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wowowillie zaito Walmart's DEI rollback signals a profound shift in the wake of Trump's election victoryThe Broncos opened training camp before this season with a starting center vacancy. Luke Wattenberg took control. “He came into this year with a lot of pride to get the job, and to make sure that he was the guy that took us where we needed to go offensively,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey told The Denver Gazette last week after practice at Broncos Park. “He’s such a great communicator. He keeps all of us on the same page out there. He’s playing his (butt) off.” The Broncos (7-5) host the Browns (3-8) in Week 13 on Monday Night Football at Empower Field. Wattenberg has started in eight of 12 games; missing four starts while on injured reserve (ankle) earlier this season. The fifth-round draft pick (2022) from Washington in his third NFL season has grown to become a key member of Denver’s offensive line. His chemistry with rookie quarterback Bo Nix continues to grow. The Broncos defeated the Raiders, 29-19, on Sunday in Las Vegas. “The big thing is just getting reps between us. The more we play together, the better we click and communicate,” Wattenberg said on a Monday teleconference call with local media. “As soon as (Nix) stepped in the building, I think everyone could kind of feel his confidence, and his confidence in his own abilities. ... The way he runs the offense; I think it does not feel like he’s a rookie. It’s great for us up front and I think everyone feeds off it.” Wattenberg spent his first two Broncos seasons studying the success of ex-starting center Lloyd Cushenberry (signed with Titans). Wattenberg credits his former teammate for preparation to take over the job in Denver. “(Cushenberry) was a great guy to learn from,” Wattenberg said. “His attention to detail is his biggest asset and that’s what I took from him. ... Every meticulous detail, from his notes to the way he practices to the techniques he uses.” Wattenberg, 27, is now earning the respect of his current teammates. “He’s overall kind of quiet, but the hard work doesn’t go unnoticed,” left guard Quinn Meinerz told The Denver Gazette last week. “When he needs to make the calls, he makes it loud enough for us to all know what we’ve got to do. He’s very confident in that, and that’s because he works really hard. ... It’s on all of us to get on the same page. But he gets us there.”Baltimore Ravens leading receiver Zay Flowers is questionable for Wednesday's game against the host Houston Texans because of a shoulder issue. Flowers was listed on the team's injury report after missing practice on Sunday and Monday and being limited on Tuesday. Cornerback Tre'Davious White (shoulder) has followed the same pattern in practice participation and also is questionable. The Ravens ruled out wide receiver Nelson Agholor and running back Justice Hill due to concussions, and neither practiced Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring) also missed practice this week and is out. Flowers, 24, leads the Ravens with 71 receptions, 109 targets and 1,016 receiving yards in 15 games (13 starts). He has four touchdowns. Baltimore selected him 22nd overall in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Boston College. He has 148 career receptions for 1,874 yards and nine TDs in 31 games (29 starts). Flowers has not missed a game because of injury in his brief NFL career. White, 29, has appeared in five games and has seven tackles. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2019 and 2020 and first-team All-Pro in 2019 during his first seven NFL seasons with the Buffalo Bills. Hill, 27, has 47 carries for 228 yards and one touchdown this season in 15 games as a reserve. He also has 42 receptions for 383 yards and three TDs. The Ravens selected Hill in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. He has 250 rushing attempts for 1,162 yards and six TDs, and 95 receptions for 737 yards and four scores. Agholor, 31, will miss his second consecutive game. He has 14 receptions on 29 targets for 231 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games (seven starts). He has 389 career receptions for 3,858 yards and 37 TDs in 149 games (105 starts) for the Philadelphia Eagles (2015-19), Las Vegas Raiders (2020), New England Patriots (2021-22) and Ravens (2023-present). Armour-Davis, 25, has played in seven games (two starts) this season and has eight tackles. The Ravens picked him in the fourth round of the 2022 draft out of Alabama. The Ravens (10-5) elevated wide receiver Anthony Miller from the practice squad to the active roster for the game against the Texans (9-6). --Field Level MediaWhat Bills Fans Should Be Thankful for This Year

Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich says Aaron Rodgers won’t be shut down and will start against SeahawksMembers of Fayette’s All Age Friendly Committee discuss in home care, in addition to obituary and will writing Nov. 18 at Starling Hall in Fayette. Submitted Photo FAYETTE — The Fayette All Age Friendly Committee [FAAFC] continues its mission to create opportunities for residents of all ages to age in place and foster a strong sense of community through programming and services. The committee, established under the direction of the board of selectmen, is housed at Starling Hall and has grown in its efforts to meet the evolving needs of Fayette, Mt. Vernon, and Vienna. “Our purpose is to enhance our residents’ ability to age in place, regardless of age,” said Lori Beaulieu, a member of the committee. “None of us wants to feel isolated, and these programs are here to make sure everyone has access to the help and connections they need.” The FAAFC hosts regular events at Starling Hall, including a quilting group on Dec. 3 and a game night on Dec. 