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Purdue Fort Wayne defeats Green Bay 83-67The expanded Big Ten is poised to be a major player in this season's College Football Playoff. The 18-team conference had three of the top-four teams in the AP poll this week — No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Penn State. A one-loss Indiana team is ranked 10th but is still very much a contender to make the playoff, given how many Southeastern Conference teams have three defeats or more. Indiana's rise has been perhaps the Big Ten's biggest story this season. Much of the spotlight was on newcomers Oregon, Southern California, UCLA and Washington, but aside from the top-ranked Ducks, that foursome has struggled to impress. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers won their first 10 games under new coach Curt Cignetti before losing at Ohio State last weekend. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 back in October, and if the Buckeyes beat rival Michigan this weekend, they'll earn a rematch with the Ducks for the Big Ten title. And it's entirely possible another matchup between those two teams awaits in the CFP. Dillon Gabriel has quarterbacked Oregon to an unbeaten record, throwing for 3,066 yards and 22 touchdowns in 11 games. But don't overlook Iowa's Kaleb Johnson and his 21 rushing TDs, and quarterback Kurtis Rourke has been a big part of Indiana's improvement. Penn State's Abdul Carter has eight sacks and two forced fumbles and could be one of the top edge rushers drafted this year. Oregon (11-0, 8-0), Ohio State (10-1, 7-1), Penn State (10-1, 7-1), Indiana (10-1, 7-1), Illinois (8-3, 5-3), Iowa (7-4, 5-3), Michigan (6-5, 4-4), Minnesota (6-5, 4-4), Washington (6-5, 4-4), Southern California (6-5, 4-5), Nebraska (6-5, 3-5) and Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) have already reached the six-win mark for bowl eligibility. Michigan State (5-6, 3-5) and Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5) can join them. There may not be many firings in general at the top level of college football. The prospect of sharing revenue with athletes in the future might lead schools to be more judicious about shedding one coach and hiring a new one. Who should be most worried in the Big Ten? Well, Lincoln Riley is struggling to stay above .500 in his third season at USC. Purdue is 1-10, but coach Ryan Walters is only in his second season. Maryland's Mike Locksley has been there six years and his Terrapins are 4-7, but this was his first real step backward after guiding the team to three straight bowl wins. Cignetti has shown it is possible for a coaching change to push a previously moribund program to some impressive heights in a short amount of time — but the improvement has been more incremental at Michigan State following Jonathan Smith's arrival. Sherrone Moore wasn't a completely unknown commodity at Michigan after he won some massive games in place of a suspended Jim Harbaugh last year. But in his first season completely at the helm, the Wolverines have declined significantly following their national title a season ago. The Big Ten is home to one of the most dynamic freshmen in the country in Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith. He has 52 catches for 899 yards and nine touchdowns. Highly touted quarterback Dylan Raiola has teamed up with fellow freshman Jacory Barney (49 catches) to lead Nebraska to bowl eligibility. Ohio State is on track to land the Big Ten's top class, according to 247 Sports, but the big news recently was quarterback Bryce Underwood flipping from LSU to Michigan. If the Wolverines do in fact keep Underwood in his home state, that would be a big development for Moore. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

BLINCYTO® (BLINATUMOMAB) ADDED TO CHEMOTHERAPY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVES SURVIVAL IN NEWLY DIAGNOSED PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH B-CELL PRECURSOR ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA (B-ALL)

New York City is a dream destination, but planning out what to see and do in the "city that never sleeps" can cause some sleepless nights before you even book your flights. The city is infamously brimming with landmarks, restaurants, attractions, events, and spectacular sights - many of which have been rendered into true icon status. Compounding the sheer volume of marvellous sights and activities is the fact that the diversity of New York and its status as a global hub means that you can very likely indulge in any of several niche interests there, from Broadway musicals to ancient history to cutting-edge food or gaming. Whether you've been a dozen times or are going for the first time, planning a trip from Vancouver to New York City can be daunting. Here's a full breakdown of tips and tricks for booking - and enjoying - an incredible trip to NYC. It's not hard to get to New York from Vancouver, but you might have to contend with a layover. Three major airports serve New York City: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia International Airport (LGA) in Queens, and Newark International Airport (EWR) across the Hudson River in New Jersey. Only two airlines fly direct from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to New York: JetBlue offers one flight daily to JFK (and it's a red-eye), while Air Canada flies from Vancouver direct to Newark. If you don't mind running from one end of an airport to another (Montreal's YUL or Toronto's YYZ) then you have plenty of options for flights with connections. To find the best deals, you may want to use a third-party booking site that can give you multiple options for trips. I booked my trip through FlightHub and opted to purchase two one-way tickets: A red-eye from YVR to LGA (through YYZ) on WestJet and LGA to YVR (through