bmw55 casino slot login
bmw55 casino slot login
Rachel Reeves vows to take an 'iron fist against waste' - as Chancellor launches the biggest audit of government spending in almost two decades By HARRIET LINE and MARTIN BECKFORD Published: 22:30, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 22:46, 9 December 2024 e-mail View comments Rachel Reeves has vowed to take an 'iron fist against waste' as she launches the biggest audit of government spending in almost two decades. Every pound of Whitehall spending will be examined 'line-by-line' in the Chancellor's spending review, which will not be completed until June. Ms Reeves will tell government departments to find savings in their budgets - as she warned she would 'not tolerate' taxpayers' cash being spent on poor value projects. The review - covering three years - will be focused on meeting Labour 's priorities. It will be the first 'zero-based' exercise since 2007 - starting from scratch with every expense to be justified. Departments will be told to stop spending if it does not contribute to a priority. Budgets will be scrutinised by 'challenge panels of external experts' - including former senior managers from banks including Lloyd's, Barclays and Co-operative Group. Ms Reeves said last night: 'By totally rewiring how the government spends money we will be able to deliver our Plan for Change and focus on what matters for working people. 'The previous government allowed millions of pounds of taxpayers' money to go to waste on poor value for money projects. Rachel Reeves speaking at a press conference after a meeting of Eurozone finance ministers in Brussels. The Chancellor will say she would 'not tolerate' taxpayers' money being spent on poor value projects 'We will not tolerate it; I said I would have an iron grip on the public finances and that means taking an iron fist against waste. 'By reforming our public services, we will ensure they are up to scratch for modern day demands, saving money and delivering better services for people across the country. 'That's why we will inspect every pound of government spend, so that it goes to the right places and we put an end to all waste.' The Chancellor's review will also set out a timetable for achieving the party's ambition of raising defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP. But she told the Mail at the weekend that any extra cash for the military would have to come out of the same 'spending envelope' as other priorities, such as schools, hospitals and the police. Ms Reeves' warning on waste came as a report into the growth of red tape revealed some of Britain's biggest watchdogs are growing faster than the sectors they oversee. Research by the Policy Exchange think-tank has found that headcount at seven major regulators grew by 84 per cent over the past decade. The Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates banks and other City businesses, has seen staff levels double (116.6 per cent increase) since 2013-14. Numbers at the Financial Reporting Council, in charge of accountants, have more than tripled (256 per cent) while the Competition and Markets Authority has seen a 69.8 per cent increase. Over the same period, however, the number of people working in financial services and related professional services only grew by 6.5 per cent. Headcount at broadcast regulator Ofcom has risen by 87.7 per cent despite job cuts across the TV industry. The biggest 17 watchdogs spend £5billion a year and employ 39,000 people, the report says, but the overall cost of the 'regulatory state' including the bureaucratic burden on businesses is put at some £70bn. Ms Reeves' warning on waste came as a report into the growth of red tape revealed some of Britain's biggest watchdogs are growing faster than the sectors they oversee (file photo) It said the UK's regulatory rulebook has experienced almost 'unchecked growth for decades', imposing increasing costs on businesses, damaging innovation and making the lives of public servants and professionals 'increasingly miserable'. The report blames a safety-first political culture, a bureaucracy in which is it is 'remarkably cheap' to introduce new rules and a 'complete lack of incentives' to cut red tape. It recommends that ministers establish a 'gateway' requiring that £2 in savings must be found for every £1 in new regulatory costs introduced - and that businesses should be allowed to appeal if official Impact Assessments underestimate the effects of a new rule. The report has been backed by former Cabinet Secretary Lord Sedwill, who wrote in a foreword: 'Government adds a safety margin to Parliament's legislation, regulators add a safety margin to Government's, compliance teams in the private sector and public service add a safety margin to the regulators.. Big institutions can bear this burden. Small ones find it stifling.' Rachel Reeves Barclays Labour Share or comment on this article: Rachel Reeves vows to take an 'iron fist against waste' - as Chancellor launches the biggest audit of government spending in almost two decades e-mail Add comment
