Social Security now pays out more money than it brings in, so payments rely largely on a trust fund built up by the Social Security Administration. That fund is projected to run out of money by the mid-2030s, which has led politicians in both parties to debate how Social Security should change to avoid a shortfall. Prior to the election, the Harris campaign claimed then-candidate Donald Trump would cut Social Security, but President-elect Donald Trump has promised he will protect the program. Pam and other VERIFY readers sent us emails asking if Trump can unilaterally change or even end Social Security. THE QUESTION Can the president change Social Security? THE SOURCES Bankrate U.S. Treasury Social Security Act Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) Society of Actuaries Social Security Administration THE ANSWER No, the president cannot change Social Security. WHAT WE FOUND The president cannot unilaterally change Social Security, including how it’s funded, how much it pays beneficiaries or how it’s taxed. Congress can, however, make changes to Social Security, and the president can make suggestions to Congress. “Social Security’s tax rate and benefits are set by law,” Bankrate says. “So to tweak them, Congress must first change the law, and the president then needs to sign it.” Social Security falls into a part of the federal budget called mandatory spending, according to the U.S. Treasury . Mandatory spending does not require an annual vote by Congress; instead, existing laws mandate the spending and determine how much should be spent each year. In this case, the Social Security Act requires the government to provide payments to beneficiaries based on the amount of money they’ve earned and other factors, the Treasury says. The law, last amended in 2019, will continue to determine how much beneficiaries are paid and therefore how much the government spends on Social Security each year until the law is amended again. Though the president can’t change Social Security on their own, they can propose changes to Congress. Since Republicans will have majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives in the next Congress, they may vote to amend the law per Trump’s proposals. Other laws and policies may also impact Social Security’s finances, even if they don’t directly pertain to Social Security. These include some executive actions the president can do without Congressional approval. For example, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) says mass deportations may negatively impact Social Security’s finances because it would reduce the number of immigrant workers paying into the trust fund. Trump has proposed eliminating income tax on Social Security payments, which would also require Congress to pass legislation. The CRFB, the Tax Policy Center and the Tax Foundation all project that the proposal would make Social Security run out of money sooner because those taxes fund future Social Security payments. Additionally, the president can remove the current Commissioner of Social Security and appoint a new one, the Society of Actuaries says. The Commissioner of Social Security is responsible for administering Social Security programs, but does not have the individual power to change how Social Security works. Related Articles Yes, elected officials picked for Trump's cabinet will have to resign before taking new role What we can VERIFY about Trump’s plan to close the U.S. Department of Education Yes, Trump will have the authority to pardon Jan. 6 rioters The VERIFY team works to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter , text alerts and our YouTube channel . You can also follow us on Snapchat , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . Learn More » Follow Us YouTube Snapchat Instagram Facebook TikTok Want something VERIFIED? Text: 202-410-8808
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A United Nations watchdog has been selected to lead an external probe into allegations of sexual misconduct against the top prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, The Associated Press learned Tuesday. The move will likely generate conflict of interest concerns owing to the prosecutor’s wife’s past work for the oversight body. Chief prosecutor Karim Khan provided updates on the court's politically sensitive investigations into war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine, Gaza and Venezuela among other conflict areas during the institution's annual meeting this week in The Hague, Netherlands. But hanging over the gathering of the ICC's 124 member states are allegations against Khan himself. An AP investigation in October found that at the same time the ICC was readying a warrant for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Khan was facing internal accusations that he tried to coerce a female aide into a sexual relationship and groped her against her will over a period of several months. The Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, which oversees the ICC, previously announced an external probe into the allegations but hadn’t said who it would select to conduct the probe. At this week’s meeting, Päivi Kaukoranta, a Finnish diplomat currently heading the ICC’s oversight body, told delegates that she has settled on the U.N.’s Office of Internal Oversight Services, two diplomats told the AP on the condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks. Two