AP-Newswatch

Israeli strike kills an elite Hezbollah commander in the latest escalation linked to the war in Gaza

BEIRUT (AP) — An Israeli airstrike has killed an elite Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon. It’s the latest in an escalating exchange of strikes along the border that have raised fears of another Mideast war even as the fighting in Gaza exacts a mounting toll on civilians. A Lebanese security official said Monday’s strike on an SUV killed a commander in a secretive Hezbollah force that operates along the border. Hezbollah identified the slain fighter as Wissam al-Tawil without providing further details. He is the most senior Hezbollah militant to have been killed since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel triggered all-out war in Gaza and lower-intensity fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which has escalated since an Israeli strike killed a senior Hamas leader in Beirut last week.

With each strike, fears grow that Israel, the US and Iran’s allies are inching closer to all-out war

In the last week alone, an Israeli airstrike has killed a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon, Hezbollah struck a sensitive Israeli base with rockets and Israel killed a senior Hamas militant with an airstrike in Beirut. Each strike and counterstrike increases the risk of the catastrophic war in Gaza spilling across the region. There are fears that any party could trigger a wider war if only to avoid appearing weak in the decades-old standoff pitting the U.S. and Israel against Iran and allied militant groups. As the intertwined chess games grow more complicated, the potential for miscalculation rises.

Boeing jetliner that suffered inflight blowout was restricted because of concern over warning light

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal official says the Boeing jetliner that suffered an inflight blowout over Portland, Oregon, was not being used for flights to Hawaii after a warning light that could have indicated a pressurization problem lit up on three different flights. Alaska Airlines decided to restrict the aircraft from long flights over water so the plane could land quickly if the warning light reappeared. Aviation officials also have found the chunk of the fuselage that was expelled from the aircraft. More than 140 Boeing planes are grounded while the airlines await instructions on how to inspect them. The depressurized jet with 171 passengers and six crew returned safely with no serious injuries Friday night.

Trump is raising expectations heading into the Iowa caucuses. Now he has to meet them

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) — When Donald Trump launched his 2024 presidential campaign after a disappointing midterm election for Republicans, his trajectory was something of a mystery. But seven days before Iowa’s kick-off caucuses, his standing among the GOP faithful is hardly in doubt. Voters, campaign operatives and even some of the candidates on the ground largely agree that the Republican former president is the overwhelming favorite heading into the caucuses. But that’s not to say serious risks don’t loom for the front-runner.

First US lunar lander in more than 50 years launched but develops problem on way to moon

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The first U.S. lunar lander in more than 50 years is on its way to the moon. The private lander from Astrobotic Technology blasted off Monday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, catching a ride on United Launch Alliance’s brand new rocket Vulcan. About seven hours after the launch, the company said the lander’s solar panel wasn’t properly pointed toward the sun to generate power and it was investigating the issue. Astrobotic aims to be the first private company to successfully land on the moon, something only four countries have accomplished. Another company also has a lander ready to fly, and could beat it to the lunar surface.

A chaotic Golden Globes night had a bit of everything: The silly, the serious, and Taylor Swift, too

The Golden Globes had a bit of everything: Silliness, seriousness, history, a few good jokes and many bad ones, loads of stars — and Taylor Swift, who didn’t ascend the podium but still made her presence known as perhaps only Swift can. In the great “Barbenheimer” showdown of awards season 2024, round one went decisively to Christopher Nolan’s sweeping biopic. “Oppenheimer” dominated the evening, winning best drama and key acting awards, while Greta Gerwig’s candy-colored “Barbie” lost to upset victor “Poor Things.” The emotional highpoint: Lily Gladstone’s best actress win in the drama “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the first Indigenous winner in the category.

Thousands forced from homes by a deadly Japan earthquake on New Year’s face stress and exhaustion

WAJIMA, Japan (AP) — Thousands of people made homeless overnight are living in weariness and uncertainty on the western coast of Japan a week after a powerful earthquake left at least 168 dead and dozens missing. The rescue effort since the magnitude 7.6 New Year’s Day quake has drawn thousands of troops, firefighters and police who picked through collapsed buildings hoping to find survivors. Authorities warned of the danger of landslides, exacerbated by a heavy snowfall, throughout the quake’s epicenter on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture. At least 323 people are still unaccounted for, a jump from some 100 earlier on Monday as rescuers pour over a list of the region’s population. Another 565 people were injured, and 1,390 homes were destroyed or seriously damaged.

North Korea’s Kim turns 40. But there are no public celebrations of his birthday

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un turns 40 on Monday with no announced public celebrations at home. He entered the new year with artillery barrages into the sea and vows to expand his nuclear arsenal. Since taking power in late 2011, Kim, the third generation of his family to rule North Korea, is believed to have established an absolute leadership similar to his predecessors. But his birthday has yet to be officially celebrated, unlike his late father and grandfather. Their birthdays are two of the North’s biggest holidays.Some observers speculate Kim may think he’s still relatively too young or needs bigger achievements to hold lavish birthday festivities. Others say he wants to avoid drawing attention to his late Japan-born mother.

Explainer: Now-found door ‘plug’ may hold vital clues to how a gaping hole blew open on a jetliner

Few people thought much about “plugs” that seal unused exits on planes until one of them failed and blew a hole in an Alaska Airlines jet. Investigators found the missing part on Sunday. So what are the plugs? And why are they there? Some larger Boeing planes have extra emergency exits in the back to meet U.S. rules for airplane evacuations. But on planes with fewer seats, the extra exits aren’t required. And in those cases, most airlines ask Boeing to panel over the unused exits. Independent experts say examining the damage to the door will be a key part of the investigation into Friday’s emergency landing.

Defendant who attacked judge in wild courtroom video will face her again in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A defendant whose attack on a judge was captured in a wild courtroom video is scheduled to appear before her again. Deobra Redden is scheduled to appear before Judge Mary Kay Holthus again on Monday. Redden grabbed the Holthus’ hair after hurling himself over the judge’s bench, setting off a bloody brawl with court officials on Jan. 3. He already was facing prison time in a felony battery case. After the attack, he faces new felony charges. Holthus suffered some injuries in the attack but was back to work the next day. A court marshall was hospitalized for a gash on his forehead and a dislocated shoulder.