National Business - The Morning Sun

Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO) speaks at a press conference after the closing of the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) at the headquarters of WTO in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, June 17, 2022. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)

WTO ministers reach deals on fisheries, food, COVID vaccines

World Trade Organization members have reached a string of deals and commitments aimed to limit overfishing, broaden production of COVID-19 vaccines in the developing world and reform a 27-year-old … more

By JAMEY KEATEN | 6/17/22

A man wearing a face mask scans a QR code for a health monitoring app to enter a shop in Zhengzhou in central China's Henan Province, Friday, June 17, 2022. Angry bank customers who traveled to a city in central China attempting to retrieve their savings from troubled rural banks were stopped in their tracks by a common technology: a QR code. (Chinatopix via AP)

Residents say China used health tracker for crowd control

Angry bank customers were travelling to a central China city to try and retrieve their savings from troubled rural banks when they were stopped in their tracks. The reason was a simple QR code. The … more

By HUIZHONG WU | 6/17/22

FILE - Otero County, N.M., Commissioner Couy Griffin stands outside the federal court after receiving a verdict in his trial on March 22, 2022 in Washington. New Mexico’s secretary of state asked the state's Supreme Court on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, to order the Republican-led commission of rural Otero County to certify primary election results after it refused to do so over distrust of Dominion vote-tallying machines. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe, File)

Deadline looms as election crisis in New Mexico intensifies

A standoff between a Republican-dominated county commission and New Mexico’s Democratic secretary of state over the commission’s conspiracy-fueled refusal to certify election results comes to a … more

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN and MORGAN LEE | 6/17/22

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a media conference after a meeting of the College of Commissioners at EU headquarters in Brussels, Friday, June 17, 2022. Ukraine's request to join the European Union may advance Friday with a recommendation from the EU's executive arm that the war-torn country deserves to become a candidate for membership in the 27-nation bloc. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

European Union executive: Make Ukraine a member candidate

The European Union’s executive arm has recommended making Ukraine a candidate for EU membership. The move would be a first step on what is expected to be a long road before the war-torn country … more

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN | 6/17/22

A jockey and handler ride their horses down the track between races at Fonner Park in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Friday, May 20, 2022. Horse tracks have been struggling for decades, but after Nebraska legalized casino gambling at the state's six licensed facilities, there's suddenly a lot of interest in them and some communities want to build their own. (AP Photo/Grant Schulte)

Nebraska rushes to build horse tracks despite few fans

Horse races are regularly held in only two spots in Nebraska, but the tracks in Grand Island and Columbus are usually pretty quiet apart from the rumble of thoroughbreds that stomp past the often … more

By GRANT SCHULTE | 6/17/22

Izutaro Managi, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, speaks to plaintiffs and their supporters after hearing the decision of the Tokyo Supreme Court, Friday, June 17, 2022, in Tokyo. Japan’s top court on Friday ruled that the government was not liable for the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis, dismissing thousands of evacuees's demands that the state, not just the utility, should pay compensation for the damages inflicted to their lives. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan top court: Govt not responsible for Fukushima disaster

Japan’s top court has ruled that the government was not liable for the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis, dismissing thousands of evacuees’ demands that the state, not just the utility, pay … more

By MARI YAMAGUCHI | 6/17/22

Russia again cuts natural gas exports to European countries

Russia has reduced natural gas to Europe again as countries have worked to ease their dependence on Russian supplies amid the war in Ukraine. Friday marks the third day of significant reductions to … more

By KAREL JANICEK | 6/17/22

Commuters wearing face masks ride across an intersection in the central business district in Beijing, Friday, June 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

China defends 'zero-COVID' after US envoy warns of costs

China is defending its tough “zero-COVID” policy after the U.S. ambassador said it is causing serious damage to the global economy and foreign business sentiment. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson … more

6/17/22

FILE - Character Buzz Lightyear stands near the entrance to the Aliens Swirling Saucers ride at Toy Story Land in Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., June 23, 2018. Malaysia's film censors said Friday, June 17, 2022, that it was Disney's decision to ax the animated film “Lightyear” from the country's cinemas after refusing to cut scenes promoting homosexuality. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

Malaysia: Disney refused to cut gay scenes in 'Lightyear'

Malaysia’s film censors say it was Disney’s decision to ax the animated film “Lightyear” from the country’s cinemas after refusing to cut scenes promoting homosexuality. The Film Censorship … more

6/17/22

President Joe Biden speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Biden hosts climate meeting amid high gas price pressure

President Joe Biden will convene a virtual meeting of some of the world's largest economies to discuss the next steps on climate change. Among the participants will be China, Germany, Saudi Arabia, … more