AP News Summary at 5:52 p.m. EST
The application of rubber in the field of shoe materials, and how to improve the abrasion resistance of rubber outsoles 11-22-2024 11:52 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire Rubber outsole materials are widely used in shoe materials, they are used to make various types of shoe soles due to their excellent physical properties. The following are the main applications and characteristics of rubber outsole materials in shoe materials: 1. Durability: Rubber outsoles are more durable and suitable for footwear that need to be worn for a long time and resist harsh environments, such as sports shoes, outdoor shoes and working shoes. 2. Anti-slip and grip: rubber has good anti-slip properties, especially on wet or smooth surfaces. This is particularly important for outdoor and sports shoes that need to walk on variable terrain. 3. Shock absorption: Rubber has certain shock absorption properties, which can absorb the impact on the feet when walking or running, reduce the pressure on the joints, and improve the wearing comfort. 4. Wide range of applications: Rubber outsoles can be adapted to a wide range of activities and environments, from casual sports shoes to professional hiking boots, rubber outsoles are widely used because of their adaptability. The main difficulties faced by rubber outsole materials during processing include: 1. Abrasion resistance problem: Traditional rubber outsole materials have the problem of poor abrasion resistance. In order to solve this problem, abrasion resistance can be improved by using high-performance rubber materials such as modified rare-earth cis-butadiene rubber, methyl methacrylate grafted natural rubber copolymers, and hydrogenated nitrile rubber. 2. Uneven mixing: Uneven mixing will lead to uneven dispersion of the mating agent in the rubber, and locally, the mating agent may exceed the solubility and produce frost phenomenon. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the mixing is uniform for the quality of the rubber outsole material. 3. Aging of rubber: Aging of rubber leads to the destruction of its web structure, which may lead to frosting. These difficulties involve many aspects of rubber outsole materials such as formula design, processing technology, quality control and environmental regulations, which need to be overcome through technological innovation and fine management. For rubber material manufacturers, it is very important to improve the abrasion resistance of rubber, and the common ways to improve the abrasion resistance of rubber outsole materials are adding silicone additives and so on. SILIKE Anti-abrasion masterbatch, Improve rubber abrasion resistance. SILIKE Anti-abrasion masterbatch NM-3C is a pelletized formulation. It's particularly developed for rubber shoe's sole compounds, helps to improving the final items abrasion resistance and decrease the abrasion value in the thermoplastics. Compare to conventional lower molecular weight Silicone / Siloxane additives,like Silicone oil, silicone fluids or other type abrasion additives, SILIKE Anti-abrasion Masterbatch NM-3C is expected to give a much better abrasion resistance property without any influence on hardness and color. SILIKE Anti-abrasion masterbatch NM-3C has a wide range of applications, Applicable for NR, NBR, EPDM, CR, BR, SBR, IR, HR, CSM, etc. What are the advantages of SILIKE Anti-abrasion masterbatch NM-3C [ https://www.siliketech.com/anti-wear-agent-nm-3c-product/ ] in applications: (1) Improved abrasion resistance with decreased abrasion value. (2) Impart the processing performance and final items appearance. (3) Eco-friendly. (4) No influence on hardness and color. (5) Effective for DIN, ASTM, NBS , AKRON, SATRA, GB abrasion tests. We are very experienced in improving rubber outsoles and other shoe sole materials, if you are looking for rubber abrasion resistance agents, please feel free to contact silike. Chengdu SILIKE Technology Co., Ltd, a Chinese leading Silicone Additive [ https://www.siliketech.com/products/ ] Supplier for modified plastic, offer innovative solutions to enhance the performance and functionality of plastic materials. Welcome to contact us, SILIKE will provide you with efficient plastics processing solutions. Contact us Tel: +86-28-83625089 or via email: amy.wang@silike.cn. website: www.siliketech.com [ https://www.siliketech.com/ ] to learn more. Media Contact Company Name: Chengdu Silike Technology Co.,Ltd. Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=the-application-of-rubber-in-the-field-of-shoe-materials-and-how-to-improve-the-abrasion-resistance-of-rubber-outsoles ] Country: China Website: https://www.siliketech.com/ This release was published on openPR.
