News Wrap: U.S. will not limit arms transfers to Israel

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• Amna Nawaz:

  We start the day's other headlines with the aid situation in Gaza.

  The State Department says the U.S. will not limit arms transfers to Israel after the country made some progress in boosting aid to the territory. The U.S. had threatened to do so a month ago if the situation didn't improve. International aid organizations, however, say the Israeli government has failed to meet U.S. demands for more humanitarian aid to Gaza, where conditions are at their worst point in 13 months of war.

  At the State Department today, officials defended their decision.

• Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy State Department Spokesperson:

  We'd like to see some more changes happen. We believe that, had it not been for U.S. intervention, these changes may not have ever taken place. But, most importantly, we want to see continued progress. And that's what we're looking for.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Meanwhile in Gaza, a pair of Israeli airstrikes killed at least 14 people today. Hospital officials in the southern city of Khan Yunis say two children were among the dead. Most of the fatalities took place in an area that Israel had declared a humanitarian zone. The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the strikes.

  Separately, a rocket fired from Lebanon killed at least two people in Northern Israel today, part of an ongoing exchange of fire across the Israel-Lebanon border. Also today, Israel launched attacks on the suburbs of Lebanon's capital. One hit an apartment building east of Beirut, killing at least six people.

  A New York judge is delaying a decision whether to uphold president-elect Donald Trump's hush money conviction by a week. Judge Juan Merchan was scheduled to decide the future of the case today, but is giving both sides more time following the Supreme Court's recent decision on presidential immunity and Trump's election victory.

  His lawyers argued the case should be dismissed outright, saying it's — quote — "necessary to avoid unconstitutional impediments to President Trump's ability to govern." Trump is due to be sentenced later this month following his conviction in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records. He denies any wrongdoing.

  A federal judge has sentenced a former Massachusetts Air National Guard member to 15 years in prison for leaking classified military documents about the war in Ukraine. Jack Teixeira pleaded guilty earlier this year to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information.

  He was arrested in April of last year and admitted to sharing sensitive defense secrets on the social media platform Discord. It was one of the most significant national security leaks in years.

  In Louisiana, a federal judge has blocked a law that would force public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms. A coalition of parents from different religious backgrounds sued the state, saying that the measure violated their First Amendment rights. Their attorney called today's decision a — quote — "reality check for Louisiana lawmakers who want to use public schools to convert children to their preferred brand of Christianity."

  The case is the latest in a series of Republican efforts to insert religion into public schools. Louisiana's Republican attorney general plans to appeal.

  The head of the Church of England stepped down today amid pressure to resign over an abuse cover-up scandal. An investigation found that Justin Welby failed to report a serial physical and sexual abuser to police when he became aware of it back in 2013. In a statement, Welby says he takes personal and institutional responsibility, adding — quote — "I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the church of England understands the need for change."

  As archbishop of Canterbury, Welby serves as the symbolic head of the Anglican Communion, which has more than 85 million members in 165 countries.

  Police in China say that at least 35 people were killed and dozens more injured when a man drove his car into a crowd of people at a sports complex. The incident happened on Monday night as people were exercising in the southern city of Zhuhai. Locals paid tribute to the victims at a makeshift memorial tonight. Police have detained a 62-year-old suspect who they say was upset over his divorce settlement.

  For the first time, a jury has found a U.S. defense contractor legally responsible for contributing to the torture of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison during the Iraq War. Virginia-based CACI must pay $42 million in damages to three plaintiffs who said they were beaten and sexually abused at the infamous facility.

  One of the men seen in the foreground of this courtroom sketch wearing glasses wrote — quote — "This victory is a shining light and a strong warning to any company or contractor practicing different forms of torture and abuse." CACI is widely expected to appeal.

  On Wall Street today, stocks retreated from recent records. The Dow Jones industrial average lost more than 380 points to close back below the 44000-point level. The Nasdaq slipped about 17 points on the day, and the S&P 500 also ended slightly lower.

  And we have a bit of nostalgia for you with this year's entries into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Three playtime favorites made the cut, the Phase 10 card game, Transformers action figures, and My Little Pony. It was a long ride for My Little Pony, which once outsold even Barbie herself. The pastel ponies needed seven tries before finally reaching the winner's circle.

  Those three beat out nine other finalists. They included Pokemon trading cards, Hess Trucks, and classics like balloons, the trampoline, and the stick horse. Maybe someday.