YUL) on Air Canada - the best options for my specific travel dates. For those who have not been to LGA in a long time (like me, until this trip) the airport has undergone significant renovations, and it is bright, modern, and packed with amenities. I have certainly spoken ill of LGA in the past but now would rank it one of my favourite airports I've travelled through of late. It's so nice to be pleasantly surprised. You'll need a different game plan for getting to your hotel from any of the New York City-area airports, but if you're looking to get from LGA to Manhattan, you have some great options. The free Q70 bus serves LGA and will connect you to the subway in Queens. Many hotels offer shuttles as well. Taking a cab or Uber/Lyft is certainly an option, though take note that it could cost you well over $100 USD to do so. However, Uber recently introduced a cost-effective shuttle from LGA to two transit hubs in Midtown Manhattan, Penn Station and Grand Central Station. Shuttles depart every 15 minutes (alternating between the two stations, so there's one trip per half hour to each) and cost just $18 per person. The pickup zone is outside the baggage claim area at both Terminal B and C (they're clearly marked). Be sure you book carefully to account for which station you're going to, which terminal you're being picked up from, and how many seats you are booking. The shuttles also connect the two transit stations to LGA on the same schedule. The ride is in a shuttle van and is operated by a licensed partner. If Uber cancels your shuttle, you will immediately have the option to book an Uber for free (minus tip and any tolls or surcharges). This happened for my Grand Central to LGA booking, and instead of spending $36 USD for the two of us to get to the airport, we took an Uber and were only billed $8 plus tip (USD). Besides walking, there is no better way to get around New York - for the most part - than on public transit. The MTA, which operates the city's legendary subway system, along with its buses, the Roosevelt Island Tram, and the Staten Island Ferry, may look intimidating but it is akin to a rite of passage for visitors to navigate . (Don't worry, even locals find themselves lost in the subway now and then - it happens!) Your cellphone's map app will be able to give you transit details for NYC, down to which exit to use, and you can purchase a multi-day pass to enjoy unlimited rides. I found the best value was to get a seven-day Metrocard pass ($34 USD); with rides at $2.90 each, I think we may have broken even sometime around the afternoon of day two. A note: The MTA is working on phasing out the Metrocard (a swipe or dip card) for the OMNY, a tap-to-pay system akin to Vancouver's Compass card. You may use either for the time being (likely until 2027) with ease. Particularly in Manhattan, the subway is pretty much everywhere. Look for the green globes on posts next to staircases heading underground; you can also use the globes to figure out if that's the way you can go in. You'll also want to sort out if you're headed Uptown or Downtown, towards Queens, The Bronx, or Brooklyn, and if you need the local (makes all stops) or express (skips stops). Wayfinding has become significantly enhanced on the NYC subway in recent years, to the extent that newer subway trains have digitized displays in the cars that tell you where the exits and elevators are, and other pertinent information. Buses are also a great option for getting around; I only rode a couple this trip but found they were newer vehicles that were very clean and pleasant to ride in. Always be aware of changes in service and take into consideration that delays are possible. In NYC, you can book rides on apps like Uber, and you can also use taxis . To hail a cab, be sure to be on a street that has traffic heading in the direction in which you want to go. Step off the curb and raise your arm to signal to passing cabs; only cabs with their lights on are available to hail. Be sure to only use licenced cabs; avoid anyone in places like the airport baggage claim area who is approaching you and asking if you'd like a ride. Location, location, location. Never has this been more true than in choosing where to stay when visiting New York City. My top priority for choosing a hotel was that it be very close to a subway stop (ideally one that serves multiple lines) and that it would be a good location from which to base our planned adventures. When travelling to a city as packed with hotel options as New York, sites that can isolate great deals while providing all the pertinent info you need to make a booking decision can come in handy if you don't already have a preferred hotel in mind. My hotel stay was booked via FlightHub , and I stayed at one of three NYC locations of a hotel brand called Moxy (which is part of the Marriott Bonvoy company). The Moxy NYC Downtown is located in the Financial District, steps from a major subway hub at Fulton Street serving numerous lines. The hotel is also close to some popular spots for visitors, like the World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial and Museum, as well as the Brooklyn Bridge, and landmarks like the court buildings (in case you want to have a Law & Order moment). Boasting NYC's only in-hotel basketball court (which you can book for some hoop shooting), the Moxy NYC Downtown is brimming with cool, playful vibes, from the help-yourself snack cart in the lobby to the lounge and bar/restaurant area that has live DJs in the evenings and all kinds of games to enjoy while hanging out. That said, the room was wonderfully quiet and the halls calm during my stay, which meant a terrific night's sleep - much needed with all the adventures and exploring on our to-do list. Divide and conquer is the way to go, as in split everything you want to do up by