Japanese troops on Wednesday detonated eight unexploded, U.S.-made bombs believed to be from World War II off the coast of southern Okinawa.

Young soccer players from two Defense Department high schools on Okinawa recently got a chance to prepare for the upcoming season with the coaches of Japan’s top-rated professional team.

A passenger plane caught fire before takeoff at an airport in South Korea late Tuesday, but all 176 people on board were safely evacuated, authorities said.

A pilot was reported safe after an F-35 fighter jet crashed during a training exercise Tuesday afternoon at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska. The pilot experienced an “inflight malfunction” but was able to eject from the aircraft before it crashed on the runway, according to the wing commander.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected a facility that produces nuclear material and called for bolstering the country’s nuclear fighting capability, state media reported Wednesday, as the North looks to increase pressure on the United States following the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

The bond between Kiribati — population 120,000 — and its near neighbor New Zealand might not appear significant. But the acrimony reflects concern from western powers that their interests in the region are being undermined as China woos Pacific leaders with offers of funding and loans.

The nation erected 357 gigawatts of wind and solar, a 45% and 18% increase, respectively, over what the country had operating at the end of 2023. That’s akin to building 357 full-size nuclear plants in one year. The installations meant China has already surpassed its goal of having 1,200 gigawatts from renewables by 2030.

The Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek has rattled markets with claims its latest AI model performs on a par with those of OpenAI, despite using less advanced, more energy efficient computer chips. It has raised concerns that China may have overtaken the U.S. in the AI race despite restrictions on its access to the most advanced chips.

The Air Force is resetting the expiration dates on waivers for airmen and guardians with shaving exemptions, or profiles, according to a memo from service’s surgeon general.

Heavy snow Monday night prompted school closures, travel warnings and suspended services for some U.S. bases in South Korea as the country observes its longest holiday of the year.

The Air Force has again cut funding for the popular Recharge for Resiliency program that provides airmen and their families substantial discounts for recreational trips and other activities.

Japanese F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters are set to train for the first time with American and Australian F-35s in the skies over Guam, according to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

At least three U.S. Navy ships and four Marine Corps Ospreys will join an annual amphibious exercise by Marines, sailors and Japanese troops next month, according to Japan’s military.

China pledged to accept the return of undocumented Chinese citizens in the U.S., after President Donald Trump threatened to hit Colombia with tariffs of up to 50% for refusing to take back deported migrants.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has become the country’s first leader to be indicted, less than two weeks after he was the first to be detained.

The top diplomats of China and India called for their nations to provide further mutual support, but avoided publicly mentioning a long-standing border dispute in the Himalayas when they met Monday in Beijing.

The first report on last month’s Jeju Air crash in South Korea confirmed traces of bird strikes in the plane’s engines, though officials haven’t determined the cause of the accident.

An elementary school and a middle school at the home of the 18th Wing canceled classes Monday due to a sewer line issue that was resolved that afternoon.

Air Force wings in Japan and South Korea dispersed aircraft and airmen during weeklong rehearsals this month for flying and fighting on the move.