A blast in Beirut killed a senior leader of Hamas, raising fears of a wider conflict.

That's where we're starting the seven from the Washington Post.

I'm Hannah Jewel. It's Wednesday, January 3rd. Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories.

Yesterday's explosion in a suburb of the Lebanese capital killed Salih Aruri.

He's the second in command of the militant group's political office.

Hamas confirmed the killing.

Israel has not claimed responsibility,

but a US defense official said Israel's military did carry out the strike.

The attack in Beirut has added to concerns that Israel's war in Gaza could spill over into other

countries.

Israel and Lebanon have already been exchanging fire across

their border over the past few months of war. Today the head of the Iran-backed

militant group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, is expected to make a speech about how his group may respond to the killing.

He has previously warned that such an assassination would inspire a strong reaction.

Number two, Donald Trump appealed Maine's decision to ban him from its 2024 primary ballot. Last week, Maine's Democratic Secretary of State, Shenanbellows, declared that Trump's name should

not be on the ballot because of his role in the January 6th 2021 attack on the Capitol.

Yesterday, Trump asked a judge to reverse that decision.

A handful of states have ongoing efforts to disqualify Trump over his role in the capital attack.

The cases hinge on part of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

It says that people who have sworn an oath to support the Constitution cannot hold office if they engage an insurrection.

These cases may ultimately end up in the US Supreme Court, which could make a ruling to resolve the issue for the entire country.

The first primary contest in Iowa is less than two weeks away. At number three, the president of Harvard, Claudine Gaye resigned yesterday.

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