BAGHDAD -- Up to 114 people were killed and more than 200 injured in a huge wedding hall fire in the town of al-Hamdaniya in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, Governor of Nineveh Najm al-Jubouri told reporters on Wednesday.

The fire broke out on Tuesday night in the al-Haytham Wedding Hall in the town of al-Hamdaniya, 35 km southeast of the provincial capital Mosul, the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) quoted the Iraqi Civil Defense as saying earlier. (Iraq-Fire-Death Toll)

- - - -

SEOUL -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has decided to expel U.S. soldier Travis King over an illegal crossing into the country in July, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Wednesday, without specifying a destination.

The U.S. soldier has confessed he illegally intruded into the country as he harbored ill feelings toward inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. army and was disillusioned about the inequality of U.S. society, said KCNA, citing an investigation by DPRK authorities. (DPRK-U.S. Soldier)

- - - -

KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysian King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah partake in the 2023 Chinese Unity Mid-Autumn Festival Dinner, as the date for the major Chinese cultural event closes in.

The dinner, organized by the Federation of Malaysia Lim Associations on Tuesday, was also attended by Deputy Finance Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong and other officials, reported state news agency Bernama. (Malaysia-Mid-Autumn)

- - - -

JERUSALEM -- Israeli archaeologists have found in Jerusalem a burial cave with the cremated remains of a woman dating back about 2,300 years, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and Tel Aviv University said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

Bent iron nails were found next to the woman's remains, alongside a rare well-preserved grave good of a folding bronze box mirror, the statement added. (Israel-Ancient Burial Cave-Findings)