South Korea and Indonesia expand cooperation on defense and energy

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korea and Indonesia agreed Wednesday to expand cooperation in defense industries, technology and supply chains as their leaders pledged to upgrade their strategic partnership in face of uncertainties stemming from the war in the Middle East, Seoul’s presidential office said.

Artemis II fuels up for NASA's historic return to the moon

Launch preparations have begun for the Artemis II mission, NASA’s planned lunar fly-around by four astronauts that will be the first moon trip in 53 years. Tensions were high as hydrogen fuel started flowing into the rocket hours ahead of the planned launch. Dangerous hydrogen leaks erupted during a countdown test earlier this year, forcing a lengthy flight delay.

 

Swedish PM says he'll let a hard-right party enter a future government

STOCKHOLM (AP) – Sweden’s prime minister said Wednesday that his center-right party would allow a rival with far-right roots to enter the government if the country’s election this year produces a right-wing majority, taking a further decisive step to bring it into the political mainstream.

Editorials from The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

Trump isn't immune from civil claims his Jan. 6 rally speech incited riot

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump is not immune from civil claims that he incited a mob of his supporters to attack the Capitol on Jan, 6, 2021, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled Tuesday that Trump’s remarks “plausibly” were inciting words that are not protected by the First Amendment right to free speech.

SpaceX files initial paperwork to sell shares to the public and likely make Musk a trillionaire

NEW YORK (AP) – Elon Musk’s space exploration company has filed preliminary paperwork to sell shares to the public, according to two sources familiar with the filing, a blockbuster offering that would likely rank as the biggest ever and could make its founder the world’s first trillionaire.

Attacks persist on Iran and across the Mideast as Trump threatens escalation

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Iran kept up its attacks on Israel and Persian Gulf neighbors on Wednesday as airstrikes pounded Tehran and U.S. President Donald Trump again made contradictory statements about whether he was ready to wind down the war or escalate it.

From TMZ to Trump, pressure grows to bring Congress back during partial shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) – TMZ built its brand tracking celebrities. Now it’s turning its attention to Congress, chasing down paparazzi-style shots of lawmakers on break from Washington during a record-long partial government shutdown.

A messy California governor's race raises Democratic fears of potential loss

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Democrats have run California for years, but in a nationally critical election the party is being confronted by the limits of its own power: the race for governor is out of control.