Courtland Sutton's surge is helping rookie Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos make a playoff push
Gilcrease Museum won’t reopen for another two years, but the new building itself is a grand piece of art that Mayor G.T. Bynum was determined to showcase before he leaves office. Friday, with a rich blue sky and a bright warm sun, was a perfect day to do so. “I think there was long a belief that we had a facility here that did not reflect the majesty of the collection that we have here,” Bynum said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the near completion of the 95,000-square-foot structure. “And so today is a celebration of our community's willingness to invest in itself and to leave things better than we found it for future generations.” Founded in 1949 by oilman Thomas Gilcrease, the museum is recognized as having the largest collection of American art, documents and artifacts in the country outside of those owned by the federal government. The original museum building was small and grew piecemeal over time into a cramped, somewhat disjointed venue that never had the gallery space necessary to properly showcase the treasures it housed. People are also reading... Sooners legend Tiare Jennings 'a game changer' as OU softball graduate assistant Bill Haisten: ‘Why would you even say that?’ OSU fund-raising was damaged by Gundy comments Berry Tramel: Kevin Wilson makes a decision for TU's future that might not be his State Department of Education bought 532 Trump Bibles, purchase order shows QB commit Jett Niu's dreams led him to OSU, but he had one question for Mike Gundy Roster cuts are coming to Oklahoma State and Mike Gundy is dreading it Will Brent Venables make a solid offensive coordinator hire? Joe C believes so — and here's why What's the latest with Michael Fasusi? An update on OU's top 2025 recruiting target POLL CLOSED: Vote for the Bill Knight Automotive high school football player of the week for Week 11 A new name coming for one of Tulsa's tallest buildings What's Brent Venables telling recruits now? Has no-visit policy for OU commits changed? Police, sheriff talk about what Trump's mass deportation plan could mean for Tulsa James Franco visits Outsiders House Museum Mike Gundy preparing to send Ollie Gordon, Nick Martin, Collin Oliver to NFL Draft Video: Stephen Colbert counts Ryan Walters among 'far-right weirdos' Trump could hire The new museum building will have three stories of exhibit space open to the public, including an outdoor terrace on top of the building. There are also three floors for archives, administration space and mechanical equipment that will not be open to the public. On the north side of the museum is an amphitheater. Although the new building has a smaller footprint than the old one, it will have more exhibit space and incorporate high ceilings and massive glass windows and walls to create open and well-lit space for the artwork to shine. Jame Anderson, vice president and director of cultural for SmithGroup, the lead design firm on the project, said visitors to the new museum will enjoy a whole new experience. “Everything in this building is very focused on cardinal directions, on the sun rising in the east and setting. So like when you come inside, you know, you know you can go downstairs or you can go up,” Anderson said. “And so the hope is, not only is there the opportunity to present more of the collection, which is an experience all into itself, but it's to make it intuitive and to make it easy, lessen the hurdle between a person and their experience with works of art.” The $141 million project was funded with more than $90 million in city funding and $49 million in private donations. Bynum thanked the public for their support of the project and made special note of the contributions made by philanthropies and others in the private sector. “I hope the donors to this museum know how grateful our city is for your generosity and that you take pride in what you have helped us build,” Bynum said. “This (would not be) standing behind us in the beautiful, world-class way that it is if we had not had donors step up in a historically significant way.” The new museum building northwest of downtown was built on the site of the old museum and is designed to highlight the natural beauty of the Osage hills that surround it. Marla Redcorn-Miller, Osage Nation Museum director, said the Osage Nation was proud and grateful to be part of Friday’s ceremony. “The Gilcrease Museum has really reached out to not only the Osage Nation but also the others in Oklahoma to make sure that that story and that narrative that is put through really reflects all of the different constituencies that are here and the indigenous contingencies that you know that are represented in the collection.” Brian Lee Whisenhunt, executive director and CEO of the Gilcrease Museum, said the museum plans to host community activities and workshops from May to November next year, with the exhibition installation beginning late 2025. “We really thought it was important that they (the public) understand and appreciate this beautiful new setting for our collection and understand that it belongs to them and have a sense of place, a sense of belonging, a sense of what the museum will be,” Whisenhunt said. No one was more instrumental in getting the new museum built than Susan Neal, the former executive director of the Gilcrease Museum. In addition to her regular administrative duties, Neal spearheaded the effort to raise private dollars for the project. “It's very emotional for me, and it's just overwhelmingly happy — a very happy time,” Neal said after touring the building. “And it's just beautiful. It's already beautiful, but I think as soon as you see people in there and the art in there and hear kids in there, that is really going to be beautiful.” The Gilcrease family was represented at Friday’s celebration by Thomas Gilcrease’s grandson, Thomas Gilcrease Denney, who praised the new museum building and thanked Tulsans for their commitment to keeping his grandfather’s vision alive. “I do know that he wanted it here, to be at this location for posterity,” Denney said. “And he wanted it preserved intact for posterity. That was his goal and objective.” The Tulsa World is where your story lives
