Middle East: US won't halt any weapons to Israel

Eight international aid groups said Tuesday that Israel has failed to meet U.S. demands for greater humanitarian access to the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where hunger experts say the north may already be experiencing famine. However, the Biden administration said Tuesday it won’t limit weapons transfers to Israel because the U.S. says its key ally has made good but limited progress in increasing the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Japanese nuclear reactor shut down

TOKYO (AP) - A Japanese nuclear reactor that restarted last week for the first time in more than 13 years after it had survived a massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami that badly damaged the nearby Fukushima nuclear plant was shut down again Monday due to an equipment problem, its operator said.

Trump says Musk, Ramaswamy to advise on government efficiency

WASHINGTON (AP) - President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday said Elon Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new "Department of Government Efficiency” - which is not, despite the name, a government agency.

Typhoon hits Taiwan's east coast

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - A powerful typhoon made landfall in Taiwan on Thursday, killing one person and bringing high winds and floods to much of the island's east coast and northern areas, after barreling past the northern Philippines.

Editorials from the New York Times and Washington Post

The Washington Post on the need for an overhaul of the Secret Service. Based on 58 multi-hour interviews and more than 7,000 documents, the independent bipartisan panel President Joe Biden assigned to analyze the Secret Service after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump this summer issued a grim warning:

Hello Kitty turns 50

TOKYO (AP) - Hello Kitty turns 50 on Friday. Befitting a pop icon at midlife, the bubble-headed, bow-wearing character’s fictional birthday has brought museum exhibits, a theme park spectacle and a national tour. And that’s just in Japan, her literal birthplace but not the one listed in her official biography.

Judge delays ruling on Trump's conviction

NEW YORK (AP) - A judge has postponed a decision on whether to undo President-elect Donald Trump's hush money conviction as prosecutors consider how to proceed in light of last week's election and his lawyers argue for dismissal so he can run the country.