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Chukwuzubelu Ufodike, an assistant professor at Texas A&M University in the United States of America is one of Nigeria’s scholars who wish that the country was a better place for them to thrive. In this interview with Tony Manuaka , he draws a line between the education system in Nigeria and what obtains in America. And as technology continues to advance, Dr Ufodike explains why he is pushing for Blacks in Additive Manufacturing, a new frontier where he wants Nigerians and Africans in general to be adequately represented as it gains momentum. He also shares his experience on some of the bottlenecks that discourage Nigerian professionals living abroad from returning to the country, even when the offers seem to be better. Take us through your academic journey from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri and the University of Lagos until you arrived at the Texas A&M University I schooled in Nigeria before I went to the United States for my PhD. After that, I transitioned into academia. This is my fifth year in academia. So far, so good. I’m enjoying it. Hopefully, I will keep striving and keep inspiring young minds and young Africans so that they can become internationally acclaimed scholars. What actually gives you joy; is it the fact that you live in Texas or the job you’re doing there? My joy comes from life itself, even being at peace with myself and doing what I enjoy to do best, which is to empower and mentor young minds like myself. I’ve done a lot of mentorship because my path wasn’t too smooth. So I find myself helping people to go through the same path but without much huddles to let them know where the bottlenecks are before they get there so that they don’t screw themselves up. It’s difficult to connect the fact that you are an assistant professor at Texas A&M University at a young age with the fact that your path wasn’t smooth. How did it happen? It’s a long story but where do we start from? It all started from just being fascinated by the way things work; having an engineering mindset as a kid. I was always fascinated by physics, chemistry, and how bonds are formed and how structures come together to make up an atom. And then, I went to the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, where I got my Bachelors in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering. And then I started working in the oil and gas sector. At that time, I was going to school while I was working. I did my masters in Process Engineering at the University of Lagos while I was working and also doing an MBA. I was doing two programmes while I was working. During that time, I realized that I had a passion for research. School was just something I was drawn to. So, I went to Florida State University to further my education again, and I dumped my day-time job, which was a little bit uncomfortable at the time, and became a full-time student. That was painful, but it was very interesting because that took me to the path of getting my PhD but first of all, my third masters degree which was in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, and later my PhD from Florida A&M University in the same Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. And that was how it all started. So when I applied for academic jobs and I got offers; I chose Texas A&M University. We are the largest university in the United States of America with about 80, 000 enrolled students before 2023. For someone who began his education in Nigeria and is now an assistant professor in the United States, can you make an assessment of the Nigerian education system? Absolutely! With my experience, five degrees from five different universities from two different countries from two ends of the world, I think I’m in a good position to make such an assessment. I was explaining to someone the difference between teaching and lecturing. In Nigeria, education from the undergraduate level is very theoretical from K12, that is, what we call in the United States, nursery to secondary school; that is kindergarten to SS3. So, from K12, we do teaching. And what that encompasses is that we are teaching the kids how to understand fundamentals but when you get into the university what you get is lecturing on concepts you should know. That is why you see some students struggling in the universities. In engineering, we advise that students should take what is known in Nigeria as Further Math before they get into any engineering programme because basically you need to know your calculus. Now the Nigerian educational system is theoretical; there’s no experimentation. And there is a lack of equipment that will enable you to carry out experimentation. To cut a long story short, coming to the United States, education is not just theoretical, there is hands-on experiment, you are going to use equipment, you are going to understand why you are doing it, and you are going to understand that this is applied. But guess what, I think that the reason a lot of Nigerians do well outside the country’s university system is because they already understand the theoretical concepts. With your versed knowledge in engineering in the United States and your background back in the days as a worker in the Nigerian oil sector, don’t you think Nigeria needs you more than the United States? In fact, I’m going to be 100 per cent honest with you. When I left this country, before I got my visa, I was asked, ‘Are you going to come back to this country?’ In all honesty, I answered, ‘Yes’, not because I was planning to migrate to a different country but because I actually wanted to gain the knowledge. But the rest is history. Nigeria has lost a lot of human resources like myself not because we do not want to come back to Nigeria to reinforce that learning but because Nigeria hasn’t created the foundation or the capacity to retain us. So, at this point, until that happens, Nigeria will continue to lose its best. Unfortunately, there are people who are ready to pay 200 times...but it’s not about the money, it’s more about one’s stability. I mean, I could easily work at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, but guess what? I visited Owerri a few days ago to give a lecture at my alma mater; I gave the same talk at the University of Lagos. I’ve not been to FUTO in many years but to get there, the roads were completely in a terrible shape. But somehow we were able to manoeuvre our way through some bush path to get into the university. And this is a federal university. If I work under that kind of atmosphere, I don’t think I will be as productive as I am today. That alone is already a bottleneck for me as a researcher. So I want an environment where I can strive. You’ve been promoting educational consultancy through the Blacks in Advanced Additive Manufacturing. What is it all about? I’m not promoting educational consultancy through Blacks in Additive Manufacturing. That is rather a product of Graduate Excel. So, BiAM is a non-profit organisation that is inspired by promoting and empowering under-represented groups specifically in Advanced Additive Manufacturing. Advanced Additive Manufacturing is strictly “printing”. It’s unlike conventional manufacturing like blowing, extrusion, or casting. Additive Manufacturing is new, so there is no adequate representation of black people in Additive Manufacturing. And that is how Blacks in Additive Manufacturing started. Currently, Blacks in Additive Manufacturing is sponsored by huge manufacturing organizations like the Society for Manufacturing Engineers, which is the largest manufacturing society in the world; and some other groups like the American Society of Manufacturing Engineering. Now, specifically if you are talking about my consultancy product, which is Graduate Excel; that goes back to the roadblocks and bottlenecks that I had in the past. And that started from when I realized that I wanted to study abroad. And I wanted to get a PhD in engineering but I didn’t know how to go about that. At a point there were little or no resources. This was about 14 to 15 years ago when I wanted to explore my graduate path. So I struggled and looked for resources on my own and I realised that I had to take the Graduate Record Examination; I found how to write a Statement of Purpose (SOP). These are documents you need to submit as part of your application. I did all that without any clear resource or help or mentorship or guardian. And that was really painful. So what the Graduate Excel does is that it creates a mentorship programme for aspiring scholars who are usually international students, specifically, African international students. We mentor them in writing personal statements, guiding them in resume writing and structuring application clearly in terms of what programme fits them best. Some students who want to do a masters or PhD are not so sure if they can get into the programmes right from undergraduate level. That is me giving back specifically to people in Africa to navigate the graduate school huddles. Do you do this for a fee? Yes, I mean, it’s my time, and I want to see commitments from prospective students as well because it’s a professional consultation. Of course I’m not part of any admission committee and as such I can’t guarantee that they will get any admission but I can assist them, making sure that their package is competitive because they are competing against other people from around the globe for the same spot. So they have to come out with highly competitive applications in order to get excellent reviews from the graduate committee. What does it cost to access the Graduate Excel consultancy service? It changes, but we have a management team that takes care of pricing. I’m not entirely sure I can give you the figures but if you go on my website, the products and pricing should be listed there. The pricing compares with those offered by people who are rendering similar services, but at this point, I don’t see any competitor because I’m the only one as far as I know, who can give real professional advice on what it actually takes to write a graduate school application because I’m right at the middle of the system. Because I’m in the system, I can give those ‘insider secrets’. Does this mentorship also guarantee job opportunities for students in the United States? Good question. This mentorship is not just limited to applying to university and post graduate mentorship. I could also mentor on resume revamping, professional consultation on career path options and mentor student and see how we can say, for instance people who read Economics or Business Finance and they want to transition to IT, I’m able to tell them the right courses they should do because you know, IT is a game changer because everyone is transitioning into that. So what kind of responses have you been getting from Africa particularly from prospective scholars in Nigeria? I’m not going to brag about this, but we just launched this officially in March or April this year, and there are a lot of followers on Instagram, Facebook and our other social media platforms. You need to see what our inbox looks like in terms of inquiries on how people can come into our mentorship programme. I think generally, Nigerians, Africans are very passionate in terms of pathways and options on how to study abroad.11 Mistakes You Might Be Making When Installing Security Cameras In Your HomeHARRISBURG — Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania conceded his reelection bid to Republican David McCormick on Thursday, as a statewide recount showed no signs of closing the gap and his campaign suffered repeated blows in court in its effort to get potentially favorable ballots counted. Casey’s concession comes more than two weeks after Election Day, as a grindingly slow ballot-counting process became a spectacle of hours-long election board meetings, social media outrage, lawsuits and accusations that some county officials were openly flouting the law. Republicans had been claiming that Democrats were trying to steal McCormick’s seat by counting “illegal votes.” Casey’s campaign had accused of Republicans of trying to block enough votes to prevent him from pulling