6. These activities provide opportunities for residents to connect and engage. The committee also serves as a bridge for accessing resources such as respite care and companionship programs. “We are looking to find out what people’s needs are and how we can help them age in their homes,” said another member of the committee. The goal is to have a caring caller tree so they can know who wants to be contacted for some socialization. The committee comprises five members appointed by the board of selectmen: Lori Beaulieu, Deb Dubord, Diane Polky, Alma Rooney, and Elaine Wilcox. A Select Board member serves as a non-voting liaison, while administrative support is provided by the town manager. In a recent meeting, representatives from All-Med Staffing of New England, based in Augusta and Windham, shared their mission to provide professional healthcare staffing services and personal support specialists for in-home care. Danielle Charles, a manager at All-Med, emphasized the role of personal support specialists in maintaining independence. “We focus on activities of daily living like dressing, toileting, and meal prep,” she said. “It’s all about keeping individuals comfortable and safe in their homes.” Charles also discussed funding options and that it is possible Medicare can cover these services. “It’s great when a loved one can be the caregiver, and we offer training to family members to become certified personal support specialists,” Charles said. “If you think this might be right for a friend or family member, we can help figure out if they qualify.” Two representatives from All-Med Staffing of New England, seen at the end of table on left, discuss home care solutions at the All Ages Friendly Committee meeting Nov. 18 in Fayette. Submitted Photo All-Med representatives highlighted their growing operations. “Three years ago, we had 35 clients for home care. As of yesterday, we have 165,” Charles said. Amy Sherman, a service liaison at All-Med, shared her personal connection to the work. “I go to the consumers’ homes and let them know what the personal support specialist can do for them,” she said. “We also schedule supervisory visits at three or six months to make sure their needs are being met.” The FAAFC recently conducted a survey by mail and at the polls to identify residents’ needs. Results will help shape future programs, including the proposed “caring caller” tree to foster social connections. Christine Merchant, a coordinator funded by a grant set to expire soon, stressed the importance of outreach. “We need people to step forward, attend meetings, and volunteer to make a difference,” she said. Beaulieu echoed this sentiment, saying, “It’s not just about services. It’s about building connections and making sure no one feels alone.” The committee meets the third Monday of the month at Starling Hall from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Residents can contact Town Manager Mark Robinson at the Fayette town office for confidential assistance or to volunteer. We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors.

Minister: UK courts would need to make decision on Netanyahu arrest warrant

The Pittsburgh Steelers take on what is typically an unenviable task -- traveling on a short week for a Thursday night primetime game. However, a few things are playing in Pittsburgh's favor as Week 12 of the NFL regular season kicks off. Namely, the "trip" to Cleveland is a little more than two hours by road and when the Steelers arrive there, they'll be facing a backup quarterback at the helm of a massively underwhelming 2-8 Browns team. The Steelers (8-2) are coming off a huge win over Baltimore to stay atop the AFC North. And Pittsburgh is beginning to set its sights on potential home-field advantage come playoff time. ODDS AND TRENDS The Steelers are a consensus 3.5-point favorite. That includes at BetRivers, where they have been backed by 80 percent of the spread-line money. Pittsburgh's -195 moneyline to simply win the game has been even more popular, drawing 95 percent of all money wagered. The Browns enter Thursday night having failed to cover the spread in nine of their past 12 games. Meanwhile, the Steelers have covered the spread in every game during their five-game win streak. The 37.0 total points line has seen the Over backed by 65 percent of the money and 70 percent of the total bets. Each of Cleveland's past eight November home games has gone under the total points line. PROP PICKS --Steelers WR George Pickens Over 50 Receiving Yards (-195 at DraftKings): Russell Wilson has thrown six touchdowns in the four games since he took over as the starting quarterback. Two of those have gone to Pickens, who has at least 74 receiving yards in each of those games. There is some concern that Pittsburgh gains a big early lead and turns to a run-heavy attack, but Wilson throws an excellent deep ball and that plays into Pickens' strength. This is the most popular player prop at the book. --Steelers RB Najee Harris Anytime TD (+100 at BetRivers): That potential for a run-heavy approach should benefit Harris, who found the sledding tough against Baltimore with 63 yards on the ground. He was also held out of the end zone for the second time in three games. Keep in mind that Cleveland has allowed only three touchdowns on the ground all season, but the Browns have allowed 12 through the air. Harris has a trio of scores on the ground and receiving through 10 games. KEY STAT The Browns have won the first quarter in five consecutive home games against the Steelers. THE NEWS The Steelers have certainly been locked in. They are currently riding a five-game winning streak, most recently edging the Baltimore Ravens 18-16 on Sunday. Chris Boswell booted six field goals against Baltimore, while Wilson completed 23 of 36 passes for 205 yards and an interception. Meanwhile, Cleveland