Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,056 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Walmart scales back DEI efforts

• South Korean man gains weight to avoid military service

• A squirting cucumber video

First-time reader? Sign up here!

Editor’s note: I’ll be taking Thursday and Friday off to celebrate Thanksgiving. Travel safe if you’re on the road, and happy holidays! I’m thankful for each one of you who chooses to get your news from The Neutral. We will be back in your inbox on Saturday morning. -Adam

Big Story

Israel Hezbollah Ceasefire

Israel's cabinet approved a US-backed ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah by a 10-1 vote.

• Under the agreement, the Lebanese army will take control of southern Lebanon within 60 days, and Israel will withdraw its forces to allow civilians to return home.

• Netanyahu stressed that the ceasefire depends on Hezbollah's actions, warning that Israel will respond forcefully to any violations. The ceasefire does not affect Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza.

• The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began last year after Hezbollah launched rockets in solidarity with Hamas following its deadly October 7 attack on Israel. Israel’s response included a ground invasion and heavy strikes across Lebanon.

• Recent escalation turned the conflict into a full-scale war. It has caused over 3,700 Lebanese and 140 Israeli deaths and displaced over 1 million Lebanese and 60,000 Israelis.

Update: The ceasefire officially began at 4 a.m. Wednesday.

Big Story

Walmart Cuts Back on DEI

Walmart is scaling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

• The company confirmed it will not renew a $100 million racial equity center established after George Floyd’s death in 2020 and will no longer prioritize race or gender in supplier contracts.

• Additionally, Walmart will stop participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s workplace inclusion index for LGBTQ+ employees and begin reviewing Pride events' grants to avoid content deemed inappropriate for children.

• The changes at Walmart reflect growing conservative opposition to DEI efforts, especially after the Supreme Court ended affirmative action in college admissions in 2023. With its 1.6 million workers, Walmart is the largest company to roll back such policies.

Start learning AI in 2025

Everyone talks about AI, but no one has the time to learn it. So, we found the easiest way to learn AI in as little time as possible: The Rundown AI.

It's a free AI newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on the latest AI news, and teaches you how to apply it in just 5 minutes a day.

Plus, complete the quiz after signing up and they’ll recommend the best AI tools, guides, and courses – tailored to your needs.

Sign up to start learning.

Big Story

Trump’s Tariffs

President-elect Donald Trump announced plans for significant tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China.

• He proposed a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods to address drug trafficking and immigration issues and an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports. The tariffs will go into effect on January 20.

• The proposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico conflict with the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which promotes largely duty-free trade among the three nations. Trump’s threats could force early renegotiations as the next review is in 2026.

• Trump plans to slap China with an additional tariff for not doing enough to stop the flow of fentanyl precursors into the US. China denies the accusations, citing anti-drug measures it has already implemented.

• Economists predict that reinstating high tariffs could stoke inflation, harm US-China trade, create retaliation tariffs, and disrupt global supply chains.

Quick Stories

U.S. News

• The Biden administration proposed a rule Tuesday to cover weight-loss drugs like Wegovy under Medicare and Medicaid. The plan faces opposition from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick to lead Health and Human Services, who could block it. (More)

• The FBI caught animal rights extremist Daniel Andreas San Diego in Wales after more than a 20-year manhunt. Diego set off two homemade pipe bombs at two companies near San Francisco in 2003. (More)

• A 22-year-old Florida influencer was arrested for allegedly shoplifting $500 worth of items from a Target. Police identified her through a TikTok video she filmed during the incident. (More)

World

• More than 18,000 people have registered to run for Supreme Court seats and federal judgeships in Mexico's new selection process. A random drawing will ultimately decide who appears on the ballot. (More)

• A leading EU lawmaker has called for TikTok's CEO to testify before the European Parliament regarding the platform's alleged role in Romania's presidential election. Researchers reported covert activity on thousands of fake accounts ahead of the vote. (More)

• A South Korean man received a suspended prison sentence for intentionally gaining over 44 pounds to avoid a more demanding military role. South Korea requires all able-bodied men to serve 18-21 months in the military. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed higher on Tuesday (S&P +0.57%, Nasdaq +0.63%, Dow +0.28%). The US market will be dark tomorrow for Thanksgiving and close early Friday. (More)

• Kohl’s stock dropped 20% on Tuesday after year-over-year sales declined 8.8%. Its CEO also added to the bad news by announcing he would step down in January. (More)

• Fed officials said during their November meeting that they believe inflation is slowing and the job market is strong enough to handle gradual rate cuts, even though inflation is still above their 2% goal. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Robert Lewandowski became the third player in Champions League history to reach 100 goals, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Ronaldo leads the scoring charts with 140 goals, followed by Messi with 129. (More)

• Drake has sued Universal Music Group again, alleging it failed to stop Kendrick Lamar's diss track Not Like Us, which he claims falsely accuses him of criminal sexual acts. (More)

• Retailers in the UK and Ireland, including Musgrave, Tesco, Costcutter, and Carry Out, are dropping all products linked to Conor McGregor, such as his Proper No. Twelve whiskey, following a Dublin court's sexual assault ruling against him. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Amgen's once-monthly GLP-1 drug, MariTide, showed positive results in a Phase II trial. Patients experienced a 20% weight loss after 52 weeks. Current market leaders provide weight loss between 14% and 24%. (More)

• A group leaked access to OpenAI’s video generator, Sora, to protest what they call "duplicity" and "art washing." They published a project on an AI development platform that appears to be linked to Sora’s API, which is not yet publicly available. (More)

• NASA scientists mapping Greenland's ice sheets uncovered a rare view of Camp Century, a Cold War-era US military base carved into the ice. The base was designed as a nuclear launch site with thousands of miles of tunnels. (More)

Extra Credit

🥒 Watch: The squirting cucumber.

🔫 Researchers uncover the oldest gun ever found in the US.

👷 Mapping unemployment rates by state in 2024.

🧑‍⚖️ New York decriminalizes adultery.