ahead and winning. In a statement, Casey said he had just called McCormick to congratulate him. “As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last," Casey said. The Associated Press called the race for McCormick on Nov. 7, concluding that not enough ballots remained to be counted in areas Casey was winning for him to take the lead. As of Thursday, McCormick led by about 16,000 votes out of almost 7 million ballots counted. That was well within the 0.5% margin threshold to trigger an automatic statewide recount under Pennsylvania law. But no election official expected a recount to change more than a couple hundred votes or so, and Pennsylvania's highest court dealt him a blow when it refused entreaties to allow counties to count mail-in ballots that lacked a correct handwritten date on the return envelope. Republicans will have a 53-47 majority next year in the U.S. Senate. Turkey with a side of politics? No thank you. As Thanksgiving approaches, so does the challenge of navigating political discussions with relatives. Here are some quick tips to make your Thanksgiving more enjoyable. Veuer’s Maria Mercedes Galuppo has the story. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

The Global Nature Conservation Index (NCI) 2024 has sparked significant debate regarding its credibility and methodology, particularly in the case of India’s ranking. Positioned 176th out of 180 countries, India’s placement starkly contrasts with its globally acknowledged achievements in biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development. The NCI’s reliance on secondary sources and its disregard for India’s critical contributions to domestic and international environmental initiatives undermine the index’s validity. This article highlights the flaws in the NCI’s evaluation approach, showcasing India’s robust conservation efforts, from legislative frameworks to landmark initiatives like Project Tiger, the Namami Gange Programme, and Mission LiFE. Additionally, the NCI has completely ignored India’s pivotal role in international environmental initiatives, such as the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), the International Solar Alliance (ISA), and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). These initiatives underscore India’s leadership and commitment to fostering global cooperation on biodiversity conservation and climate change. By neglecting these contributions, the report diminishes India’s accomplishments and fails to provide a balanced perspective on its global environmental stewardship. Domestically, India has implemented robust legislative frameworks and measures to safeguard its biodiversity. The enactment of the Biological Diversity Act (2002) and its amendment in 2023, along with associated rules, represents a comprehensive effort to regulate and conserve biological resources. Provisions such as the establishment of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), the notification of Biodiversity Heritage Sites, and protections for threatened species highlight India’s commitment to addressing biodiversity challenges. Furthermore, the empowerment of State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) to oversee access to resources and implement conservation measures underscores the country’s proactive approach. The omission of these efforts from the NCI is a glaring oversight that calls into question the robustness of its evaluation criteria. While the NCI aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of global conservation efforts, its reliance on flawed methodologies and exclusion of critical national achievements undermine its relevance and credibility. For such indices to contribute meaningfully to global conservation discourse, they must incorporate accurate, context-specific data and acknowledge the efforts of nations like India in both domestic and international arenas. Without these improvements, the NCI risks being dismissed as an inadequate and biased tool for evaluating global conservation performance. India has made remarkable strides in forest conservation and environmental protection. The country boasts 1,022 Protected Areas covering 178,640 square kilometers, which constitutes approximately 5.43 per cent of its total geographical area. Furthermore, the nation’s forest cover has shown consistent growth, rising from 21.23 per cent in 2013 to 21.71 per cent in 2021. According to the FAO’s Global Forest Resource Assessment 2020, India possesses 72.16 lakh hectares of forest cover, placing it among the top ten forest-rich countries globally. These achievements underscore India’s dedication to preserving its natural heritage and contributing to global ecological balance. India’s commitment to preserving its ecological diversity is reflected in the establishment of Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) around 487 protected areas. These zones act as transition regions between areas of high conservation value and those that are more developed. By regulating activities like mining, deforestation, and industrial expansion, ESZs ensure the integrity of protected habitats. The zones not only shield wildlife from external pressures but also promote eco-friendly practices and livelihoods for communities living near these areas. Such measures reinforce India’s resolve to maintain a balance between economic development and environmental sustainability. The number of Ramsar sites, recognised wetlands of international importance, has grown remarkably in India, from 26 in 2014 to 85 in 2024. Wetlands serve as critical ecosystems that provide water filtration, flood control, and habitats for migratory birds and aquatic species. India’s focus on expanding Ramsar sites highlights its acknowledgement of wetlands’ ecological and economic value. These sites also contribute to climate resilience by acting as carbon sinks and preserving biodiversity. This expansion aligns with global commitments under the Ramsar Convention, showcasing India’s proactive role in wetland conservation. India, home to more than 70% of the global tiger population, has made extraordinary