neighbourhood. Be sure to factor in transit times, and when and where you might need an extended time to rest your tired feet and use the restroom (public washrooms are hard to come by in New York when you are out and about). New York is packed with quintessential tourist experiences, which can be as simple as taking in the sights and sounds of Times Square or as specific as booking a time to experience an attraction like the Top of the Rock viewing decks at Rockefeller Plaza. While much of New York can be enjoyed at your own pace, like a stroll through Central Park, many of its treasured venues require tickets and time slots. I must admit, I took my New York planning so seriously that I made a spreadsheet. This allowed me to sort by neighbourhood, and to check off as I went. I also accounted for which experiences would be the first to be sacrificed if something didn't go as scheduled, a change of plans occurred, or our feet were in too much pain to carry on (true story, that brought Sunday's over-ambitious plans grinding to a halt). I gave myself reasonable spans between things that were booked and prepaid (or carried penalties for missing, like dinner reservations) and filled those spans with more as-it-comes options. And I had options galore. My spreadsheet aligned with my Google Map wth flags aplenty for every neighbourhood, in case we wanted a drink, a snack, or somewhere to sit down. In the end, we managed to experience a great deal of New York (primarily Manhattan) and tick off several bucket list and/or niche destinations, from the incredible three-storey immersive Summit One to some special retailers. I can't pretend for a minute that we share all the same interests, so unless you are a former New Yorker who loves food and transit history travelling with a kid who loves Lego, ice cream, and video games, my exact itinerary is probably not for you. (But if that does describe you, let's be friends!) One tip for visitors is to get a CityPass for major attractions; for NYC, the pass will cover your admission to the Empire State Building Observatory and American Museum of Natural History as well as your choice of three more attractions, including Top of the Rock, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, and the Guggenheim. You can also choose the popular Circle Line boat tours as one of your three attractions. I've also used the CityPass in Atlanta and found it's a great value for sightseeing. Torn between Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building? Both are spectacular, but I'm going to give the advantage to Top of the Rock, thanks to the fact that you can see the Empire State Building from its south-facing viewing decks (and they have a couple of novelty experiences, including the "Beam" and the 360 "Skylift"). There is a museum for pretty much everything in New York, from mathematics to sex. A money-saving tip is to find out when some museums offer free or pay-what-you-wish admission, including the Guggenheim, The Whitney, MoMA, and several more. There are plenty of things to do for free in New York, the first of which is simply walking around. You can stand on the steps in the middle of Times Square, walk through Central Park, and walk the High Line for free. It's also free to gawk at the stunning restored ceiling of Grand Central; be sure to look for the tiny patch of black that represents what the ceiling used to look like after years of pollution and smoke stained the gorgeous artwork. If you are looking to load your itinerary with free things to do in NYC, there are tons of resources online to help guide you, like this often-updated Time Out roundup , or tips from I Love NY . 📍 Museum of Ice Cream : What began as a pop-up in NY in 2016 is now a multi-city destination. The Soho flagship features a giant slide, a sprinkle "pool" you can jump in, unlimited ice cream and treats as you go, and lots of hands-on activities for kids (and adults). 📍 Soho : One of the city's top shopping districts has big brands and boutiques. I love Housing Works and New York or Nowhere (in neighbouring Nolita). 📍 Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Plaza: Journey to the top of the iconic building that's home to SNL , The Tonight Show , and entertainment history, Drink in stunning views of the city on the observation decks, relax in the indoor-outdoor cafe, and then roam the Plaza. In the winter it's where you'll see the skating rink and Christmas tree, and all year it's where they film the Today show and where you can find lots of shops and cafes, as well as gorgeous public art. 📍 Shopping in Midtown: Between Radio City Music Hall on 6th (Avenue of the Americas) and 5th Avenue are several major stores. TV fans may wish to pop into the NBC store, and gamers will love the only North American official Nintendo Store (San Francisco will open in 2025). This is where you will also find FAO Schwarz (the relocated beloved toy store) which houses the adorable Jellycat Diner experience. 📍 Summit One Vanderbilt : Summit One Vanderbilt is an immersive observation deck located atop the One Vanderbilt skyscraper. The three-level venue combines panoramic views with interactive art installations, offering a unique sensory experience. Go at sunset or night for an even more exciting time (and don't skip the balloon room). 📍 New York Transit Museum : Located in a decommissioned subway station in Brooklyn, this is a must-see for transit enthusiasts. The lower level features a platform lined with actual historic transit cars, most of which you are free to roam. Transit fans may also wish to do a little research on some hidden or "secret" old subway stops you can see around town. 📍 West Village : Meander the criss-crossing tree-lined streets of the West Village to see some beautiful homes, cafés and restaurants, and boutique shops. Visit the Stonewall Inn State Historic Site at Christopher Park, have tea at Paquita, shop at Big Night , or wait in line for some of the best pizza in town at L'Industrie. 