On paper, Luigi Mangione had it all: wealth, intellect, athleticism, good looks. But the child of a prominent Maryland family may have spurned it all in a spasm of violence, in a killing that has mesmerized Americans. The 26-year-old was arrested Monday and charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, a health insurance chief executive and father of two who was gunned down in Manhattan last week by someone who, evidence suggests, has endured his own debilitating health crises and grew angry with the privatized US medical system. The cold-blooded killing has laid bare the deep frustration many Americans feel toward the country's labyrinthine health care system: while many have condemned the shooting, others have praised Mangione as a hero. It has also prompted considerable interest in how a young engineer with an Ivy League education could have gone off the rails to commit murder. News of his capture at a Pennsylvania McDonald's triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. As Americans have looked for clues about a political ideology or potential motive, a photo on his X account (formerly Twitter) includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. Mangione lived in Hawaii in 2022 and, according to his former roommate R.J. Martin, suffered from back pain, and was hoping to strengthen his back. After a surfing lesson, Mangione was "in bed for about a week" because of the pain, Martin told CNN. Earlier this year, Martin said, Mangione confirmed he'd had back surgery and sent him photos of the X-rays. Police said the suspect carried a hand-written manifesto of grievances in which he slammed America's "most expensive health care system in the world." "He was writing a lot about his disdain for corporate America and in particular the health care industry," New York police chief detective Joseph Kenny told ABC. According to CNN, a document recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." video game character Luigi. Many expressed at least partial sympathy, having had their own harrowing experiences with the US health care system. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. Mangione hails from the Baltimore area. His wealthy Italian-American family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, according to local outlet the Baltimore Banner, and cousin Nino Mangione is a Maryland state delegate. A standout student, Luigi graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. A former student who knew Mangione at the elite Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," the person said. Mangione attended the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage. On Instagram Mangione shared snapshots of his travels, and shirtless images of himself flaunting a six-pack. X users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo includes an X-ray of a spine with bolts attached. Finding a political ideology that fits neatly onto the right-left divide has proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on online site Goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out multiple bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, in a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline, and retweeted posts on the impact mobile phones and social media have on mental health. ia/abo-mlm/nroEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants have been losing on the field for months, and the sign of another potential loss might have been on the horizon this past weekend. A small plane circled MetLife Stadium roughly 90 minutes before the New Orleans Saints beat the Giants 14-11 on Sunday, urging co-owner John Mara to overhaul a team that has made the playoffs twice since winning the Super Bowl in February 2012. “Mr. Mara, enough. Please fix this dumpster fire!” read the message on a banner towed by the plane. While Mara declined to comment on the aerial message, its content was clear. Someone — probably a disgruntled fan — was sick of seeing the Giants (2-11) lose week after week. Their skid now is at eight games, one shy of the team record. Having one fan and probably scores or more upset has to be a concern for Mara and co-owner Steve Tisch. No owner wants his fan base unhappy, and it's not just about this season. Seven of the last eight seasons have ended with losing records, including the 2019 season, which featured a franchise record-tying nine straight losses. There have been two other nine-game skids, the first in 1976 and the second in 2003-04. Mara and Tisch need to make changes, but what should they do? The knee-jerk reaction would be to fire coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, who came in together in 2022 and led New York to the playoffs with a 9-7-1 record. That season began with seven wins in nine games. Since then, the Giants have posted an 11-28-1 record. The late Robert E. Mulcahy, the former head of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and later the athletic director at Rutgers, once said that the hardest decision he had to make was to keep Greg Schiano as the Scarlet Knights' coach after posting a 12-34 record in his first four seasons. Everyone wanted him fired. Mulcahy felt he had the right guy and held pat. It worked out. Mara and Tisch face a similar decision with the guys they brought in from Buffalo. If they feel Schoen and Daboll will turn around the Giants, they should stick with them. If not, change things. What they can't do is let an emotional fan base make the decision for them. What’s working The new defensive line. Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence and D.J Davidson went on injured reserve last week and fellow defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches was out with neck and shoulder injuries. That left backups Elijah Chatman and Jordon Riley, newcomer Corey Durdon, and Elijah Garcia and Casey Rogers — who were signed off the practice squad to the active roster — to handle Alvin Kamara and the Saints. New Orleans was limited to 92 yards rushing. Giants opponents had been averaging almost 146 yards. What needs help The Giants remain the NFL's lowest-scoring team. They have hit the 20-point mark four times in 13 games. They have scored 18 points or fewer nine times and were held to single digits in four games. After taking over the play-calling from Mike Kafka this season, maybe Daboll should give quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney an opportunity to call plays. It couldn't hurt. Stock up Micah McFadden. With fellow inside linebacker Bobby Okereke out with a back issue, McFadden had a team-high 11 tackles, including five for losses. Rookie Darius Muasau, who replaced Okereke, had eight tackles. Stock down The offensive line, which was without left tackle Jermaine Eluemunor for the second straight week and saw left guard Jon Runyan (ankle) and center John Michael Schmitz (neck) leave in the second half. The Saints pounded Drew Lock, recording two sacks and 13 quarterback hits. The Giants rushed for 112 yards, but most of that was Lock scrambling for 59 yards to avoid more hits. Injuries In addition to Runyan and Schmitz, safety Tyler Nubin (ankle) and cornerback Tre Hawkins, who was hurt after making a tackle, left the game. Lock was banged up and needed postgame X-rays and an MRI on Monday. Daboll said Lock will start this weekend if healthy. Key number 9 — The Giants are one loss away from matching their franchise-worst skid. Next steps To end the losing streak and win for the first time in eight games at MetLife Stadium this season, the Giants have to beat Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens (8-5) on Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
VICTORIA — British Columbia Premier David Eby says his fellow premiers and the federal government have hatched a game plan to fight U.S. tariffs, with conservative premiers lobbying Republican counterparts, left-leaning provincial leaders courting the Democrats, and Ottawa focusing on president-elect Donald Trump. The premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talked about using their political diversity and connections to thwart the prospect of Trump's proposed 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, Eby said Thursday in a year-end interview. He said it was discussed that conservative premiers Danielle Smith in Alberta, Doug Ford in Ontario and Nova Scotia's Tim Houston are well-placed to lobby Republican governors and business leaders. Eby said as a New Democrat he will likely have more in common with Democrat governors and business leaders from the West Coast states. "I can easily have conversations with governors and businesses down the West Coast of the U.S., where we have close relationships and our politics are very similar," he said. "Premier Smith can have conversations with Republican governors. That would be more challenging for me, and (she) would have more connections potentially with the Trump administration than an NDP administration in B.C. would." He said a meeting last week between the premiers and Trudeau discussed Canada's diversity of representation, and how it could bring leverage and advantages in tariff talks. "It's interesting, there was a lot of talk about what unity means in terms of Canada's response to the tariffs," he said. "There's obviously a diversity of views around the Council of the Federation table of all the premiers. Certainly, mine is not the same as Premier Smith's or Premier Ford's or Premier Houston's, and that diversity of views is actually potentially a significant strength for us as we enter into these discussions." Eby also said he was prepared to appear on American's right-leaning Fox News TV network, as did premiers Ford and Smith. "Anything that I can do to support the national effort to protect the families in Canada from the impact of tariffs and also families in the U.S. from those unjustified tariffs," he said. "Absolutely, if I thought it was helpful." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press
With Boise State still in the playoffs and set to face a strong Penn State team, Ashton Jeanty’s stock will continue to rise. While he missed out on the Heisman Trophy, there’s nothing stopping him from being a first-round draft pick next April. Although teams have generally been reluctant to draft a running back in the first round, things feel different in Jeanty’s case. Unlike last season, the upcoming draft class is full of running backs, just waiting to take the NFL by storm, and Jeanty is the crown jewel among them. While a team can draft RBs in the later rounds, drafting him should be a priority if they need a game-changer. So which teams will be in the hunt for the Heisman runner-up? Denver Broncos need someone like Ashton Jeanty Sean Payton loves to run the ball but had to rely on the likes of Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, Bo Nix (QB), and Audric Estime. All these rushers have contributed plenty, but none has surpassed even the 500-yard mark, despite having one of the best Offensive Lines in the league to protect them. They are 20th in the NFL in running the ball. Nix is 2nd in the team for rushing yards with 352 yards, which says a lot about their ground game. He is a young QB who needs a run game to take pressure off him. Adding Jeanty will complete their team and give them a remarkable option from the backfield. Cincinnati Bengals have forgotten how to run the ball The Bengals have one of the best passing offenses in the league thanks to Joe Burrow and Chase, which has been their strength as well as weakness. They have forgotten how to run the ball and sit at 30th in the ground game, averaging only 91 yards per game. They have relied too much on the pass offense, putting too much pressure on their star QB. Cincinnati desperately needs a rusher, and Ashton Jeanty could be the solution to their problem. However, it’s unlikely they will spend a first-round pick on him since they need a lot of pieces on defense and Offensive Line. Is Jeanty the answer for the Dallas Cowboys’ ineffective ground game? Jerry Jones needs a big signing to shift attention away from another disappointing season, this time not even making the playoffs. As per USA Today , the Cowboys also need a reliable running back to revitalize their ground game. While the experiment with Ezekiel Elliott ultimately fell short, and Rico Dowdle has shown promise late in the season, he isn’t a long-term solution. The last time Dallas drafted a running back in the first round was in 2016 when they selected Zeke, who delivered at least four strong seasons. They may need to repeat that move in 2025 by drafting Jeanty. The Boise State standout has the talent to compensate for offensive line deficiencies, and players of his caliber are rare. Plus, as a Texas native, Jeanty could be a perfect fit for the Cowboys. Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman love to run the ball as well It’s no secret that Harbaugh and his OC, Roman, rely on their ground game, and they’ve executed it efficiently this season, taking pressure off Herbert. However, they still rank 21st in the run game. JK Dobbins has been admirable, gaining 766 yards on the ground and leading the team. Gus Edwards and Herbert have totaled 365 and 252 yards, respectively. Harbaugh had to split the carries to make it work because they don’t have a difference-maker like Jeanty . The Boise State star is the kind of rusher who is capable of running for over 1500 yards, which makes a lot of difference for a run-heavy offense. Jeanty will likely go in the first round, though he might fall below 25. He is not a great pass catcher from the backfield and not a great blocker. He is also not an explosive back like Gibbs. These are things he might have to work on, but he would still be a great addition to any team that drafts him.BEIRUT — Israel's military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 31 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials claimed they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut's southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city's largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Bulldozers remove the rubble of a destroyed building Monday that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations also expressed cautious optimism Monday about possible progress on a ceasefire. “Knock on wood,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said as he opened the Group of Seven meeting outside Rome. “We are perhaps close to a ceasefire in Lebanon," he said. "Let's hope it's true and that there's no backing down at the last-minute.” A ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon was foremost on the agenda of the G7 meeting in Fiuggi, outside Rome, that gathered ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, in the last G7 encounter of the Biden administration. For the first time, the G7 ministers were joined by their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League. Thick smoke, flames and debris erupt Monday from an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Tayouneh, Beirut, Lebanon. Meanwhile, massive explosions lit up Lebanon's skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut's southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon's Health Ministry said Monday that 26 people were killed in southern Lebanon, four in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel province and one in Choueifat, a neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs that was not subjected to evacuation warnings on Monday. The deaths brought the total toll to 3,768 killed in Lebanon throughout 13 months of war between Israel and Hezbollah and nearly two months since Israel launched its ground invasion. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been civilians, and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities. Israel claims to have killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon's Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. Destroyed buildings stand Monday in the area of a village in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel. Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, meeting heavy resistance in a narrow strip of land along the border. The military previously exchanged attacks across the border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that began firing rockets into Israel the day after the war in Gaza began last year. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding ceasefire negotiations. The country's deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because "we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire." Israeli officials voiced similar optimism Monday about prospects for a ceasefire. Mike Herzog, the country's ambassador to Washington, earlier in the day told Israeli Army Radio that several points had yet to be finalized. Though any deal would require agreement from the government, Herzog said Israel and Hezbollah were "close to a deal." "It can happen within days," he said. Israeli officials have said the sides are close to an agreement that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. A member of the Israeli security forces inspects an impact site Sunday after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit an area in Rinatya, outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel. After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement. "Nothing is done until everything is done," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The proposal under discussion to end the fighting 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. The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing U.N. peacekeeping force. Western diplomats and Israeli officials said Israel demands the right to strike in Lebanon if it believes Hezbollah is violating the terms. The Lebanese government says such an arrangement would authorize violations of the country's sovereignty. There are many obstacles preventing shoppers from upholding eco-friendly habits as much as they may want to—but not all of these barriers are necessarily real, or accurately understood. Shopping sustainably simply isn't convenient or accessible for many. Those who live in apartment buildings are 50% less likely to recycle , according to Ipsos. Reasons for this can vary from lack of space to buildings being excluded altogether because of recycling contamination issues. Many believe that sustainable products are too