progress in tiger conservation. The number of tiger reserves has increased to 55, with the tiger population growing from 2,226 in 2014 to 3,682 in 2022. This success is attributed to initiatives under Project Tiger, including habitat restoration, anti-poaching measures, and community participation. India’s efforts are not just a national achievement but a global model of large carnivore conservation. The consistent rise in tiger numbers demonstrates the effectiveness of scientific management and strong policy frameworks. India’s Project Lion has been instrumental in ensuring the survival and growth of the endangered Asiatic lion population in the Gir Landscape. From a mere 284 individuals in 1990, their numbers have increased to 674 in 2020. This remarkable recovery is the result of habitat management, prey base augmentation, and stringent anti-poaching measures. The project also emphasises coexistence by involving local communities and reducing human-lion conflicts. The conservation of Asiatic lions not only safeguards a keystone species but also enhances the ecological integrity of the Gir ecosystem. A historic milestone in global wildlife conservation is India’s reintroduction of cheetahs into their natural habitat through the world’s first inter-continental large carnivore translocation project. Extinct in India since 1952, cheetahs are now being reintroduced from Africa into carefully chosen habitats. This ambitious project symbolises India’s determination to restore ecological balance and revive its natural heritage. It also opens avenues for ecotourism, biodiversity conservation, and research, marking a new chapter in India’s conservation efforts. India hosts the largest population of wild Asian elephants, with approximately 30,000 individuals spread across 33 Elephant Reserves. These reserves serve as critical habitats for elephants, ensuring their survival and reducing human-elephant conflicts. Conservation efforts include the establishment of corridors for safe migration, anti-poaching measures, and initiatives like Project Elephant. These steps not only protect elephants but also preserve the forests they inhabit, which are vital for water security and climate regulation. India’s commitment to elephant conservation reflects its broader goal of sustaining its rich biodiversity. India’s leopard population, estimated at 13,874 individuals in 2022, reflects stability compared to 12,852 in 2018. This consistency highlights the effectiveness of conservation measures such as habitat protection, anti-poaching efforts, and public awareness campaigns. Leopards, being apex predators, play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. Their stable population is a positive indicator of healthy forest ecosystems. India’s efforts ensure that leopards, often overshadowed by tigers and lions, receive the attention and protection necessary for their continued survival in the wild. The Namami Gange Programme, aimed at rejuvenating the River Ganga and its tributaries, has been honoured as a World Restoration Flagship Project by the United Nations. This prestigious recognition underscores the Indian government’s steadfast commitment to conserving and rejuvenating natural ecosystems while ensuring their sustainable development. Namami Gange focuses on restoring the ecological health of the Ganga basin through integrated river management, pollution abatement, and community engagement. The program’s success highlights India’s leadership in promoting environmental restoration and enhancing the ecosystem services that benefit millions who depend on these vital waterways. India’s NBSAP, submitted on October 31, 2024, to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Portal, aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). This plan focuses on protecting terrestrial and marine biodiversity, restoring degraded ecosystems, and mitigating biodiversity threats through measures such as pollution control and invasive species management. A strong emphasis is placed on species conservation, sustainable resource use, and enhancing wildlife corridors to reduce habitat fragmentation. India’s approach underscores community engagement in biodiversity governance, fostering inclusive and participatory conservation efforts. India submitted its National Biodiversity Targets on September 10, 2024, ensuring full alignment with KMGBF goals. These targets reflect India’s commitment to implementing biodiversity actions in accordance with national circumstances, priorities, and capabilities. The targets address critical aspects of biodiversity preservation, including ecosystem restoration and sustainable use of natural resources. In November 2022, India submitted its LT-LEDS to the UNFCCC, highlighting a strategic pathway for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring equitable and fair participation in the Global Carbon Budget. The strategy includes key components such as: Transitioning to low-carbon electricity systems. Developing an efficient and inclusive low-carbon transport network. Promoting climate-resilient urban development through energy-efficient building designs and sustainable urbanisation. Decoupling economic growth from emissions by fostering low-emission industrial practices. Enhancing forest cover and promoting CO2 removal technologies. Programs like the Smart Cities Mission and the National Action Plan on Climate Change are integral to these efforts, aiming to build a climate-resilient and sustainable future. India’s Adaptation Communication, submitted to the UNFCCC in 2023, outlines an integrated approach to tackling climate risks. It prioritises food security, energy efficiency, and water resource management. These strategies are implemented through comprehensive policies that address multiple challenges simultaneously, ensuring sustainable and resilient development for vulnerable sectors and communities. India’s climate strategies are rooted in the principles of Climate Justice, ensuring fair access to the Global Carbon Budget while addressing developmental needs. This approach underscores India’s commitment to