News

An F-35B Lightning II prepares for landing on the amphibious assault ship USS America on Nov. 7, 2016. <br>Maideline Sanchez/U.S. Navy

Trump takes aim at Pentagon's 'revolving door,' $400B F-35 program

President-elect Donald Trump is vowing to corral the "out of control" cost of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. But congressional Republicans and Democrats, aware of the tens of thousands of jobs the aircraft generates in 45 states, will be wary of any plans by Trump to cut the program.

The United Nations Secretary-General designate Antonio Guterres is sworn in at U.N. headquarters, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, becoming the ninth U.N. chief in the body's 71-year history.<br>Seth Wenig/AP

Antonio Guterres sworn in as UN secretary-general

The guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville transits the South China Sea in July. Reports say China flew a nuclear-capable bomber along the so-called "Nine-Dash Line" over the disputed sea last week in response to President-elect Donald Trump's historic phone call with Taiwan's president.<br>Andrew Schneider/U.S. Navy

China reportedly responds to Trump’s Taiwan call by flying nuclear-capable bomber

Marine Cpl. Alec Milejczak shows a Philippine Marine how to use an M110 semi-automatic sniper system during Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise 33 at Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base, Philippines, Oct. 7, 2016. The allies have canceled next year's PHIBLEX.<br>Jesula Jeanlouis/U.S. Marine Corps

US, Philippines cancel annual amphibious-landing drill

The U.S. and the Philippines have canceled next year’s PHIBLEX amphibious landing exercise — a move that has been in the cards since President Rodrigo Duterte called for an end to the maneuvers in September.

Hundreds of thousands of South Koreans fill the historic Gwanghamun Square and surrounding streets in Seoul on Saturday, Nov. 19, for the fourth week in a row. Many brought their children as they calling on President Park Geun-hye to resign over an influence peddling and corruption scandal involving a close friend.<br>Kim Gamel/Stars and Stripes

Candle revolution? People real force behind South Korea’s impeachment

South Korean lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to impeach scandal-ridden President Park Geun-hye, but it was the millions of people wielding nothing but candles who really forced her from power.

u.s.

In this Dec. 9, 2016, photo, President-elect Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally, in Grand Rapids, Mich. In claiming that he scored "massive landslide victory" in last month's presidential election, Trump turned history upside down. In fact, his winning margin in the Electoral College is on the other end of the historical spectrum, far closer to the narrowest win in history than to the widest.<br>Paul Sancya/AP

ANALYSIS

Trump's criticism of Russia hacking claim could haunt him

Donald Trump held firm Monday to his skepticism of the huge intelligence apparatus he's about to inherit, doubting anew the CIA conclusion that Russia tried to hack its way into tipping the U.S. election his way.

europe

In this photo taken Friday, Dec. 9, 2016 former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev speaks to the Associated Press during an interview at his foundation's headquarters, in Moscow, Russia. Gorbachev said the West has wasted a chance to build a safer world after the Cold War while the U.S. has gloated at the Soviet Union's demise.<br>Ivan Sekretarev/AP Photo

Gorbachev says US was short-sighted on Soviets

As the Soviet Union was breaking up 25 years ago, Mikhail Gorbachev expected the United States and its Western allies to provide vital aid.

pacific

An aerial view of Okinawa's Camp Schwab, where Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in the southern part of the island prefecture is slated to relocate by 2025.<br>Jose Nava/U.S. Marine Corps

Report: ruling to allow construction to resume for Futenma replacement

Japan’s Supreme Court will reportedly dismiss an appeal by Okinawa’s governor Dec. 20 without hearing oral arguments, setting the stage for construction to resume in the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

middle east

Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter met Israeli Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman at the Israeli MoD headquarters in Tel Aviv on Dec. 12, 2016.<br>Brigitte Brantley/Department of Defense

US defense secretary in Israel as country gets F-35 jets

The vanguard of Israel's new fleet of F-35 fighter jets roared onto the Nevatim air base Monday, ushering in a new era for Israeli air power and sharpening its military edge in a volatile Mideast.