continues to go through the wringer. The Browns ended up on the wrong end of a 35-14 blowout while facing the host New Orleans Saints on Sunday, marking their seventh loss in the past eight games. Cleveland now has to go up against one of the most unforgiving defenses in the league. Browns quarterback Jameis Winston is determined to direct a fundamentally sound performance against Pittsburgh, which allows the second-fewest points per game in the NFL (16.2). "It's precision passing. Getting the ball out on time. Elite operation and just doing our job. It's the simple things," Winston said. "This team (the Steelers) is not going to try and fool you. They're going to line up and say, 'Give us your best, we're going to give you our best.'" Winston threw for 395 yards and two touchdowns on 30-for-46 passing in the setback against New Orleans, with Jerry Jeudy hauling in six catches for 142 yards and a score. Star running back Nick Chubb continued to struggle since his return from a knee injury that cut his 2023 season short, finishing with 50 yards on 11 carries. INJURY REPORT The Browns could be without standout defensive end Myles Garrett, who missed practice on Tuesday because of a hip injury. Wide receiver Elijah Moore (shoulder), guard Joel Bitonio (pectoral) and cornerbacks Denzel Ward (ribs/ankle) and Greg Newsome II (shoulder) were among those limited during the session. Linebacker Alex Highsmith is dealing with an ankle issue and was ruled out by the Steelers along with cornerback Cory Trice Jr. (hamstring). THEY SAID IT Wilson is starting to feel like he might be part of something special, but he also doesn't want Pittsburgh to get ahead of itself. "I definitely think that we have a chance (to make a deep playoff run)," said Wilson, who has played in two Super Bowls. "I think the biggest thing for us is continuing to just take each week as the most important week of it all. "I think that it's not really even just the week, it's just the day, it's just the moments in between. I think the greatest teams, the greatest players, in any sport, especially the teams I've been on, is the moment -- it's never too far away. It's right here, right now. And you're just locked into that." PREDICTION Divisional road games on short weeks typically shape up as a daunting task. That's not the case for the Steelers, who will be hyper-focused to put this one out of reach early before enjoying 10 days ahead of a trip to Cleveland. With a second game against the Browns before a huge game at Philadelphia, this is not an under-manned opponent Pittsburgh will look past. --Steelers 27, Browns 19 --Field Level Media

Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians

Politicisation remains the biggest challenge to Bangladesh's public administration, with both politicians and bureaucrats contributing to its entrenchment, speakers said at a discussion yesterday. They criticised the isolation of public administration from the people and called for sweeping reforms to ensure accountability and merit-based appointments. The public administration system is heavily influenced by a "broker culture", undermining its effectiveness, speakers said at the discussion, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka. Hossain Zillur Rahman, former advisor to a caretaker government, said, "Our public administration suffers from significant deficiencies and is trapped in a broker system." Criticising the state of local governance, he added, "Political parties and bureaucrats have reduced local governments to low-class servants." He said without granting autonomy to institutions, economic progress would remain stagnant. "Bangladesh is experiencing instability and uncertainty, but also an opportunity to bring about change," said Zillur, also executive director of CGS. Badiul Alam Majumdar, head of the Election Reform Commission, linked the current state of public administration to its colonial legacy. "The administration was a tool of governance and exploitation for the British, and we still see its legacy. It was meant to serve the people but has failed to achieve that goal," he said. Dr Muhammad Abdul Mazid, former Secretary and Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), urged political parties to include reform commitments in their election manifestos. "National institutions must not be politicised. The persistence of a brokerage culture undermines accountability," he said. Former Secretary AKM Abdul Awal Majumdar traced the roots of administrative decay to the post-independence period. Former FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossain highlighted the lack of inter-ministerial coordination and emphasised the importance of holding corrupt individuals accountable. Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, general secretary of Gono Forum, cautioned against wasting time under the guise of reform efforts. Student representative Tahmid Al Mudassir criticised the servility and pettiness of officials in public administration, particularly within the secretariat. Maj Gen (retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman, former director general of Bangladesh Rifles, proposed forming an all-party government for five years to implement reforms before the next national elections. The discussion also included remarks from Ibrahim Khan, former Secretary and general secretary of the Officers' Club, and Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury, former mayor of Chattogram City Corporation and a former lawmaker. They called for institutional reforms. Other speakers included Dr Jamal Uddin Ahmed, former general secretary of the Bangladesh Economic Association, Mujibur Rahman Manju, member secretary of the Amar Bangladesh Party, former secretary Sultana Afroz, and major general (retd) AMSA Amin, an organiser of Ethical Society