By CHRIS MEGERIAN | 6/17/22

This photo shows an airplane of Japanese low-cost carrier Zipair at Narita Airport in Narita, near Tokyo June 15, 2022. The carrier is changing the design on its tail from the letter "Z," which resembles the symbol on Russian tanks. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Zipair changes logo to nix perception of Russia link

Japanese low-cost carrier Zipair is changing the design on its tail from the letter “Z,” which resembles the symbol on Russian tanks. Zipair President Shingo Nishida made the announcement this … more

6/17/22

Church members console each other after a shooting at the Saint Stevens Episcopal Church on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Vestavia, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Alabama church shooting kills 2, wounds 1; suspect held

Police in Alabama say a single gunman opened fired on a small group meeting at a suburban church, killing two people and injuring a third before being taken into custody. The attack took place … more

6/17/22

President Joe Biden listens to a question during an interview with the Associated Press in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Transcript of AP interview with President Joe Biden

A transcript of an Oval Office interview Thursday with President Joe Biden by AP White House reporter Josh Boak. more

By The Associated Press | 6/16/22

FILE - Syringes and colorful bandages are prepared as children from local schools prepare to get COVID-19 vaccines in Pittsfield, Mass., on Monday Dec. 13, 2021. (Ben Garver/The Berkshire Eagle via AP, File)

Florida only state not pre-ordering toddler COVID-19 jabs

Florida is the only the state that hasn’t preordered COVID-19 vaccines for toddlers in anticipation of their final approval by the federal government. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday … more

6/16/22

President Joe Biden speaks before signing the Ocean Shipping Reform Act in the State Dining Room of the White House, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Biden says new shipping costs law may help tame inflation

President Joe Biden signed legislation Thursday meant to lower the cost of shipping goods across oceans. It's a move the White House says will help ease logistical costs for retailers that have … more

By WILL WEISSERT | 6/16/22

FILE - Chickens walk in a fenced pasture at an organic farm near Waukon, Iowa on Oct. 21, 2015. The bird flu outbreak that led to the deaths of millions of chickens and turkeys in the U.S. in 2022 appears to finally be waning, but experts caution the virus hasn't disappeared and another surge in cases is possible this fall. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

Bird flu outbreak waning but threat of virus lingers

A bird flu outbreak in the U.S. that led to the deaths of more than 40 million chickens and turkeys and contributed to a spike in egg and meat prices appears to be waning, but experts caution the … more

By JOSH FUNK | 6/16/22

Shawn LaTourette, New Jersey's environmental protection commissioner, right, holds the hand of Angel Stefancik, a member of the Turtle Clan of the Ramapough Lenape, after at a press conference in Ringwood, N.J., on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at which New Jersey officials announced litigation against Ford Motor Company, alleging the company contaminated tribal land by dumping paint sludge and other pollutants into a former iron mine. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

New Jersey sues Ford over mining that tainted tribal land

New Jersey officials are suing Ford Motor Co. because they say the automaker contaminated the ancestral homeland of a Native American tribe by dumping paint sludge and other pollutants into a former … more

By WAYNE PARRY | 6/16/22

FILE - A U.S. Department of Homeland Security plaque is displayed a podium as international passengers arrive at Miami international Airport where they are screened by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Nov. 20, 2020, in Miami. Employees accused of misconduct at the Department of Homeland Security could face more stringent penalties under an overhaul announced Thursday that follows complaints about the handling of internal discipline in the third largest U.S. government agency. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

Homeland Security tightens scrutiny of internal misconduct

Employees accused of misconduct at the Department of Homeland Security could face more stringent penalties under an overhaul that follows complaints about the handling of internal discipline in the … more

By BEN FOX | 6/16/22

FILE - Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, takes part in the East German Economic Forum (OWF) in Bad Saarow, Germany, Monday, June 13, 2022. Habeck is stepping up an appeal for the country's residents to save energy after Russia's Gazprom announced significant cuts in natural gas deliveries through a key pipeline. (Patrick Pleul/dpa via AP, File)

Germany steps up calls to save energy as Russia reduces gas

Germany’s vice chancellor is stepping up an appeal for the country's residents to save energy after Russia’s Gazprom announced significant cuts in natural gas deliveries through a key pipeline. … more

6/16/22

FILE - An Afghan National Army pickup truck passes parked U.S. armored military vehicles, as smoke rises from a fire in a trash burn pit at Forward Operating Base Caferetta Nawzad, Helmand province south of Kabul, Afghanistan, April 28, 2011. The Senate is expected to approve on Thursday a large expansion of health care and disability benefits for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan in response to concerns about their exposure to toxic burn pits. (AP Photo/Simon Klingert, File)

Senate set to enhance benefits for vets exposed to burn pits

The Senate is expected to approve a large expansion of health care and disability benefits for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan in response to concerns about their exposure to toxic burn pits. … more

By KEVIN FREKING | 6/16/22