respected human rights group last month already expressed concern about the possible selection of the U.N. because Khan’s wife, a prominent human rights attorney, worked at the agency in Kenya in 2019 and 2020 investigating sexual harassment. The International Federation for Human Rights and Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice, in a joint statement, said Khan should be suspended while the probe is being carried out and called for “thoroughly vetting the chosen investigative body, firm, or institution to ensure it is free from conflicts of interest and possesses demonstrated expertise.” What they described as Khan’s “close relationship” with the U.N. agency deserved added scrutiny, the two groups said. “We strongly recommend ensuring that these concerns are openly and transparently addressed before assigning the mandate to the OIOS,” the two organizations said. Kaukoranta declined to comment when asked about the investigation by the AP on Tuesday on the sidelines of the annual meeting. The U.N. and Khan’s attorney didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The accusations against Khan surfaced when two court employees in whom the alleged victim confided came forward with the accusation in May, a few weeks before Khan sought arrest warrants against Netanyahu , his defense minister and three Hamas leaders on war crimes charges. A three-judge panel last month signed off on those charges for the Israelis and the sole remaining Hamas leader whose death from Israel's bombing campaign hasn't been confirmed. AP reported that Khan traveled frequently with the woman after transferring her to his office from another department at the ICC’s headquarters. During one foreign trip, Khan allegedly asked the woman to rest with him on a hotel bed and then “sexually touched her,” according to whistleblower documents shared with the court’s watchdog and seen by the AP. Later, he came to her room at 3 a.m. and knocked on the door for 10 minutes. Other allegedly nonconsensual behavior cited in the documents included locking the door of his office and sticking his hand in her pocket. He also allegedly asked her on several occasions to go on a vacation together. After the two co-workers reported the alleged behavior, the court’s internal watchdog interviewed the woman but she opted against filing a complaint due to her distrust of the watchdog, according to the AP investigation. Khan was never questioned and the watchdog’s inquiry was closed within five days. Although the 900-employee ICC has long had a “zero-tolerance” policy on sexual harassment, an outside review of the court’s inner-workings in 2020 found an unacceptable level of predatory behavior by male bosses, a lack of women in senior positions and inadequate mechanisms for dealing with complaints and protecting whistleblowers. “There is a general reluctance, if not extreme fear, among many staff to report any alleged act of misconduct or misbehavior” by a senior official, the experts concluded in their 348-page report. “The perception is that they are all immune.” Although the ICC’s policies have been updated since the report, a 2024 internal reported obtained by AP showed that 30% of respondents to a staff survey reported they had experienced discrimination, abuse or harassment in the previous 12 months. While the court’s watchdog could not determine wrongdoing, it nonetheless urged Khan in a memo to minimize contact with the woman to protect the rights of all involved and safeguard the court’s integrity. Complicating any truth-seeking investigation have been attempts by Israel and others to undermine the court's credibility. Under Khan, the ICC has become more assertive in combating crimes against humanity and along the way it has added to a growing list of enemies. Last September, following the opening of a probe into Russian atrocities in Ukraine, the court suffered a debilitating cyberattack that left staff unable to work for weeks. It also hired an intern who was later criminally charged in the U.S. with being a Russian spy. Israel has also been waging its own influence campaign ever since the ICC recognized Palestine as a member and in 2015 opened a preliminary investigation into what the court referred to as “the situation in the State of Palestine.” London’s The Guardian newspaper and several Israeli news outlets reported this summer that Israel’s intelligence agencies for the past decade have allegedly targeted senior ICC staff, including putting Khan’s predecessor under surveillance and showing up at her house with envelopes stuffed with cash to discredit her. Netanyahu himself, in the days leading up to Khan’s announcement of war crimes charges, called on the world’s democracies “to use all the means at their disposal” to block the court from what he called an “outrage of historic proportions.” Goodman reported from Miami.Raphinha scores 2 and Barcelona ends Spanish league slump with 5-1 rout of MallorcaThe Great British Bake Off 2024: fans are all saying the same thing about Dylan in the final