Bangladesh. Monira Khan, chair of CGS, and Abdullah Hil Rakib, former BGMEA vice president, stressed the importance of ethical governance. Dhaka University's Public Administration expert Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, NDM Chairman Bobby Hajjaj, and senior assistant editor of Daily Jugantor Mahbub Kamal also shared their perspectives. Eiffah Assarirah, a student of Dhaka University, said reforms must be people-centric and inclusive. Politicisation remains the biggest challenge to Bangladesh's public administration, with both politicians and bureaucrats contributing to its entrenchment, speakers said at a discussion yesterday. They criticised the isolation of public administration from the people and called for sweeping reforms to ensure accountability and merit-based appointments. The public administration system is heavily influenced by a "broker culture", undermining its effectiveness, speakers said at the discussion, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka. Hossain Zillur Rahman, former advisor to a caretaker government, said, "Our public administration suffers from significant deficiencies and is trapped in a broker system." Criticising the state of local governance, he added, "Political parties and bureaucrats have reduced local governments to low-class servants." He said without granting autonomy to institutions, economic progress would remain stagnant. "Bangladesh is experiencing instability and uncertainty, but also an opportunity to bring about change," said Zillur, also executive director of CGS. Badiul Alam Majumdar, head of the Election Reform Commission, linked the current state of public administration to its colonial legacy. "The administration was a tool of governance and exploitation for the British, and we still see its legacy. It was meant to serve the people but has failed to achieve that goal," he said. Dr Muhammad Abdul Mazid, former Secretary and Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), urged political parties to include reform commitments in their election manifestos. "National institutions must not be politicised. The persistence of a brokerage culture undermines accountability," he said. Former Secretary AKM Abdul Awal Majumdar traced the roots of administrative decay to the post-independence period. Former FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossain highlighted the lack of inter-ministerial coordination and emphasised the importance of holding corrupt individuals accountable. Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, general secretary of Gono Forum, cautioned against wasting time under the guise of reform efforts. Student representative Tahmid Al Mudassir criticised the servility and pettiness of officials in public administration, particularly within the secretariat. Maj Gen (retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman, former director general of Bangladesh Rifles, proposed forming an all-party government for five years to implement reforms before the next national elections. The discussion also included remarks from Ibrahim Khan, former Secretary and general secretary of the Officers' Club, and Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury, former mayor of Chattogram City Corporation and a former lawmaker. They called for institutional reforms. Other speakers included Dr Jamal Uddin Ahmed, former general secretary of the Bangladesh Economic Association, Mujibur Rahman Manju, member secretary of the Amar Bangladesh Party, former secretary Sultana Afroz, and major general (retd) AMSA Amin, an organiser of Ethical Society Bangladesh. Monira Khan, chair of CGS, and Abdullah Hil Rakib, former BGMEA vice president, stressed the importance of ethical governance. Dhaka University's Public Administration expert Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, NDM Chairman Bobby Hajjaj, and senior assistant editor of Daily Jugantor Mahbub Kamal also shared their perspectives. Eiffah Assarirah, a student of Dhaka University, said reforms must be people-centric and inclusive.A bankruptcy judge will hear arguments on Monday over the auction that allowed satirical newspaper The Onion to buy Alex Jones' Infowars . Jones is attempting to block the sale, claiming there was fraud and collusion in the Nov. 14 bankruptcy auction where The Onion was named the winning bidder. A federal judge ordered the liquidation of Austin-based conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' personal assets. He owes more than a billion dollars for lies he spread about the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting. Alex Jones declared bankruptcy and was forced to liquidate his assets after he was ordered to pay $1.4 billion to the families of victims in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Jones called the 2012 shooting that killed 20 first-graders and six educators a hoax. He has since acknowledged the shooting happened. A judge found Jones liable for defamation and emotional distress. All proceeds from the liquidation would go to Jones' creditors, which include the Sandy Hook families. Jones is appealing the $1.5 billion ruling, citing free speech rights. Satirical news publication, The Onion, has purchased Alex Jones' Infowars with plans to use the platform to raise awareness about gun violence prevention. The Onion was declared the winning bidder for Jones' Infowars. The live auction was held for the intellectual properties owned by Free Speech Systems Media Holdings, which includes Infowars, its production rights, archives and social media accounts. The auction also packaged the Infowars store to include its web domain, trademarks, contracts, e-commerce platform and customer lists. Jones' store sells supplements and apparel. Jones claims The Onion colluded with some of the families and a court-appointed trustee overseeing the liquidation process. The other bidder, First United American Companies, runs a website affiliated with Jones that sells nutritional supplements. First United American Companies offered $3.5 million, while The Onion offered $1.75 million in cash. The humor sites' bid also included a pledge to Sandy Hook families to forgo some or all of the auction proceeds due to them to give other creditors a total of $100,000 more than they would receive under other bids. Court-appointed trustee Christopher Murray says the provisions made the lower bid more beneficial to the creditors. Jones alleges the bid violated the rules of the auction and says Murray canceled an expected round of live bidding. