US Launches Attacks in Syria to Eliminate Islamic State

WASHINGTON (AP) – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday announced the start of a military operation in Syria to “eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites” following the deaths of three U.S. citizens in an ambush attack almost a week ago.

Wall Street ticks to records after shaking off feud with the Fed

NEW YORK (AP) - Wall Street ticked to more records Monday after bouncing back from losses. The S&P 500 tacked 0.2% onto its prior all-time high set on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average recovered an early loss of nearly 500 points and added 86, or 0.2%, to its own record, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.3%.

Honduras starts special count of final votes in presidential election after pressure from US

TEGUCIGALPA (AP) – Honduras electoral officials on Thursday launched a special count of the final set of votes in the country’s November presidential election, after three weeks of uncertainty, swirling accusations and pressure from the Trump administration to wrap up the results.

Top Asia Pacific Breaking News: Morning Edition

HONG KONG (AP) – A Hong Kong court heard arguments Monday about the sentencing of democracy advocate and onetime-media magnate Jimmy Lai, whose conviction under a national security law could land him in prison for the rest of his life. Lai founded the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper and was an outspoken critic of China’s ruling Communist Party.

Trump's blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil raises new questions about legality

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump’s “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers off Venezuela’s coast is raising new questions about the legality of his military campaign in Latin America, while fueling concerns that the U.S. could be edging closer to war.

DOJ Investigation of Fed Chair Powell Sparks Backlash

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration’s criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell appeared on Monday to be emboldening defenders of the U.S. central bank that President Donald Trump wants to bring under his sway. The backlash reflected the bigger stakes of a contest about the fate of the Fed’s independence.

US military says strike on alleged drug boat kills 4 in eastern Pacific

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. military said Wednesday that it attacked a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing four people on the same day the House rejected efforts to limit President Donald Trump’s power to use military force against drug cartels.

Editorials from New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

Some sanctioned oil vessels divert from Venezuela as Trump threatens blockade

MIAMI (AP) – Some oil vessels are diverting away from Venezuela after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the South American country, a dramatic escalation in the White House’s pressure campaign on leader Nicolás Maduro.