Southeast Asian defense chiefs discuss regional security with US, China and other partner nations

A diverted American Airlines flight, AA 292, was escorted by Italian fighter jets to Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport due to a non-credible security concern. The flight, originally bound for New Delhi, was inspected in Rome before being cleared by law enforcement. Safety and security remain top priorities for the airline, which apologized to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the incident. Full Article

Two more suspects, Kimberly L. Sochia and Thomas G. Eaves, were charged with second degree murder in connection with the death of Sam Nordquist, a transgender man who was tortured and killed in New York. State police announced their arrests, bringing the total number of people charged to seven. Nordquist's mother criticized local authorities for not taking action earlier, revealing that her son had expressed a desire to escape an abusive situation before his death....

Israel sent tanks into the West Bank for the first time since 2002, with the military preparing for "an extended stay" to combat terrorism in refugee camps, particularly in Jenin. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered increased military activity to thwart terrorism and prevent the return of residents who have fled the territory, with troops expected to remain for at least a year. This move comes amid a fragile ceasefire...

Germany's opposition conservatives, led by Friedrich Merz, won the national election, with the far-right Alternative for Germany coming in second. International reactions included U.S. President Trump praising the result as a victory against the prevailing agenda, Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis congratulating Merz as Germany's next chancellor, and Czech Prime Minister Fiala expressing support for German-Czech cooperation. Austrian far-right leader Kickl noted a "gaping hole" in the political system, while Italian Deputy Prime Minister Salvini praised...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended President Trump's firing of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., stating he was "not the right man for the moment." Hegseth also removed the chief of naval operations and military lawyers, arguing for a fresh approach. Senator Jack Reed criticized the firings as unjustified and a move to make the Defense Department subservient to the president, while Hegseth defended the decisions and emphasized...

Chinook salmon have returned to the North Yuba River in Northern California after an 80-year absence, thanks to a pilot program by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fertilized salmon eggs were placed in nests along a 12-mile stretch of riverbed, resulting in the hatching of young salmon in February. The goal is to potentially double the salmon habitat in the Yuba River watershed and learn more about salmon behavior in this newly reintroduced...