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez said during a Nov. 14 hearing that he was concerned about the process and transparency. Jones has called the auction "rigged and a "fraud" on his show. InfoWars founder Alex Jones (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) and The Onion website (Photo Illustration by Mario Tama/Getty Images) It is not clear how soon Lopez will issue a ruling. He could allow The Onion to move forward with the purchase, order a new auction or name First United American Companies the winner. If The Onion is declared the winner, it could kick Jones out of his Infowars studio in Austin. "The Onion is proud to acquire Infowars, and we look forward to continuing its storied tradition of scaring the site’s users with lies until they fork over their cold, hard cash," said The Onion’s CEO Ben Collins in a statement. The nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety said it would be the "exclusive launch advertiser" for the reworked site. If the sale is approved, it is expected to launch in January 2025. Jones has already set up a new studio, websites and social media platforms. Lopez is also expected to rule on if Jones' personal X account, and its 3.3 million followers, should be included in the sale. Lawyers for X submitted a court filing saying that the social media company is the owner of both Jones' and Infowars' accounts and that they have not given permission for them to be sold. Information in this article comes from the Associated Press, Everytown for Gun Safety, court filings and previous FOX 7 reporting.

Consider Sienna Senior Living for a Stable Monthly IncomeMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media , leaving it to the Senate to finalize the world-first law. The major parties backed the bill that would make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent young children from holding accounts. The legislation was passed with 102 votes in favor to 13 against. If the bill becomes law this week, the platforms would have one year to work out how to implement the age restrictions before the penalties are enforced. Opposition lawmaker Dan Tehan told Parliament the government had agreed to accept amendments in the Senate that would bolster privacy protections. Platforms would not be allowed to compel users to provide government-issued identity documents including passports or driver’s licenses. The platforms also could not demand digital identification through a government system. “Will it be perfect? No. But is any law perfect? No, it’s not. But if it helps, even if it helps in just the smallest of ways, it will make a huge difference to people’s lives,” Tehan told Parliament. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the Senate would debate the bill later Wednesday. The major parties’ support all but guarantees the legislation will be passed by the Senate where no party holds a majority of seats. Lawmakers who were not aligned with either the government or the opposition were most critical of the legislation during debate on Tuesday and Wednesday. Criticisms include that the legislation had been rushed through Parliament without adequate scrutiny, would not work, would create privacy risks for users of all ages and would take away parents’ authority to decide what’s best for their children. Critics also argue the ban would isolate children, deprive them of positive aspects of social media, drive children to the dark web, make children too young for social media reluctant to report harms they encountered and take away incentives for platforms to make online spaces safer. Independent lawmaker Zoe Daniel said the legislation would “make zero difference to the harms that are inherent to social media.” “The true object of this legislation is not to make social media safe by design, but to make parents and voters feel like the government is doing something about it,” Daniel told Parliament. “There is a reason why the government parades this legislation as world-leading, that’s because no other country wants to do it,” she added. T he platforms had asked for the vote on legislation to be delayed until at least June next year when a government-commissioned evaluation of age assurance technologies made its report on how the ban could been enforced. Rod Mcguirk, The Associated Press