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 11, 2024-- Intelligent power management company Eaton (NYSE:ETN) today announced that Pete Denk has been named president and chief operating officer, Industrial Sector, effective January 1, 2025. Denk succeeds Paulo Ruiz, who will assume the role of president and chief executive officer following Craig Arnold’s retirement on May 31, 2025. In this role, Denk will be responsible for the company’s Aerospace, Mobility, Filtration and Golf Pride businesses. He will continue reporting to Ruiz as a member of Eaton’s senior leadership team. In a related move, Antonio Galvao will succeed Denk as president, Mobility Group, effective January 1, 2025. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211094187/en/ Pete Denk named president and chief operating officer, Industrial Sector, Eaton (Photo: Business Wire) “Pete’s strong leadership and empowering approach help fuel a passion for growth and margin expansion,” said Ruiz. “His demonstrated ability to lead large teams and deliver results in a highly dynamic environment make him ideally suited to oversee our Industrial Sector as we continue our evolution as an enterprise.” Denk joined Eaton in 2018 as president, Vehicle Group, North America before becoming president, Mobility Group, in 2023. Prior to Eaton, Denk spent nearly 20 years with Robert Bosch LLC, starting in manufacturing and operations and then serving in a variety of other roles of increasing responsibility including director, Development and Applications Engineering; vice president, Thermal Systems; and president, Electrical Drives, North America. Denk holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and a Master of Mechanical Engineering and fluid mechanics degree, both from Cornell University. He also holds a Master of Manufacturing Engineering degree from the University of Michigan. Galvao has been with Eaton for 38 years, most recently as president, Mobility Group and Corporate, South America. As president, Mobility Group, Galvao will continue reporting to Denk and will become a member of Eaton’s senior leadership team. He has held many quality, manufacturing and operations roles over the years including director, Passenger Car business unit, at the Light and Medium Duty Transmission facility in Mogi Mirim, Brazil and director, Operational Excellence, Light and Medium Duty Transmission division, Truck Group in Galesburg, Michigan. Ruiz continued, “Antonio is a proven leader whose decades of experience in our Mobility Group position him well for success in leading this talented team.” Galvao holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the Universidade Estadual de Campinas in Brazil and a Master of Business Administration degree from Fundação Getulio Vargas in Brazil. Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy sources, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come. Eaton was founded in 1911 and has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange for more than a century. We reported revenues of $23.2 billion in 2023 and serve customers in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com . Follow us on LinkedIn . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211094187/en/ CONTACT: Camie Melton Hanily +1 (952) 240-2270 camiemmeltonhanily@eaton.com KEYWORD: OHIO EUROPE IRELAND UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OTHER MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY OTHER ENERGY ENGINEERING UTILITIES MANUFACTURING ENERGY MACHINERY HARDWARE DATA MANAGEMENT SOURCE: Eaton Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/11/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 12/11/2024 04:15 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211094187/enHannah went missing and her dad died searching. Now, her family says she’s been found safe
See some of the best photos from National Geographic's ‘Pictures of the Year'
What do you get the iPhone user who has everything? CarPlay solutions and accessories are a great place to start! These are the best CarPlay related gifts for the holiday season. Wireless CarPlay adapter Chances are these days that recently bought cars already have CarPlay built-in, but is it wireless CarPlay? If not, these wireless CarPlay adapters are extremely popular and enable CarPlay without having to plug in the wire every time: OTTOCAST Wireless CarPlay Adapter for iPhone – 2024 Upgrade Wired to Wireless Apple CarPlay Dongle – 5GHz WiFi, Low Latency, Plug & Play, Online Update Carlinkit 5.0 Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto Adapter – Convert Wired CarPlay & Android Auto to Wireless – Stable Connection for Car Multimedia – Easy Setup & Compatibility But what if you want to do much more than just turn CarPlay into wireless CarPlay? The Carlinkit Ai Box converts wired CarPlay into wireless CarPlay while turning car touchscreens into streaming media players. You can install apps, storage local media, and even add cellular connectivity without using your phone’s data or requiring your phone to work. Amazon currently offers an $85 coupon from the list price. Charging solutions A must-have CarPlay accessory for me includes a very specific charging cable. For new iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 users, it’s important to have a dedicated USB-C to USB-C cable for the car since the iPhone 14 is the last model to use the Lightning connector. I prefer a black cable for a neater look like these solutions: Belkin USB-C to USB-C Cable (1M/3.3ft), USB-C Fast Charging Cable for iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Plus, Galaxy S23, S22, Note, Pixel, iPad Pro, USB Type-C Cable – Black Anker USB C to USB C Cable, Type C 60W Fast Charging Cable (3.3FT, 2Pack) for