World News - The Morning Sun

An Asian elephant plays with a Christmas tree during the annual Christmas tree feeding at Berlin Zoo, in Berlin, Thursday Jan. 4, 2024. There's something different on the menu for the elephants and some of their fellow residents at the Berlin Zoo: Christmas trees. The treats were unwrapped at the zoo on Thursday in what has become an annual event. (Jens Kalaene/dpa via AP)

Unsold Christmas trees are on the menu for elephants and bison at the Berlin Zoo

There’s a bit of post-Christmas cheer on the menu for elephants and other tenants at the Berlin Zoo: they can chomp on Christmas trees that didn't find a home. The tree treats were unwrapped … more

1/4/24

Ko Wen-je, Taiwan People's Party (TPP) presidential candidate, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at his campaign office in Xiangshan District, southwest Hsinchu City, Taiwan, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

Taiwan's presidential candidate Ko Wen-je seeks a middle ground with China, attracting young voters

With Taiwan's presidential and parliamentary elections less than two weeks away, the island's alternative party candidate and chairman of the Taiwan People’s Party, Ko Wen-je, is promoting a policy … more

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN | 1/4/24

Ambulances line up in front of a headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Force after it was hit by an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. The Popular Mobilization Force - a coalition of militias that is nominally under the control of the Iraqi military - announced in a statement that its deputy head of operations in Baghdad, Mushtaq Taleb al-Saidi, or "Abu Taqwa," had been killed in the strike. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Airstrike in central Baghdad kills Iran-backed militia leader as regional tensions escalate

Officials say an airstrike on the logistical support headquarters of an Iran-backed militia in central Baghdad has killed a high-ranking militia commander. Thursday's strike comes amid mounting … more

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA and ALI JABAR | 1/4/24

FILE - In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second right, with his daughter and his wife Ri Sol Ju, left, attends a performance to celebrate the New Year in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday, Dec. 31, 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 views the young daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as his likely successor

South Korea's intelligence service says it views the young daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as her father’s likely heir apparent. The assessment by the National Intelligence Service is … more

By HYUNG-JIN KIM and JIWON SONG | 1/4/24

In this Dec. 10, 2023 photo supplied by the Australian Reptile Park, a male specimen of the Sydney funnel-web spider, the world's most poisonous arachnid, has been found and donated to the Australian Reptile Park, north of Sydney. The spider, given the name "Hercules", measured 7.9 centimeters (3 inches) from foot to foot, surpassing the park's previous record-holder from 2018, the male funnel-web named "Colossus" and will be used in the reptile park's antivenom program. (Caitlin Vine/Australian Reptile Park via AP)

Lethal Sydney funnel-web spider 'Hercules' sets record for largest specimen collected in Australia

The largest male specimen of the world's most poisonous spider that boasts fangs powerful enough to pierce a human fingernail has found a new home after being discovered north of Sydney, Australia. … more

1/4/24

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele takes his reelection campaign beyond the borders

El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele has taken his presidential reelection campaign beyond the tiny Central American country’s borders to capitalize on his rising profile across Latin America. During a … more

By MARCOS ALEMAN | 1/4/24

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall and amphibious assault ship USS Bataan transit the Bab al-Mandeb strait on Aug. 9, 2023. The top commander of U.S. naval forces in the Middle East says Yemen’s Houthi rebels are showing no signs of ending their “reckless” attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. But Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said in an Associated Press interview on Saturday that more nations are joining the international maritime mission to protect vessels in the vital waterway and trade traffic is beginning to pick up. (Mass Communications Spc. 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/U.S. Navy via AP)

US calls for urgent UN action on attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea

The United States is calling on the U.N. Security Council to take urgent action against Yemen’s Houthi rebels for attacking ships in the key Red Sea trade route, and is warning their longtime … more

By EDITH M. LEDERER | 1/3/24

FILE - Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco looks on during a baseball game on Aug. 13, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Franco was arrested Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in the Dominican Republic after being interviewed by prosecutors investigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor, according to an official in the Puerto Plata province prosecutor's office. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

Prosecutors file evidence against Rays shortstop Wander Franco in Dominican Republic probe

Dominican prosecutors investigating Wander Franco amid allegations that the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop had a relationship with a minor have delivered evidence to a judge in the Dominican Republic. The … more

By MARTÍN ADAMES ALCÁNTARA | 1/3/24

Firefighters extinguish the fire inside an apartment following a massive explosion in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Hamas and Hezbollah have accused Israel of carrying out an airstrike that killed a top Hamas leader in Beirut. While Israel has not claimed responsibility, Tuesday's airstrike had the hallmarks of an Israeli attack. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A look at killings of militant leaders believed targeted by Israel

Hamas and Hezbollah have accused Israel of carrying out an airstrike that killed a top Hamas leader in Beirut. While Israel has not claimed responsibility, Tuesday’s airstrike had the hallmarks of … more

By MELANIE LIDMAN | 1/3/24

FILE - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, Dec. 10, 2023. A law that would make it harder to remove Netanyahu from office must go into effect only after the next parliamentary elections, the country's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, saying the legislation was clearly crafted for personal reasons. (Ronen Zvulun/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Israel's Supreme Court delays activation of law that makes it harder to remove Netanyahu from office

Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled that a law that could make it harder to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from office must go into effect only after the next elections. The court says the … more

