North Korea says it tested a solid-fuel missile tipped with a hypersonic weapon

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says it has flight-tested a new, solid-fuel intermediate-range missile tipped with a hypersonic warhead as it pursues more powerful, harder-to-detect weapons designed to strike remote U.S. targets in the region. The report on Monday by North Korea’s state media came a day after the South Korean and Japanese militaries detected the launch that was the North’s first ballistic test of 2024. The launch came two months after North Korea said it successfully tested engines for a new solid-fuel intermediate-range missile, which reflected a push to advance its lineup of weapons targeting U.S. military bases in Guam and Japan.

Men who say they were abused by a boy band producer criticize response

TOKYO (AP) — Members of a group of men who say they were sexually abused as boys by a Japanese entertainment mogul are accusing the company behind the scandal of not being sincere in dealing with the victims and say many have not received compensation. Hundreds of men have come forward since last year, alleging they were sexually abused as teens by boy band producer Johnny Kitagawa. Kitagawa, who died in 2019, was never charged. The company, previously known as Johnny’s, said Monday it has made payments to 125 people among the more than 900 who have applied.

Iceland faces daunting period after lava from volcano destroys homes

REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — Iceland’s president says the country is battling “tremendous forces of nature” after molten lava from a volcano consumed several houses in the evacuated town of Grindavik. President Gudni Th. Johannesson said in a televised address late Sunday that “a daunting period of upheaval has begun” on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the southwest. A volcano on the peninsula erupted for the second time in less than a month on Sunday morning. Authorities had ordered residents to leave the fishing town of Grindavik hours earlier. Scientists said Monday that the eruption appeared to be dying down.

Ukraine says it shot down 2 Russian command and control aircraft

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s military chief says that the Ukrainian air force has shot down a Russian early warning and control plane that can spot targets up to 400 miles away and a key command center aircraft that relays information to troops on the ground. Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhnyi didn’t say on Monday how or where the aircraft were brought down. But Ukraine has received sophisticated air defense systems from its Western allies. The hits would be a significant blow for the Kremlin’s forces and a landmark feat for Ukraine in the almost two-year war.