iPhone 16 Series, iPad Mini 6 and More (USB 2.0,Black) Let’s not forget about the road warrior passengers, of course, who will appreciate fast charging adapters and longer charging cables like these: Amazon.com: USB C Car Charger, 3-Port 67W Dual USB-C & USB-A Car Power Adapter PD/QC Fast Charging Cigarette Lighter for iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/Pro Max, iPad, Samsung Galaxy S24/S23/S22/S21, Pixel, Android : Cell Phones & Accessorie s Amazon Basics USB-A to Lightning ABS Charger Cable, MFi Certified Charger for Apple iPhone 14 13 12 11 X Xs Pro, Pro Max, Plus, iPad, 6 Foot, White Anker USB C to USB C Cable, Type C 60W Fast Charging Cable (6FT, 2Pack) for iPhone 16 Series, iPad Mini 6 and More (USB 2.0, Black) Amazon Basics USB-C to USB-C 2.0 Fast Charger Cable, 480Mbps Speed, USB-IF Certified, for Apple iPhone 16/15, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, Tablets, Laptops, 6 Foot, Black MagSafe iPhone mounts iPhone 12 and later include Apple’s MagSafe technology for magnetically attaching to and wirelessly charging from MagSafe accessories. These can be as simple as mounts that attach anywhere in your car to more advanced versions that include charging capabilities too. Here are some great options to shop: Belkin MagSafe Vent Mount Pro – MagSafe Phone Mount for Car, Magnetic Phone Holder Compatible with iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Series, iPhone 14 Series, and Mini – Gray Belkin MagSafe-Compatible Magnetic Wireless Car Charger 10W – BoostCharge Pro Wireless Charger, Magnetic Car Vent Phone Mount for iPhone 16, iPhone 15, 14, & 13 Series, Power Supply Included – Black SYNCWIRE for MagSafe Car Mount – 360° Rotation Magnetic Phone Holder for Car Dashboard, Strong Magnets Car Phone Holder Mount Compatible iPhone 16 Pro Max 15 14 13 12,Samsung Scosche MP2FM-XCES0 MagicMount Pro2 Universal Flush Magnetic Cell Phone Car Mount Kit Compatible with MagSafe, iPhones, Galaxy, Pixel & All Smartphones Rolling Square Edge Pro Core – Magnetic Mount Phone Holder Stand for Computers and Tablets | Secure Metal Plate Adhesive or Standalone Mode Compatible with MagSafe, Qi, and Non-MagSafe Devices, Black Aftermarket CarPlay Finally, if you want to give the gift of CarPlay to someone who doesn’t already have Apple’s iPhone infotainment feature in their car, look no further than these aftermarket CarPlay head units and displays: Upgrade Wireless Double Din Car Stereo with CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, 4-Channel RCA, High Power, 2 Subwoofer Ports, 7′′ HD Capacitive Touchscreen Car Radio, Backup Camera, Audio Receiver HAUXIY Wireless Apple CarPlay Screen for Car 4K Dash Cam, 9′′ Portable Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Car Stereo, with 1080p Backup Camera, GPS Navigation/Mirror Link/Voice Control/Bluetooth 9-Inch Wireless Car Stereo with CarPlay, Backup Camera, GPS Navigation, Android Auto – by LAMTTO Carflix Portable Wireless CarPlay Screen for Car – 10.26 Inch Car Play Screen & Stereo Compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay – Multimedia Player, Bluetooth,Navigation Screen for All Vehicles Bonus gift idea options for iPhone users and Apple fans: Rode Wireless Micro Anker Qi2 MagGo Wireless Charging Station Belkin Stage Auto-Tracking Stand Pro with DockKit After Steve by Tripp Mickle Beats Pill (2024)DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 11, 2024-- Intelligent power management company Eaton (NYSE:ETN) today announced that Pete Denk has been named president and chief operating officer, Industrial Sector, effective January 1, 2025. Denk succeeds Paulo Ruiz, who will assume the role of president and chief executive officer following Craig Arnold’s retirement on May 31, 2025. In this role, Denk will be responsible for the company’s Aerospace, Mobility, Filtration and Golf Pride businesses. He will continue reporting to Ruiz as a member of Eaton’s senior leadership team. In a related move, Antonio Galvao will succeed Denk as president, Mobility Group, effective January 1, 2025. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211094187/en/ Pete Denk named president and chief operating officer, Industrial Sector, Eaton (Photo: Business Wire) “Pete’s strong leadership and empowering approach help fuel a passion for growth and margin expansion,” said Ruiz. “His demonstrated ability to lead large teams and deliver results in a highly dynamic environment make him ideally suited to oversee our Industrial Sector as we continue our evolution as an enterprise.” Denk joined Eaton in 2018 as president, Vehicle Group, North America before becoming president, Mobility Group, in 2023. Prior to Eaton, Denk spent nearly 20 years with Robert Bosch LLC, starting in manufacturing and operations and then serving in a variety of other roles of increasing responsibility including director, Development and Applications Engineering; vice president, Thermal Systems; and president, Electrical Drives, North America. Denk holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and a Master of Mechanical Engineering and fluid mechanics degree, both from Cornell University. He also holds a Master of Manufacturing Engineering degree from the University of Michigan. Galvao has been with Eaton for 38 years, most recently as president, Mobility Group and Corporate, South America. As president, Mobility Group, Galvao will continue reporting to Denk and will become a member of Eaton’s senior leadership team. He has held many quality, manufacturing and operations roles over the years including director, Passenger Car business unit, at the Light and Medium Duty Transmission facility in Mogi Mirim, Brazil and director, Operational Excellence, Light and Medium Duty Transmission division, Truck Group in Galesburg, Michigan. Ruiz continued, “Antonio is a proven leader whose decades of experience in our Mobility Group position him well for success in leading this talented team.” Galvao holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the Universidade Estadual de Campinas in Brazil and a Master of Business Administration degree from Fundação Getulio Vargas in Brazil. Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy sources, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come. Eaton was founded in 1911 and has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange for more than a century. We reported revenues of $23.2 billion in 2023 and serve customers in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com . Follow us on LinkedIn . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211094187/en/ CONTACT: Camie Melton Hanily +1 (952) 240-2270 camiemmeltonhanily@eaton.com KEYWORD: OHIO EUROPE IRELAND UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OTHER MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY OTHER ENERGY ENGINEERING UTILITIES MANUFACTURING ENERGY MACHINERY HARDWARE DATA MANAGEMENT SOURCE: Eaton Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/11/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 12/11/2024 04:15 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211094187/en
Social Security now pays out more money than it brings in, so payments rely largely on a trust fund built up by the Social Security Administration. That fund is projected to run out of money by the mid-2030s, which has led politicians in both parties to debate how Social Security should change to avoid a shortfall. Prior to the election, the Harris campaign claimed then-candidate Donald Trump would cut Social Security, but President-elect Donald Trump has promised he will protect the program. Pam and other VERIFY readers sent us emails asking if Trump can unilaterally change or even end Social Security. THE QUESTION Can the president change Social Security? THE SOURCES Bankrate U.S. Treasury Social Security Act Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) Society of Actuaries Social Security Administration THE ANSWER No, the president cannot change Social Security. WHAT WE FOUND The president cannot unilaterally change Social Security, including how it’s funded, how much it pays beneficiaries or how it’s taxed. Congress can, however, make changes to Social Security, and the president can make suggestions to Congress. “Social Security’s tax rate and benefits are set by law,” Bankrate says. “So to tweak them, Congress must first change the law, and the president then needs to sign it.” Social Security falls into a part of the federal budget called mandatory spending, according to the U.S. Treasury . Mandatory spending does not require an annual vote by Congress; instead, existing laws mandate the spending and determine how much should be spent each year. In this case, the Social Security Act requires the government to provide payments to beneficiaries based on the amount of money they’ve earned and other factors, the Treasury says. The law, last amended in 2019, will continue to determine how much beneficiaries are paid and therefore how much the government spends on Social Security each year until the law is amended again. Though the president can’t change Social Security on their own, they can propose changes to Congress. Since Republicans will have majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives in the next Congress, they may vote to amend the law per Trump’s proposals. Other laws and policies may also impact Social Security’s finances, even if they don’t directly pertain to Social Security. These include some executive actions the president can do without Congressional approval. For example, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) says mass deportations may negatively impact Social Security’s finances because it would reduce the number of immigrant workers paying into the trust fund. Trump has proposed eliminating income tax on Social Security payments, which would also require Congress to pass legislation. The CRFB, the Tax Policy Center and the Tax Foundation all project that the proposal would make Social Security run out of money sooner because those taxes fund future Social Security payments. Additionally, the president can remove the current Commissioner of Social Security and appoint a new one, the Society of Actuaries says. The Commissioner of Social Security is responsible for administering Social Security programs, but does not have the individual power to change how Social Security works. Related Articles Yes, elected officials picked for Trump's cabinet will have to resign before taking new role What we can VERIFY about Trump’s plan to close the U.S. Department of Education Yes, Trump will have the authority to pardon Jan. 6 rioters The VERIFY team works to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter , text alerts and our YouTube channel . You can also follow us on Snapchat , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . Learn More » Follow Us YouTube Snapchat Instagram Facebook TikTok Want something VERIFIED? Text: 202-410-8808Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security Cabinet has approved a ceasefire deal with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, clearing the way for the truce to take effect. The late-night vote came shortly before President Joe Biden was expected to announce details of the deal in Washington. Biden called the ceasefire in Lebanon "good news," but it’s not clear how the truce will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. In the hours before Israel agreed to the ceasefire, residents of Beirut endured the most intense wave of Israeli strikes on the capital and its southern suburbs since the start of the 13-month war. Israel was apparently signaling it intended to pummel the country before any ceasefire takes hold. Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel, triggering air raid sirens across the country’s north. Hezbollah began attacking Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel, in support of the Palestinian militant group. That has set off more than a year of fighting escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon and an Israeli ground invasion of the country’s south. It’s not clear how the ceasefire will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, where more than 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 wounded in the 13-month war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. ——— Here's the Latest: JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security Cabinet has approved a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, clearing the way for the truce to take effect. Netanyahu’s office said the plan was approved by a 10-1 margin. The late-night vote came shortly before President Joe Biden was expected to announced details of the deal in Washington. Earlier, Netanyahu defended the ceasefire, saying Israel has inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollah and could now focus its efforts on Hamas militants in Gaza and his top security concern, Iran. Netanyahu vowed to strike Hezbollah hard if it violates the expected deal. WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Waltz, President-elect Donald Trump’s designate to be national security adviser, credited Trump’s victory with helping bring the parties together toward a ceasefire in Lebanon. “Everyone is coming to the table because of President Trump,” he said in a post on X on Tuesday. “His resounding victory sent a clear message to the rest of the world that chaos won’t be tolerated. I’m glad to see concrete steps towards deescalation in the Middle East.” He added: “But let’s be clear: The Iran Regime is the root cause of the chaos & terror that has been unleashed across the region. We will not tolerate the status quo of their support for terrorism.” BEIRUT — Israeli jets targeted a building in a bustling commercial area of Beirut for the first time since the start of the 13-month war between Hezbollah and Israel. The strike on Hamra is around 400 meters (yards) from the country’s central bank. A separate strike hit the Mar Elias neighborhood in the country’s capital Tuesday. There was no immediate word on casualties from either strike, part of the biggest wave of attacks on the capital since the war started. Residents in central Beirut were seen fleeing after the Israeli army issued evacuation warnings for four targets in the city. Meanwhile, the Israeli army carried out airstrikes on at least 30 targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs Tuesday, including two strikes in the Jnah neighborhood near the Kuwaiti Embassy. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that 13 people were injured in the strikes on the southern suburbs. BEIRUT — Hezbollah has said it accepts the ceasefire proposal with Israel, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state.” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Among the issues that may remain is an Israeli demand to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations under the emerging deal. The deal seeks to push Hezbollah and Israeli troops out of southern Lebanon. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he would recommend his Cabinet adopt a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as Israeli warplanes struck across Lebanon, killing at least 23 people. The Israeli military also issued a flurry of evacuation warnings — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah down to the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. For the first time in the conflict, Israeli ground troops reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River, a focal point of the emerging deal. In a televised statement, Netanyahu said he would present the ceasefire to Cabinet ministers later on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. Netanyahu said the vote was expected later Tuesday. It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released. The deal does not affect Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, which shows no signs of ending. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s state media said Israeli strikes on Tuesday killed at least 10 people in Baalbek province the country’s east. At least three people were killed in the southern city of Tyre when Israel bombed a Palestinian refugee camp, said Mohammed Bikai, a representative of the Fatah group in the area. He said several more people were missing and at least three children were among the wounded. He said the sites struck inside the camp were “completely civilian places” and included a kitchen that was being used to cook food for displaced people. JERUSALEM — Dozens of Israeli protesters took to a major highway in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening to call for the return of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, as the country awaited news of a potential ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Protesters chanted “We are all hostages,” and “Deal now!” waving signs with faces of some of the roughly 100 hostages believed to be still held in Gaza, at least a third of whom are thought to be dead. Most of the other hostages Hamas captured in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack were released during a ceasefire last year. The prospect of a ceasefire deal in Lebanon has raised desperation among the relatives of captives still held in Gaza, who once hoped that the release of hostages from Gaza would be included. Instead of a comprehensive deal, the ceasefire on the table is instead narrowly confined to Lebanon. Dozens of Israelis were also demonstrating against the expected cease-fire, gathering outside Israel’s military headquarters in central Tel Aviv. One of the protesters, Yair Ansbacher, says the deal is merely a return to the failed 2006 U.N. resolution that was meant to uproot Hezbollah from the area. “Of course that didn’t happen,” he says. “This agreement is not worth the paper it is written on.” FIUGGI, Italy — Foreign ministers from the world’s industrialized countries said Tuesday they strongly supported an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and insisted that Israel comply with international law in its ongoing military operations in the region. At the end of their two-day summit, the ministers didn’t refer directly to the International Criminal Court and its recent arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over crimes against humanity . Italy had put the ICC warrants on the official meeting agenda, even though the G7 was split on the issue. The U.S., Israel’s closest ally, isn’t a signatory to the court and has called the warrants “outrageous.” However, the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell said all the other G7 countries were signatories and therefore obliged to respect the warrants. In the end, the final statement adopted by the ministers said Israel, in exercising its right to defend itself, “must fully comply with its obligations under international law in all circumstances, including international humanitarian law.” And it said all G7 members — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States – “reiterate our commitment to international humanitarian law and will comply with our respective obligations.” It stressed that “there can be no equivalence between the terrorist group Hamas and the State of Israel.” The ICC warrants say there's reason to believe Netanyahu used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeted civilians in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza — charges Israeli officials deny. BEIRUT — An Israeli strike on Tuesday levelled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded in Beirut, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. It was not immediately clear if anyone in particular was targeted, though Israel says its airstrikes target Hezbollah officials and assets. The Israeli military spokesman issued a flurry of evacuation warnings for many areas, including areas in Beirut that have not been targeted throughout the war, like the capital’s commercial Hamra district, where many people displaced by the war have been staying. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks in Lebanon during the final hours before a ceasefire is reached, sparked panic and sent residents fleeing in their cars to safer areas. In areas close to Hamra, families including women and children were seen running away toward the Mediterranean Sea’s beaches carrying their belongings. Traffic was completely gridlocked as people tried to get away, honking their car horns as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. The Israeli military also issued warnings for 20 more buildings in Beirut’s suburbs to evacuate before they too were struck — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah in the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. TEL AVIV, Israel — The independent civilian commission of inquiry into the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel has found Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly responsible for the failures leading up to the attack, alongside former defense ministers, the army chief and the heads of the security services. The civil commission presented its findings today after a four-month probe in which it heard some 120 witnesses. It was set up by relatives of victims of the Hamas attack, in response to the absence of any state probe. The commission determined that the Israeli government, its army and security services “failed in their primary mission of protecting the citizens of Israel.” It said Netanyahu was responsible for ignoring “repeated warnings” ahead of