By TIA GOLDENBERG | 1/3/24

FILE - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs a cabinet meeting at the Kirya military base, which houses the Israeli Ministry of Defence, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, Dec . 24, 2023. Critics say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is increasingly using his perch as wartime leader to improve his political fortunes. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, Pool, File)

After tumbling in polls, Netanyahu clings to power and aims to improve political standing during war

Critics say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is increasingly using his perch as wartime leader to improve his political fortunes. Netanyahu has long been polarizing. He's served longer than … more

By TIA GOLDENBERG | 1/3/24

People fight their way through the snowstorm in Kristiansand, Norway, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. Temperatures below minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 40 Fahrenheit) continued to be recorded in the Nordic region with a 25-year-old record for January night being recorded in the Swedish Arctic as a cold spell continued to grip the Nordic region. (Tor Erik Schroder/NTB Scanpix via AP)

Extreme cold grips Nordic countries as floods hit western Europe

Temperatures have fallen below minus 40 degrees Celsius in the Nordic region for a second day in a row, with the coldest January temperature recorded in Swedish Lapland in 25 years. The weather -– … more

By JAN M. OLSEN | 1/3/24

Iran says at least 73 people killed, 170 wounded in blasts at ceremony honoring slain general

Iran says explosions at an event honoring a prominent Iranian general slain in a U.S. airstrike in 2020 have killed at least 73 people and wounded 170 others. Iranian state media call them a … more

By JON GAMBRELL | 1/3/24

Volunteers and residents clear debris of an apartment building destroyed after Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

NATO to help buy 1,000 Patriot missiles to defend allies as Russia ramps up air assault on Ukraine

NATO says it will help buy up to 1,000 Patriot missiles so allies can better protect their territory as Russia ramps up its air assault on Ukraine. NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency said … more

1/3/24

An explosion in Beirut on Tuesday killed Saleh Arouri, a top official with the Palestinian militant group Hamas and three others, officials with Hamas and the Lebanese group Hezbollah said. Israeli officials declined to comment about the blast. (Jan. 2) (AP Video: Fadi Tawil)

Israel on alert for possible Hezbollah response after senior Hamas leader is killed in Beirut strike

Israel is on high alert for an escalation with Hezbollah after one of the top leaders of the Palestinian Hamas was killed in a strike in Beirut. The strike was widely blamed on Israel and heightened … more

By FADI TAWIL and SAMY MAGDY | 1/3/24

FILE - A diamond cutter views facets of a diamond in Antwerp, Belgium on Friday, May 4, 2018. The European Union said Monday, Dec. 18, 2023 that it has imposed fresh sanctions on Russia over its war against Ukraine, targeting the lucrative diamonds industry, more than 140 officials and organizations, and closing loopholes that Moscow has used to bypass previous punitive measures. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)

EU targets world's biggest diamond miner as part of Russia war sanctions

The European Union has imposed sanctions on the world’s biggest diamond mining company and its chief executive officer as part of what it says is its “unwavering commitment” to Ukraine in the … more

1/3/24

Junior doctors and members of the British Medical Association (BMA) demonstrate outside St Thomas' Hospital, London, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, as they take to picket lines for six days. Doctors in the early stages of their careers in England have started a 72-hour strike in their long-running dispute over pay levels. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)

Thousands of doctors in Britain walk off the job in their longest-ever strike

Thousands of doctors have walked off the job in Britain, the start of a six-day strike that's set to be the longest in the history of the state-funded National Health Service. Managers say tens of … more

1/3/24

A man cries as a body of his family member was found from a collapsed house caused by powerful earthquake in Suzu, Ishikawa Prefecture Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. A series of powerful earthquakes hit western Japan, damaging buildings, vehicles and boats, with officials warning people in some areas on Tuesday to stay away from their homes because of a risk of more strong quakes. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

New Year’s Day quake in Japan revives the trauma of 2011 triple disasters

The powerful earthquake that shattered the peace of New Year’s Day in central Japan did not spur the kind of tsunamis that scoured the northeastern Pacific coast in 2011. The tsunamis that did roll … more

By HIRO KOMAE and ELAINE KURTENBACH | 1/3/24

FILE - South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on a stretcher arrives at a heliport in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. South Korea police on Wednesday, Jan. 3, raided the residence and office of a man who stabbed the country’s opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, in the neck earlier this week in an attack that left him hospitalized in an intensive care unit, officials said. (Im Hwa-young/Yonhap via AP, File)

South Korean police raid house of suspect who stabbed opposition leader Lee in the neck

South Korean police have raided the residence and office of a man who stabbed the country’s opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, in the neck this week. The assault occurred when Lee was passing … more

By HYUNG-JIN KIM | 1/3/24

A firefighter walks through the rubble and wreckage of a burnt-out marketplace following earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. A series of powerful earthquakes in western Japan damaged homes, cars and boats, with officials warning people on Tuesday to stay away from their homes in some areas because of a continuing risk of major quakes and tsunamis. (Kyodo News via AP)

Rescuers race against time in search for survivors in Japan after powerful quakes leave 62 dead

Rescue workers and canine units are urgently sifting through rubble in the winter cold in what the prime minister called a race against time after powerful earthquakes in western Japan left at least … more

By HIRO KOMAE and YURI KAGEYAMA | 1/3/24