balancing environmental sustainability with socio-economic equity, reflecting its vision for an inclusive and sustainable future. The National Action Plan on Climate Change serves as India’s overarching framework to address climate change through an inclusive and sustainable development strategy. One of its key principles is protecting poor and vulnerable communities while promoting adaptation measures that enhance resilience. The NAPCC comprises nine national missions focusing on areas such as solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water, agriculture, Himalayan ecosystems, human health, green India, and strategic climate knowledge. State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs): In alignment with the NAPCC, 34 States and Union Territories have developed their State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs). These plans emphasize state-specific strategies across sectors like water, health, agriculture, biodiversity, and energy, ensuring consistency with national objectives and fostering a localised approach to climate resilience. Under the Paris Agreement, India has committed to creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030. This ambitious target is being achieved through afforestation, forest restoration, and community-based conservation initiatives, including active participation by Joint Forest Management Committees. Collaborative efforts across ministries and stakeholders, including state governments, are essential to meet these commitments. The National Mission for a Green India (GIM) aims to protect, restore, and enhance India’s forest cover. The program is implemented through Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) in the participating States and Union Territories. Under this initiative, Rs. 944.48 crore has been released to 17 States and 1 Union Territory for activities such as plantation creation and eco-restoration. The Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) focuses on developing green spaces in urban and peri-urban areas. The scheme is executed through State/UT Forest Departments and Urban Local Bodies. A total of 546 projects across 31 States and Union Territories have been sanctioned, with Rs. 431.77 crore allocated for this purpose. The School Nursery Yojana (SNY) aims to raise awareness among students about the significance of plants and motivate them to appreciate nature. This initiative is implemented in recognised public and private schools. Under the scheme, 743 projects in 19 States and Union Territories have been sanctioned with an outlay of Rs. 4.80 crore. The MISHTI scheme has been introduced to restore and promote mangroves as unique and sustainable coastal ecosystems. It ensures the preservation and enhancement of coastal habitats. So far, Rs. 17.96 crore has been released for this initiative across Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Under the National Coastal Mission, the Ministry has provided financial support to coastal States and Union Territories for conserving mangroves and coral reefs. This initiative has benefited nine coastal States and one Union Territory, ensuring sustainable management of these critical ecosystems. The “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign, launched by Prime Minister on June 5, 2024, draws a symbolic parallel between Mother Earth nurturing nature and mothers nurturing human lives. Citizens are encouraged to plant trees as a gesture of love, respect, and honour for their mothers. The campaign promotes pledges to protect both trees and Mother Earth. The Ministry is implementing the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) for the conservation and management of wetlands across the country. The scheme is carried out on a cost-sharing basis between the Central Government and respective State Governments to ensure the protection of these vital ecosystems. Funds under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) are used to compensate for the loss of forests and ecosystem services caused by the diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes. The scheme is implemented as per the provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. The Ministry sets annual afforestation targets under the Twenty Point Programme, which are collectively achieved by States and Union Territories. These targets are fulfilled through Central and State Government schemes, as well as plantation efforts by NGOs, private organisations, and civil societies. The Ministry promotes mass tree plantations and awareness about forest conservation on occasions like International Day of Forests, World Environment Day, Van Mahotsav, and Wildlife Week. Knowledge dissemination occurs through conferences, workshops, brochures, and signboards. Additionally, forest, mangrove, and wetland conservation is ensured by strictly enforcing relevant Acts, rules, and court orders. As per India’s third National Communication to the UNFCCC in 2023, the country has achieved an additional carbon sink of 1.97 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent between 2005 and 2019. This milestone reflects India’s commitment to combating climate change through targeted afforestation and restoration initiatives. India has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development, supported by comprehensive policies, innovative initiatives, and global partnerships. Despite its low ranking in the NCI 2024, India’s achievements, including its leadership in global coalitions and the success of domestic projects like Project Lion and the restoration of wetlands, are globally recognised. Moving forward, conservation indices like the NCI must adopt transparent, context-sensitive methodologies that accurately reflect national contributions. Only then can such evaluations serve as effective tools to foster global conservation efforts and acknowledge the strides made by countries like India in safeguarding the planet’s ecological future.Israeli 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)

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AP News Summary at 1:24 p.m. EST