By ALEXANDRA OLSON and CATHY BUSSEWITZ NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart’s sweeping rollback of its diversity policies is the strongest indication yet of a profound shift taking hold at U.S. companies that are revaluating the legal and political risks associated with bold programs to bolster historically underrepresented groups in business. The changes announced by the world’s biggest retailer followed a string of legal victories by conservative groups that have filed an onslaught of lawsuits challenging corporate and federal programs aimed at elevating minority and women-owned businesses and employees. The risk associated with some of programs crystalized with the election of former President Donald Trump, whose administration is certain to make dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs a priority. Trump’s incoming deputy chief of policy will be his former adviser Stephen Miller , who leads a group called America First Legal that has aggressively challenged corporate DEI policies. “There has been a lot of reassessment of risk looking at programs that could be deemed to constitute reverse discrimination,” said Allan Schweyer, principal researcher the Human Capital Center at the Conference Board. “This is another domino to fall and it is a rather large domino,” he added. Among other changes, Walmart said it will no longer give priority treatment to suppliers owned by women or minorities. The company also will not renew a five-year commitment for a racial equity center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd. And it pulled out of a prominent gay rights index . Schweyer said the biggest trigger for companies making such changes is simply a reassessment of their legal risk exposure, which began after U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2023 that ended affirmative action in college admissions. Since then, conservative groups using similar arguments have secured court victories against various diversity programs, especially those that steer contracts to minority or women-owned businesses. Most recently, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty won a victory in a case against the U.S. Department of Transportation over its use of a program that gives priority to minority-owned businesses when it awards contracts. Companies are seeing a big legal risk in continuing with DEI efforts, said Dan Lennington, a deputy counsel at the institute. His organization says it has identified more than 60 programs in the federal government that it considers discriminatory, he said. “We have a legal landscape within the entire federal government, all three branches — the U.S. Supreme Court, the Congress and the President — are all now firmly pointed in the direction towards equality of individuals and individualized treatment of all Americans, instead of diversity, equity and inclusion treating people as members of racial groups,” Lennington said. The Trump administration is also likely to take direct aim at DEI initiatives through executive orders and other policies that affect private companies, especially federal contractors. “The impact of the election on DEI policies is huge. It can’t be overstated,” said Jason Schwartz, co-chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group at law firm Gibson Dunn. With Miller returning to the White House, rolling back DEI initiatives is likely to be a priority, Schwartz said. “Companies are trying to strike the right balance to make clear they’ve got an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome, and they want to get the best talent, while at the same time trying not to alienate various parts of their employees and customer base who might feel one way or the other. It’s a virtually impossible dilemma,” Schwartz said. A recent survey by Pew Research Center showed that workers are divided on the merits of DEI policies. While still broadly popular, the share of workers who said focusing on workplace diversity was mostly a good thing fell to 52% in the November survey, compared to 56% in a similar survey in February 2023. Rachel Minkin, a research associated at Pew called it a small but significant shift in short amount of time. There will be more companies pulling back from their DEI policies, but it likely won’t be a retreat across the board, said David Glasgow, executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at New York University. “There are vastly more companies that are sticking with DEI,” Glasgow said. “The only reason you don’t hear about it is most of them are doing it by stealth. They’re putting their heads down and doing DEI work and hoping not to attract attention.” Glasgow advises organizations to stick to their own core values, because attitudes toward the topic can change quickly in the span of four years. “It’s going to leave them looking a little bit weak if there’s a kind of flip-flopping, depending on whichever direction the political winds are blowing,” he said. One reason DEI programs exist is because without those programs, companies may be vulnerable to lawsuits for traditional discrimination. “Really think carefully about the risks in all directions on this topic,” Glasgow said. Walmart confirmed will no longer consider race and gender as a litmus test to improve diversity when it offers supplier contracts. Last fiscal year, Walmart said it spent more than $13 billion on minority, women or veteran-owned good and service suppliers. It was unclear how its relationships with such business would change going forward. Organizations that that have partnered with Walmart on its diversity initiatives offered a cautious response. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, a non-profit that last year named Walmart one of America’s top corporation for women-owned enterprises, said it was still evaluating the impact of Walmart’s announcement. Pamela Prince-Eason, the president and CEO of the organization, said she hoped Walmart’s need to cater to its diverse customer base will continue to drive contracts to women-owned suppliers even if the company no longer has explicit dollar goals. “I suspect Walmart will continue to have one of the most inclusive supply chains in the World,” Prince-Eason wrote. “Any retailer’s ability to serve the communities they operate in will continue to value understanding their customers, (many of which are women), in order to better provide products and services desired and no one understands customers better than Walmart.” Related Articles National News | Man found guilty of holding down teen while he was raped at a youth center in 1998 National News | Police say Maryland FBI agent sexually assaulted 