Sanctions and embargoes
FILE - North Korea's Hwang Chung Gum and South Korea's Won Yun-jong carry the unification flag during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea on Feb. 9, 2018. North Korea basked in the global limelight during the last Winter Games in South Korea, with hundreds of athletes, cheerleaders and officials pushing hard to woo their South Korean and U.S. rivals in a now-stalled bid for diplomacy. Four years later, as the 2022 Winter Olympics come to its main ally and neighbor China, North Korea isn't sending any athletes and officials because of coronavirus fears. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
'Someone else's festival': No North Korea at ally's Olympics

By Hyung-Jin Kim And Kim Tong-Hyung Feb. 04, 2022 11:29 PM EST

FILE - This combination of file photos provided by the North Korean government, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at Workers' Party meetings in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Feb. 8, 2021, left, and June 15, 2021. North Korean state TV has cited an unidentified resident as saying that citizens are heartbroken because of leader Kim's “emaciated looks.” The comments are a rare acknowledgement of outside speculation that Kim has recently lost a considerable about of weight. 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 Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)
State TV: NKoreans heartbroken over Kim's 'emaciated looks'

By Hyung-Jin Kim Jun. 28, 2021 05:25 AM EDT

Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, addresses the U.N. General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. (Eskinder Debebe/United Nations via AP)
US votes against UN resolution condemning US embargo on Cuba

By Edith M. Lederer Jun. 23, 2021 03:27 PM EDT

Iran: 'Sabotage attack' on civilian nuclear center thwarted

By Nasser Karimi And Isabel Debre Jun. 23, 2021 08:03 AM EDT
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian authorities have thwarted what they called a “sabotage attack” targeting a civilian nuclear facility near the country's capital,...

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2018, file photo, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, waits for the start of the preliminary round of the women's hockey game between Switzerland and the combined Koreas at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea. The powerful sister dismissed prospects for early resumption of diplomacy with the United States, saying the U.S. expectations for talks would “plunge them into a greater disappointment.” Kim made the comments Tuesday, June 22, 2021 after U.S. National Security adviser Jake Sullivan described as “interesting signals” Kim Jong Un’s recent statement that North Korea will be ready for both dialogue and confrontation, but more for confrontation. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)
Kim sister derides US official, dismisses chances for talks

By Hyung-Jin Kim And Kim Tong-Hyung Jun. 22, 2021 04:59 AM EDT

South Korea's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Noh Kyu-duk, right, meets with Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Takehiro Funakoshi during their bilateral meeting at a hotel in Seoul, Monday, June 21, 2021. (Jung Yeon-Je/Pool Photo via AP)
US envoy hopes N. Korea responds positively on offered talks

By Kim Tong-Hyung Jun. 20, 2021 11:43 PM EDT

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a Workers' Party meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea, Friday, June 18, 2021. Kim ordered his government to be prepared for both dialogue and confrontation with the Biden administration — but more for confrontation — state media reported Friday, days after the United States and others urged the North to abandon its nuclear program and return to talks. 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 Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
North Korean leader swears to overcome economic hardships

By Kim Tong-Hyung Jun. 18, 2021 09:25 PM EDT

A voter casts her ballot for the presidential election at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iranians voted Friday in a presidential election that a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei seemed likely to win, leading to low turnout fueled by apathy and calls for a boycott. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
In Iran's subdued election, many voters appear to stay home

By Isabel Debre Jun. 18, 2021 02:30 PM EDT

Masoumeh Eftekhari, six months pregnant and strolling through the shop-lined promenades of Tehran’s jam-packed Grand Bazaar, speaks with The Associated Press about the upcoming presidential elections, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, June 10, 2021. She pointed with astonishment to the skyrocketing prices of baby clothes. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Many Iranians fear vote will underscore their powerlessness

By Mohammad Nasiri Jun. 14, 2021 02:07 AM EDT

Iran regains UN voting rights and lashes out at US sanctions

By Edith M. Lederer Jun. 11, 2021 03:00 PM EDT
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Iran regained its voting rights in the U.N. General Assembly on Friday after making the minimum payment on its U.N. dues and lashed out...

