Trump's team is delaying transition agreements. What does it mean for security checks and governing?

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump 's team still hasn't signed agreements that are required to formally begin the transition process to the White House — meaning the government can't provide security clearances and briefings to incoming administration officials and the FBI can't...

The FBI and DHS leaders won't testify publicly about national security threats before the Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) — The leaders of the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security declined to testify publicly at a scheduled Senate committee hearing Thursday on global threats to national security, a break from standard protocol of open testimony before the panel. “Their choice...

Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai denies he asked a newspaper colleague to draft list of sanction targets

HONG KONG (AP) — Former publisher Jimmy Lai denied that he asked a colleague to draft a list of potential sanction targets in his second day of testimony Thursday at his landmark national security trial in Hong Kong. The 77-year-old founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily...

Hong Kong ex-publisher Jimmy Lai testifies he didn't ask Pence, Pompeo to take action against city

HONG KONG (AP) — Former Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai denied in his landmark national security trial on Wednesday he had asked then U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to take action against the city and China during the territory's anti-government protests in...

45 pro-democracy activists get 4 to 10 years in prison in Hong Kong's biggest national security case

HONG KONG (AP) — Forty-five ex-lawmakers and activists were sentenced to four to 10 years in prison Tuesday in Hong Kong’s biggest national security case under a Beijing-imposed law that crushed a once-thriving pro-democracy movement. They were prosecuted under the 2020 national...

Foreign governments criticize Hong Kong's sentencing of 45 activists. Beijing defends it

HONG KONG (AP) — Forty-five prominent activists in Hong Kong were sentenced to jail for up to 10 years on Tuesday, sparking criticism from foreign governments and rights groups. Beijing defended the decisions. The democracy advocates were among 47 people charged under a...

45 activists sentenced in Hong Kong national security case. The longest term is 10 years

Trump's pick of Rubio as America's top diplomat could reshape US policy in Latin America

MIAMI (AP) — Growing up in Miami among Cuban exiles who fled Fidel Castro's revolution, Sen. Marco Rubio developed a deep hatred of communism. Now as President-elect Donald Trump's choice for America's top diplomat, he's set to bring that same ideological ammunition to reshaping U.S. policy in...

Israel demolishes village at the heart of Bedouin minority's struggle over land

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli authorities on Thursday completed the demolition of a village at the heart of a yearslong struggle by members of the country's Arab Bedouin minority against relocation plans. Israel says the hundreds of villagers were squatting on state-owned land, and...

As the transition unfolds, Trump eyes one of his favorite targets: US intelligence

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has long viewed the nation's spy services with suspicion, accusing them of trying to undermine his first term and campaigns. Now that he's returning to the White House, Trump's promises to overhaul the U.S. intelligence agencies put him on a collision course with...