expensive or of a lower quality. The former is often true, which does create a hurdle for many: The manufacturing processes and materials for sustainable products are pricey. For instance, organic cotton requires an intensive production process free of certain chemicals or pesticides; by definition, true eco-friendly products can't be mass-produced, further upping their price tag. Using recycled materials for packaging, or obtaining an eco certification, can also be expensive. However, although the narrative of eco-friendly products being more expensive is true, there is often more of an effort to use better quality materials that last longer than their noneco-friendly counterparts. This could end up saving consumers money in the long run: By paying more upfront, they can get more wear out of sustainable fashion, for instance. There is also undeniable political rhetoric surrounding eco-friendly products—however, despite many Conservative politicians decrying sustainable products, members of all generations are increasingly choosing to prioritize shopping sustainably regardless of their political affiliation, according to research from NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business . This finding shows a trend toward seeing sustainability as a nonpartisan subject everyone can benefit from, no matter where they lie on the political spectrum. Some might think eco-friendly clothing, in particular, is not fashion-forward; after all, many of the top clothing retailers in the world partake in fast fashion. However, brands are increasingly being recognized as 'cool' and 'trendy' for supporting environmentally ethical practices, particularly as younger generations prioritize sustainability, as noted before. Many increasingly popular online stores are taking advantage of this paradigm shift by offering secondhand shopping options that are not only fashionable, but also more affordable, like ThredUp or Poshmark. Additionally, many legacy large-name brands are hopping on the sustainability movement and are gaining appreciation from loyal customers. Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly program partners with third-party certification bodies to make it easier for shoppers to identify eco-friendly products as they browse the website. H&M's newly launched H&M Rewear program debuts a resale platform that allows the resale of all clothing brands—not just their own. Similarly, Patagonia's Worn Wear program allows shoppers to trade in and buy used gear and clothing. The federal government is also working to close this gap. The Environmental Protection Agency's Safer Choice program is attempting to make sustainable shopping easier for consumers and companies alike. It includes a directory of certified products, a list of safer chemicals to look out for on labels, a "Safer Choice" label that products can earn to denote they are eco-friendly, and resources for manufacturers looking to adopt more sustainable practices. Most of all, though, the biggest way shoppers can shift toward sustainable shopping is through their behaviors and attitudes amongst their peers and communities. Studies show that humans largely care what others think of their actions; the more shoppers make environmentally conscious shopping the norm, the more others will follow suit. From an economic perspective, the more consumers shop eco-friendly, the more affordable and accessible these products will become, too: Sustainable products are currently more expensive because they are not in high demand. Once demand rises, production rates and prices can lower, making these products more accessible for all. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. This story originally appeared on The RealReal and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. On paper, being more sustainable and eco-friendly while shopping sounds great—so why don't more people do it? There is growing consumer consciousness about the environmental impact of where people choose to shop and the sustainability of the products they buy. According to McKinsey, over 60% of individuals surveyed in 2020 said they would be willing to pay more for a product that is packaged in an eco-friendly way. Since 2019, products marketed as being environmentally sustainable have seen a 28% growth in revenue compared to 20% for products with no such marketing, a 2023 McKinsey and NielsenIQ report found. Much of this is thanks to the preferences and attitudes of Gen Z, who, on average, care more than their older counterparts about being informed shoppers. The younger generation also has more social justice and environmental awareness altogether. Shoppers are willing to spend around 9.7% more on a product they know is sourced or manufactured sustainably, with 46% saying they would do so explicitly because they want to reduce their environmental footprint, according to a 2024 PwC report. Sustainable practices consumers look for from companies include production methods, packaging, and water conservation. But despite the growing consciousness around being more environmentally responsible, consumer actions don't always align with their values. In psychology, this is defined as the "say-do gap": the phenomenon wherein people openly express concern and intention around an issue, but fail to take tangible action to make a change. According to the Harvard Business Review in 2019, most consumers (65%) say they want to buy from brands that promote sustainability, but only 1 in 4 follow through. So why don't people actually shop sustainably, despite how much they express a preference for eco-friendly products—and how can we close the gap? The RealReal examined reports from the Harvard Business Review and other sources to explore why some shoppers want to buy sustainably but struggle to follow through. This lack of action isn't due to a lack of caring—in many cases, it's hard to know how to be a sustainable consumer and other factors are often outside of shoppers' control. But the more people shop sustainably, the easier and more accessible that market will be for everyone—making it much easier for folks to buy aligned with their values. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