2 women after promise of free tattoos, modeling National News | What Black Friday’s history tells us about holiday shopping in 2024 National News | New rule allows HIV-positive organ transplants National News | Walmart becomes latest – and biggest – company to roll back its DEI policies Walmart’s announcement came after the company spoke directly with conservative political commentator and activist Robby Starbuck, who has been going after corporate DEI policies, calling out individual companies on the social media platform X. Several of those companies have subsequently announced that they are pulling back their initiatives, including Ford , Harley-Davidson, Lowe’s and Tractor Supply . Walmart confirmed to The Associated Press that it will better monitor its third-party marketplace items to make sure they don’t feature sexual and transgender products aimed at minors. The company also will stop participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual benchmark index that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees. A Walmart spokesperson added that some of the changes were already in progress and not as a result of conversations that it had with Starbuck. RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, senior director of the HRC Foundation’s Workplace Equality Program, said companies that “abandon” their commitments workplace inclusion policies “are shirking their responsibility to their employees, consumers, and shareholders.” She said the buying power of LGBTQ customers is powerful and noted that the index will have record participation of more than 1,400 companies in 2025. 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As a way to promote her newest endorsement deal, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese recently gave away a few boxes of her "Angel X Reese's Puffs" cereal to random fans in the streets. Reese shared the video on social media as a bunch of unexpected supporters were left in disbelief by their chance encounter with the WNBA All-Star. Reese's cereals hit supermarket shelves on Nov. 14, and it appears to have been quite a hit. So much so, that some stores have run out of stocks. One fan recently posted a video on social media wherein she started knocking down random cereal boxes in the grocery store after finding out that they had run out of Reese's Puffs. Reese herself caught wind of the fan's "irritated" complaint, and the Sky forward just had to respond. "omgg nooo don’t knock over the boxes😭😭🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 send your address so i can send you a box auntie cause ion need you crashing out & going to jail bout me lmaooo," Reese wrote on X. omgg nooo don’t knock over the boxes😭😭🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 send your address so i can send you a box auntie cause ion need you crashing out & going to jail bout me lmaooo https://t.co/jd8ljMDvIg In her video, the fan admitted that she was "irritated" by the fact that she wasn't able to purchase a box of Reese's cereals for her niece. The former LSU superstar came to the rescue, though, by saying that she would be happy to send a box to the disgruntled supporter just so she doesn't end up getting in trouble for causing a ruckus in the grocery store. © Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Needless to say, her fans have come out to support Reese's latest endorsement deal. Reese's Puffs is just the latest in a growing line of product endorsements for the 22-year-old, which also includes brands such as Reebok, Beats by Dre and McDonald's, to name a few. As for her basketball, Reese is coming off a tremendous rookie campaign with the Sky -- one that had her finishing as the runner-up for the coveted Rookie of the Year title behind Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. In 34 games played before her season was cut short by surgery on her wrist, Reese produced averages of 13.6 points , a league-best 13.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. Related: Angel Reese's Honest Confession About 'Scary' Career DecisionIsrael has agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon that will take effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday. Moments after U.S. President Joe Biden announced the ceasefire deal , which Israel's Cabinet approved late Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike slammed into the Lebanese capital. Residents of Beirut and its southern suburbs have endured the most intense day of Israeli strikes since the war began nearly 14 months ago, as Israel's nationwide onslaught of bombings signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah before the ceasefire is set to take hold. At least 42 people have killed by Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Tuesday, according to local authorities. Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel on Tuesday, triggering air raid sirens in the country’s north. An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza. Hezbollah began attacking Israel a day after Hamas’ attack. The fighting in Lebanon escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes across the country and an Israeli ground invasion of the south. In Gaza, more than 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 wounded in the nearly 14-month war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Here's the Latest: BEIRUT — The Health Ministry in Lebanon says 18 more people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes across the country, bringing the total death toll on Tuesday to at least 42 people. Eleven people were killed by Israeli bombing in eastern Lebanon, four were killed by strikes on border crossings between northern Lebanon and Syria, and three people were killed in southern Lebanon, the Health Ministry said early Wednesday. In the hours before a ceasefire with Hezbollah was to take effect, Israel launched its most intense wave of strikes on the capital Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict. Strikes have targeted what Israel said were Hezbollah-related targets in several other parts of the country as well. Israel’s military issued a record number of evacuation warnings in Beirut, sending people fleeing from their homes. Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel on Tuesday, triggering air raid sirens across the country’s north. UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations chief welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, and hopes it can end the violence and suffering of people in both countries, the U.N. spokesman says. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel and Hezbollah to swiftly implement all commitments under the agreement, and take immediate steps toward fully implementing the 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the last Israel-Hezbollah war, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said late Tuesday. Resolution 1701 called for the deployment of Lebanese forces throughout the south, which borders Israel and is now mainly controlled by Hezbollah, and it calls for all armed groups including Hezbollah to be disarmed. Neither has happened in the past 17 years. Dujarric said U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon “both stand ready to support the implementation of this agreement, in line with their respective mandates.” WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s senior national security team was briefed by the Biden administration as negotiations unfolded, according to the senior U.S. official. The official, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity in a White House-organized call, added that the incoming Trump administration officials were not directly involved in the talks, but that it was important that the incoming administration knew “what we were negotiating and what the commitments were.” The official said “all fire will stop from all parties” at 4 a.m. local time. The next step would be what the official described as a “phased withdrawal” by the Israeli military. As the Israelis pull back, Lebanese national forces will occupy the territories. The process is slated to finish within 60 days. Lebanese forces is supposed to patrol the area and remove Hezbollah weaponry and infrastructure there. “Hezbollah is incredibly weak at this moment, both militarily and politically,” the official said. “And this is the opportunity for Lebanon to re-establish its sovereignty over its territory.” The official said the ceasefire agreement will strengthen what’s known as the “tripartite mechanism” by including the United States and France. The goal is to address violations of the ceasefire without a return to hostilities. UNITED NATIONS – The top U.N. envoy for Lebanon welcomed the ceasefire announcement and urged Israel and Hezbollah militants to take concrete actions to fully implement the 2006 agreement that ended their last war. U.N. Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said the agreement “marks the starting point of a critical process” that must see both sides fully implement U.N. Security Council resolution 1701. It called for the deployment of Lebanese armed forces in the south bordering Israel and the disarmament of all armed groups including Hezbollah – neither of which has happened in the past 17 years. “Nothing less than the full and unwavering commitment of both parties is required,” Hennis-Plasschaert said. “Neither side can afford another period of disingenuous implementation under the guise of ostensible calm.” She commended the parties for “seizing the opportunity to close this devastating chapter,” stressing that “Now is the time to deliver, through concrete actions, to consolidate today’s achievement.” UNITED NATIONS — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is calling for urgent international intervention to stop what he described as “an ongoing genocidal war” in Gaza. Abbas heads the Palestinian Authority which has limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, but not Gaza, which has been controlled by Hamas. The U.S. and others want a reinvigorated Palestinian Authority to run Gaza when the war ends. In a speech on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Abbas accused Israel of repeating what happened to the Palestinians in 1948 and 1967 – displacing them and seizing their land and resources. Abbas demanded to know how long the world will remain silent and refuse to compel Israel to abide by international law. The speech to U.N. member nations was read by Palestinian U.N. ambassador Riyad Mansour. “The only way to halt the halt the dangerous escalation we are witnessing in the region, and maintain regional and international stability, security and peace, is to resolve the question of Palestine,” Abbas' speech said. This must be done in accordance with U.N. Security Council resolutions which call for a two-state solution, he said. BEIRUT -- Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hezbollah, describing it as a crucial step toward stability, the return of displaced people to their homes and regional calm. Mikati made these comments in a statement issued just after U.S. President Joe announced the truce deal. Mikati said he discussed the ceasefire agreement with Biden by phone earlier Tuesday. The prime minister reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to implementing U.N. resolution 1701, strengthening the Lebanese army’s presence in the south, and cooperating with the U.N. peacekeeping force. He also called on Israel to fully comply with the ceasefire and withdraw from southern Lebanon in accordance the U.N. resolution. 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)