📍 Central Park : No matter the time of year, a stroll through Central Park is a must. Use the Conservancy's detailed guides to plan your visit. 📍 Roosevelt Island Tramway : Take a brief aerial tram from Manhattan alongside the Queensboro (59th Street) Bridge to picturesque Roosevelt Island. Explore the area's offerings and then hop on the tram or the subway back to Manhattan. 📍 Times Square : The dizzying hub of commerce and live theatre, the larger-than-life billboards and cacophony that is Times Square should be experienced at least once. (You don't have to stay long!) Grab a seat on the steps and watch the somewhat organized chaos unfold. If you are a night owl, consider arriving at 11:57 p.m. when all the billboards go dark and are lit until midnight with a unified work of art. Watch your belongings here and don't engage with the people in costumes unless you have cash for them. 📍 Hudson Yards : This newer retail zone is a luxury mall with an incredible Spanish marketplace and food court on the lower level. This is where you can see the Vessel (you must pay to access the interior) and a great starting point for a walk on the High Line. 📍 The High Line , Chelsea Market : The High Line is a linear park built on a repurposed elevated rail line in Manhattan once destined for demolition. It features lush gardens, public art, and wonderful city views, making for an engaging stroll through the Meatpacking District and Chelsea on the island's west side. Hop off at Chelsea Market for a snack or meal inside the former Nabisco cookie factory now home to gourmet food shops and restaurants. If you can, venture over to Little Island to see one of New York's newest green spaces. 📍 Little Italy : Wander through the picturesque streets of New York's Italian community, which are lined with souvenir shops and restaurants. 📍 Grand Central Terminal : This is a historic transportation hub in New York City known for its stunning Beaux-Arts architecture. Look for the celestial ceiling mural in the Main Concourse and the iconic four-faced clock atop the information booth, as well as the "Whispering Gallery," and the food market. A word of warning: There are not many places to sit down here, so don't choose this as a take-a-load-off spot unless you book a table to dine at one of its full-service restaurants or go to the waiting room for train riders. Though I didn't do these activities this time around, many travellers may wish to know more about some of the city's top attractions and things to do. For many whose motto is "will travel for food," taking a bite out of the Big Apple is absolute life goals. New York City is a reflection of global food culture and a trailblazer; not only does it have North America's most lauded chefs and restaurants that win prestigious awards and set trends, but it also has a gobsmacking amount of places to try foods from nations from every corner of the world. There are dozens of iconic NYC foods, some made even more popular thanks to social media and pop culture, from bagels and schmears to pizza slices to pastrami sandwiches and street corner hot dog carts. There are three-strarred Michelin restaurants and acclaimed burger counters, viral chocolate chip cookies, and banana pudding you might wait in line for. Given how synonymous New York is with the act of eating, from fine dining to street vendors and bodegas to speakeasies, planning where to eat while visiting the city can take a lot of thought. I've curated a separate guide for food-loving travellers bound for NYC from YVR packed with tips (and my itinerary of where I ate during my recent three-night sojourn). Exhausted? You're still in the planning stages. This is just training for the big event. You can do this! New York City is an absolute thrill for visitors of all kinds, and with some thoughtful planning, you can set yourself up for the trip of a lifetime. Have fun! Thanks to FlightHub for facilitating travel to New York City from Vancouver by hosting our flights and hotel stay. We received support from NYC Tourism with a CityPass which covered the cost of our visit to the Top of the Rock. None of the above-mentioned experiences or meals were hosted; the entire itinerary was self-curated and paid for by the author with no prior arrangement with any business. While the CityPass was gifted, the tickets are standard issue general admission and accorded nothing beyond a regular experience; the venue (Top of the Rock) did not know we were media. All opinions and inclusions are those of the author and were based solely on personal experience. None of the businesses or entities featured were granted any previews of the story before publication or paid to be mentioned.

Israel is carrying out its most intense wave of strikes on Lebanon's capital Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the 13-month war with Hezbollah, apparently signaling it aims to pummel the country in the final hours before any ceasefire takes hold. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a speech Tuesday evening saying he would ask his ministers to adopt a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. Less than an hour later, Israeli jets targeted a building in a bustling commercial area of Beirut and Israel's military issued new evacuation warnings, sending residents fleeing into the streets. Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel, triggering air raid sirens across the country’s north. The ceasefire deal seeks to push Hezbollah and Israeli troops out of southern Lebanon. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. 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: 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)