US set for conflict over South China Sea

US President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state has set a course for a potentially serious confrontation with Beijing, saying China should be denied access to islands it has built in the contested South China Sea.

Red flags over Trump's Exxon choice for State

The central question facing Exxon Mobil Corp Chief Executive Rex Tillerson if he becomes US Secretary of State is whether a lifelong oil man with close ties to Russia can pivot from advancing corporate interests to serving the national interest.