Josep Borrell Fontelles vice president of the European Commission in charge of coordinating the external action of the European Union, delivers his speech about the Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security following abductions from an EU civilian plane intercepted by Belarusian authorities. Strasbourg eastern France, Tuesday 8 june , 2021. (Jean-François Badias / Pool via AP)
Russia spars with EU and US at meeting on EU-UN cooperation

By Edith M. Lederer Jun. 11, 2021 12:35 AM EDT

A vendor prepares tea at the Grand Bazaar, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, June 3, 2021. Iran's ailing economy is the major concern for those living in the Islamic Republic ahead of the country's presidential election. They face a daily grinding nightmare of high inflation, an ever-weakening national currency and high unemployment exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
As Iran prepares to vote, its battered economy a major worry

By Mehdi Fattahi Jun. 10, 2021 02:08 AM EDT

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, attends a meeting with senior ruling party officials in Pyongyang, Monday, June 7, 2021. 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 Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
State media: Kim has plans to stabilize N. Korean economy

By Kim Tong-Hyung Jun. 07, 2021 10:58 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 4, 2021, file photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a workshop of chief secretaries of city and county committees of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea. State media say Kim vowed to launch an “uncompromising struggle” against anti-socialist elements and build a perfect self-supporting economy. Kim's comments released Thursday, May 27, 2021 come as he seeks greater internal strength to overcome pandemic-related difficulties and U.S.-led sanctions. 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 Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)
Kim vows to build N. Korea socialism amid US nuclear impasse

By Hyung-Jin Kim May. 27, 2021 05:00 AM EDT

Anti-coup protesters burn tires and chant slogans with banner read ''The Kamayut strike will be fight for to the end when we get victory" during the demonstration against the military coup in Kamayut township Yangon, Monday, May 3, 2021. (AP Photo)
China's UN envoy: Myanmar violence could lead to civil war

By Edith M. Lederer May. 03, 2021 09:48 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 3, 2018, file photo, former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Tokyo. Ban is urging the United Nations and Southeast Asian countries to take swift and "strong action" to stop the deadly crackdown that has followed the military coup in Myanmar. Ban exhorted the U.N. Security Council Monday, April 19, 2021, to act immediately to halt the violence and protect civilians, "using a range of tools at the council's disposal." (AP Photo/Koji Sasaha, File)
EU expands sanctions against Myanmar military, companies

By Elaine Kurtenbach Apr. 20, 2021 03:26 AM EDT

An employee works inside a laboratory at the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine maker, in Pune, India, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. The company is a key supplier for the U.N.-backed COVAX program that aims to distribute vaccines equitably in the world. On March 25, COVAX announced a major setback in its vaccine rollout because a surge in infections in India had caused the Serum Institute of India to cater to domestic demand, resulting in a delay in global shipments of up to 90 million doses. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Indian vaccine maker asks US to ease export curbs

By Aniruddha Ghosal Apr. 16, 2021 06:04 AM EDT

Editorial Roundup: US

By The Associated Press Apr. 14, 2021 08:51 PM EDT
Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad: ___ April 14 The Chicago Tribune...

FILE - In this April 15, 2020 file photo, a billboard urges people to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Middle East economies are recovering from the coronavirus pandemic faster than anticipated, largely due to the acceleration of mass inoculation campaigns and an increase in oil prices. But the International Monetary Fund warned Sunday, April 11, 2021, that an uneven vaccine distribution would derail the region's rebound, as the prospects of rich and poor countries diverge. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell, File)
IMF: Vaccine inequity threatens Mideast's economic recovery

By Isabel Debre Apr. 11, 2021 07:00 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2018, file photo, Kim Yo Jong, right, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister, and Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, center, observe with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, second from left, and first lady Kim Jung-sook during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Friday, Feb. 9, 2018. North Korea has decided not to participate in this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo as it continues a self-imposed lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic. A website run by the North's Sports Ministry said the decision was made during a national Olympic Committee meeting on March 25, 2021 where members prioritized protecting athletes from the “world public health crisis caused by COVID-19.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
EXPLAINER: Why is North Korea skipping the Tokyo Olympics?

By Hyung-Jin Kim Apr. 06, 2021 06:36 AM EDT