dam burst, in Kamuchiri Village Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, Kenya, Monday, April 29, 2024. Kenya's Interior Ministry says at least 45 people have died and dozens are missing after a dam collapsed following heavy rains. (AP Photo/Patrick Ngugi)

Kenyans in flood-prone areas are ordered to evacuate or will be moved by force as death toll rises

Rain-swollen water levels at two Kenyan hydroelectric dams are at “historic highs” and people downstream are being told to move away. The Cabinet is also ordering residents of flood-prone areas … more

By EVELYNE MUSAMBI | 4/30/24

In this image made from video provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard vessel, BRP BAGACAY (MRRV-4410) is water cannoned by Chinese Coast Guards as it tried to approach the waters near Scarborough Shoal locally known as Bajo De Masinloc at the South China Sea on Tuesday April 30, 2024. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)

Chinese coast guard fires water cannons at Philippine vessels in the latest South China Sea incident

Chinese coast guard ships have fired water cannons at two Philippine patrol vessels near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, damaging both, in the latest flareup in an increasingly tense … more

4/30/24

Police talking to members of the public at the scene in Hainault, north east London, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 after reports of several people being stabbed at a Tube station. Police say a man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and two police officers on Tuesday in the east London community of Hainault before being arrested. The incident is not being treated as terror-related. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)

Sword-wielding man attacks passersby in London, killing a 13-year-old boy and injuring 4 others

A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and police officers in a east London suburb, killing a 13-year-old boy and injuring four others, authorities said Tuesday. A 36-year-old man was … more

4/30/24

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, the capsule of Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship carrying astronauts Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin touches down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. The return capsule of China's Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship landed back on Earth Tuesday with three astronauts who have completed a six-month mission aboard the country's orbiting space station. (Bei He/Xinhua via AP)

Chinese astronauts return to earth after six months in space

China's Shenzhou-17 spacecraft has returned to Earth with three astronauts who have completed a six-month mission aboard the country's orbiting space station. The three, Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie … more

Associated Press | 4/30/24

FILE - A police car on fire as riot police prepare to stop protesters in the center of Almaty, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. Authorities in Kazakhstan have arrested a former interior minister in connection with deadly unrest that gripped the country in 2022, Kazakh news media reported Tuesday April 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Vladimir Tretyakov, File)

Kazakhstan arrests ex-interior minister in connection with unrest that left 238 dead

Authorities in Kazakhstan have arrested a former interior minister in connection with deadly unrest that gripped the country in 2022, Kazakh news media reported Tuesday. The Prosecutor General’s … more

4/30/24

Virologist Zhang Yongzhen speaks at a coffeeshop in Shanghai, China on Dec. 13, 2020. Zhang, the first scientist to publish a sequence of the COVID-19 virus in China was staging a sit-in protest after authorities locked him out of his lab. Zhang wrote in an online post on Monday, April 29, 2024, that he and his team were suddenly notified they were being evicted from their lab, the latest in a series of setbacks, demotions and ousters since he first published the sequence in early January 2020. (AP Photo/Dake Kang)

Chinese scientist who published first sequence of COVID virus protests after being evicted from lab

The first scientist to publish a sequence of the COVID-19 virus in China was staging a sit-in protest after authorities locked him out of his lab. Virologist Zhang Yongzhen wrote in an online post on … more

4/30/24

FILE - Police attempt to break into the Mexican embassy in Quito, Ecuador, Friday, April 5, 2024, following Mexico's granting of asylum to former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, who had sought refuge there. Police later forcibly broke into the embassy through another entrance. Mexico is taking Ecuador to the United Nations' top court on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, accusing the nation of violating international law by storming into the Mexican embassy in Quito and arresting former Ecuador Vice President Jorge Glas, who had been holed up there seeking asylum in Mexico. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Mexico is taking Ecuador to the top UN court over the storming of the Mexican Embassy

Mexico is taking Ecuador to the top U.N. court, accusing the nation of violating international law by storming the Mexican Embassy in Quito to arrest a former vice president who had just been granted … more

4/30/24

This photo provided by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) shows a part of a village on Tagulandang island covered by ash from eruptions of Mountt Ruang in the Sulawesi island, Indonesia, Friday, April 19, 2024. More people living near an erupting volcano on Indonesia's Sulawesi Island were evacuated on Friday due to the dangers of spreading ash, falling rocks, hot volcanic clouds and the possibility of a tsunami. (National Search and Rescue Agency via AP)

Indonesia's Mount Ruang erupts again, spewing ash and peppering villages with debris

Indonesia’s Mount Ruang volcano has erupted for a second time in two weeks, spewing ash more than a mile into the sky, closing an airport and peppering nearby villages with debris. The alert level … more

By GRACEY WAKARI | 4/30/24

FILE - Judge Nawaf Salam, third right, speaks at the start of a two days hearing at the World Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, April 8, 2024, in a case brought by Nicaragua accusing Germany of breaching the genocide convention by providing arms and support to Israel. The United Nations’ top court is set to rule on a request by Nicaragua for judges to order Germany to halt military aid to Israel. (AP Photo/Patrick Post, File)

The top UN court is set to rule on Nicaragua's request for Germany to halt aid to Israel

The United Nations’ top court is set to rule on a request by Nicaragua for judges to order Germany to halt military aid to Israel. The central American nation argues that Berlin’s support enables … more

By MIKE CORDER | 4/30/24