The vice president urged calm and called for new mechanisms to avoid an escalation of regional tensions. China and Japan have been at odds over the airspace above a set of disputed islands in the East China Sea.

According to White House metrics, the site is now working more than 90 percent of time, up from less than half the time in early November.

The strike also killed a militant, the U.S.-led international coalition says. The deaths come as the two countries negotiate a bilateral security pact that would keep up to 10,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan after the U.S. withdraws its combat forces by the end of next year.

Should the Afghan government sign a security agreement, the U.S. plans to keep as many as 9,000 American troops in Afghanistan even after the U.S. and NATO's combat mission officially ends late in 2014. But the remaining U.S. troops will almost certainly be outnumbered by civilian contractors.

China has declared a sprawling air defense identification zone that covers disputed islands controlled by Japan. It also sent its lone aircraft carrier for trials in the South China Sea. The moves are being closely watched in the Philippines, a key U.S. ally that has seen its own territorial dispute with China.

China is seen as asserting its growing power with the latest move. However, the U.S. and Japan say they won't respect it and U.S. B-52s have already flown through the space without informing China.

People's genes can affect how they'll respond to blood thinners and cancer drugs. But inaccurate results can lead to bad medical decisions. Regulators are pushing back against a company that's been among the most aggressive in marketing personal genetic testing directly to consumers.

The president has often spoken about making a pivot to Asia. But he keeps being drawn to the Middle East. The president's legacy on foreign policy will likely be determined by what ultimately happens in this volatile region.

The Indiana War Memorial now has new exhibits in honor of former governors Joe Kernan and Ed Whitcomb.

The Indianapolis Parks Department is trying to establish new relationships to make improvements. The City is putting out requests for proposals on what non-profits and business can do to renovate parks.