Oct. 7, 2023 for what it described as his appeasing approach over the years toward Hamas, and for “undermining all decision-making centers, including the cabinet and the National Security Council, in a way that prevented any serious discussion” on security issues. The commission further determined that the military and defense leaders bear blame for ignoring warnings from within the army, and for reducing the army’s presence along the Gaza border while relying excessively on technological means. On the day of the Hamas attack, the report says, the army’s response was both slow and lacking. The civil commission called for the immediate establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attack. Netanyahu has opposed launching a state commission of inquiry, arguing that such an investigation should begin only once the war is over. JERUSALEM -- The Israeli military says its ground troops have reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River — a focal point of the emerging ceasefire. In a statement Tuesday, the army said it had reached the Wadi Slouqi area in southern Lebanon and clashed with Hezbollah forces. Under a proposed ceasefire, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border. The military says the clashes with Hezbollah took place on the eastern end of the Litani, just a few kilometers (miles) from the border. It is one of the deepest places Israeli forces have reached in a nearly two-month ground operation. The military says soldiers destroyed rocket launchers and missiles and engaged in “close-quarters combat” with Hezbollah forces. The announcement came hours before Israel’s security Cabinet is expected to approve a ceasefire that would end nearly 14 months of fighting. BEIRUT — Israeli jets Tuesday struck at least six buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs Tuesday, including one that slammed near the country’s only airport. Large plumes of smoke could be seen around the airport near the Mediterranean coast, which has continued to function despite its location beside the densely populated suburbs where many of Hezbollah’s operations are based. The strikes come hours before Israel’s cabinet was scheduled to meet to discuss a proposal to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The proposal calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. There were no immediate reports of casualties from Tuesday’s airstrikes. FIUGGI, Italy — EU top diplomat Josep Borrell, whose term ends Dec. 1, said he proposed to the G7 and Arab ministers who joined in talks on Monday that the U.N. Security Council take up a resolution specifically demanding humanitarian assistance reach Palestinians in Gaza, saying deliveries have been completely impeded. “The two-state solution will come later. Everything will come later. But we are talking about weeks or days,” for desperate Palestinians, he said. “Hunger has been used as an arm against people who are completely abandoned.” It was a reference to the main accusation levelled by the International Criminal Court in its arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Borrell said the signatories to the court, including six of the seven G7 members, are obliged under international law to respect and implement the court’s decisions. Host Italy put the ICC warrants on the G7 agenda at the last minute, but there was no consensus on the wording of how the G7 would respond given the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Italy, too, has said it respects the court but expressed concern that the warrants were politically motivated and ill-advised given Netanyahu is necessary for any deal to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. “Like it or not, the International Criminal Court is a court as powerful as any national court,” Borrell said. “And if the Europeans don’t support International Criminal Court then there would not be any hope for justice,” he said. Borrell, whose term ends Dec. 1, said he proposed to the G7 and Arab ministers who joined in talks on Monday that the U.N. Security Council take up a resolution specifically demanding humanitarian assistance reach Palestinians in Gaza, saying deliveries have been completely impeded. “The two-state solution will come later. Everything will come later. But we are talking about weeks or days,” for desperate Palestinians, he said. “Hunger has been used as an arm against people who are completely abandoned.” It was a reference to the main accusation levelled by the International Criminal Court in its arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Borrell said the signatories to the court, including six of the seven G7 members, are obliged under international law to respect and implement the court’s decisions. Host Italy put the ICC warrants on the G7 agenda at the last minute, but there was no consensus on the wording of how the G7 would respond given the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Italy, too, has said it respects the court but expressed concern that the warrants were politically motivated and ill-advised given Netanyahu is necessary for any deal to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. “Like it or not, the International Criminal Court is a court as powerful as any national court,” Borrell said. “And if the Europeans don’t support International Criminal Court then there would not be any hope for justice,” he said. (edited)