Generating passive income can help you become more financially free. As your passive income grows, you'll become less reliant on your job to help meet your financial needs. Those savoring the idea of becoming more financially independent have many ways to increase their passive income. Investing in dividend stocks can be a great way to help satisfy your craving for more passive income. Three mouthwatering ones to consider for those hungry for more income in the next year are Kraft Heinz ( KHC 0.43% ) , PepsiCo ( PEP 0.29% ) , and Mondelez International ( MDLZ 0.60% ) . A tasty dividend Kraft Heinz currently pays an appetizing dividend. The food company, which owns the iconic Heinz, Philadelphia, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Ore-Ida, Velveeta, and Lunchables brands, currently has a dividend yield of 5.2%. That's several times higher than the S&P 500 's dividend yield (1.2%). This higher rate will certainly satisfy your appetite for more income. For perspective, every $100 invested into Kraft Heinz stock would produce about $5.20 of dividend income each year compared to about $1.20 for a similar investment in an S&P 500 index fund. Higher-yielding dividends are often at a higher risk of reduction. That has been the case with Kraft's dividend in the past. It reduced its payout by 36% in 2019 to its current level to retain more cash for debt reduction and greater financial flexibility. That strategy has been a success. The company's leverage ratio is currently below its 3 times target (2.9 times at the end of the third quarter). On top of that, Kraft produces ample free cash flow to cover its current dividend level ($2 billion in free cash through the first nine months of the year compared to nearly $1.5 billion in dividend payments). That gave it the financial flexibility to repurchase $350 million of its shares. Meanwhile, the company expects its earnings and free cash flow to rise over the long term, which should enhance the sustainability of its high-yielding dividend. Delighting dividend investors for more than 50 years PepsiCo owns several well-known global food and beverage brands, including Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. Many of those iconic brands generate over $1 billion in annual retail sales. The company has a remarkable record of paying dividends. Whereas Kraft Heinz has had to cut its payment in the past, PepsiCo has increased its dividend for 52 years in a row. That qualifies it as a Dividend King , a company with 50 or more years of consecutive annual dividend increases. It currently offers a dividend yield of 3.5%. PepsiCo is on track to pay investors $7.2 billion in dividends this year. It also plans to return another $1 billion in cash to shareholders through share repurchases. The company can easily afford to return that money to investors thanks to its strong cash flow and balance sheet (it had about $8 billion of cash and short-term investments at the end of Q3 ). Meanwhile, with its earnings continuing to grow, PepsiCo should continue its reign as a leading dividend stock. Satisfying investors' craving for more income Mondelez owns several well-known snacking brands. Oreo, Milka, Cadbury, Ritz, Chips Ahoy!, and Clif all generate over $1 billion in annual sales. It's the world's largest biscuit seller and has the second-largest share of the global chocolate market. The global snacking giant currently pays a dividend yielding 3.1%. The company has grown its payout at a more than 10% annual rate over the last five years, including by 11% earlier this year. Mondelez produces lots of cash. It generated $2.5 billion in free cash flow through the first nine months of the year . That easily covered its dividend outlay ($1.7 billion). It used that excess free cash and its strong balance sheet to repurchase $1.2 billion of its stock. The company's growing cash flow should allow it to continue boosting its dividend. Satiating income stocks Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, and Mondelez pay high-yielding dividends. Because of that, you can generate more passive income for every dollar you invest in these dividend stocks compared to the market's average. That would go a long way to help satisfy your desire to generate more passive income in 2025.Starmer says ‘bulging benefits bill’ is ‘blighting our society’
“The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence reminds us of the power of solidarity in the fight against violence,” the Centre Against Abuse said, with the charity noting that they have “designed a calendar of actionable ideas that everyone can do to bring awareness to ending GBV during the 16 Days of Activism.” A spokesperson said, “Each year, from November 25 to December 10, worldwide millions of people observe the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence [GBV]. This international campaign brings attention to the prevalent crisis of gender-based violence, a violation of human rights that affects women, men, and gender minorities, including transgender and non-binary people. “The 16 days span from the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women [November 25] and includes World AIDS Day [December 1], International Day for the Disabled [December 3], and ends with Human Rights Day [December 10]. The theme under UN Women is #NOEXCUSE. This provides an opportune time for a call to action to end violence in all its forms.” Laurie Shiell, executive director of Centre Against Abuse, states, “Although women and girls are the main victims of GBV, it also causes severe harm to families and communities, and we must come together as a collective to end GBV. The term, gender-based violence is used to describe crimes such as sexual assault, domestic abuse, and stalking, which are overwhelmingly carried out by men against women. “While this is a continuing symptom of historical inequalities of power and control that exist in society, we the masses, have the collective influence and authority to end GBV by utilizing our voices in every facet of society to speak out when we see the continuance of these forms of discrimination. CAA wants citizens, government, and institutions to take concrete actions to catalyse change and end GBV. “ “CAA is calling for a shift in our culture. CAA was pleased with the establishment of the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Committee [MARAC]. This group which comprises the Department of Child and Family Services, Ageing and Disability Services, Bermuda Police Service, and Centre Against Abuse, review high risk domestic abuse matters for increased safety measures for those individuals, and also implement programmes across the island that will lead to increased safety for victims, and to increase intervention services for perpetrators.” A spokesperson added, “Bermuda is small enough that we can create change at a greater pace when everyone is committed to the cause. Education plays a crucial role in preventing gender-based violence. By raising awareness about the dynamics of power and control, stereotypes about gender, and the rights of individuals, the 16 Days of Activism encourages people to understand the root causes of GBV. It fosters a culture of respect for all, along with equality, teaching future generations about healthy relationships and mutual consent. “This provides another opportunity for CAA to highlight that gender violence is not a rare or isolated occurrence; it affects countless individuals throughout our island. Key areas of focus under GBV for Bermuda are: “One of the most common forms of GBV is domestic violence. This includes physical, emotional, and financial abuse that often occurs behind closed doors. It is vital for society to shift its attitude towards this issue, encouraging victims to speak out and creating a support system that prioritizes their safety, and we must hold abusers accountable and teach our children about signs of power and control and how to spot the signs early and removed themselves safely. “Sexual violence, including rape and sexual assault, remains a significant challenge. This issue is particularly prevalent in workplaces, schools, and public spaces, where victims often feel helpless or too afraid to report their experiences. Cat calling and women feeling unsafe to be alone in public can no longer be tolerated and must be eliminated. Harassment also now includes utilizing technology to monitor, stalk, harass, and instill fear. Holistic laws must be implemented with penalties and reformation opportunities for the abusers. “An essential part of addressing GBV is ensuring that survivors have access to justice. In Bermuda our legal systems often leave victims feeling revictimized. We must implement laws that maintain the safety of a victim at the core and introduce policies that support victims through accessible reporting channels and judicial procedures. “Ending gender-based violence is not the responsibility of a few; it requires collective action. Our government must ensure the enforcement of laws that protect individuals from violence and hold perpetrators accountable. Educational institutions, civil society, and corporations must work together to create safe environments for all through policies and procedures. However, change also begins on a personal level, with individuals becoming more aware of their behaviours, challenging harmful societal norms, supporting survivors, and modelling behaviour that is based in equality.” Mrs. Shiell continued, “The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence reminds us of the power of solidarity in the fight against violence. Whether through grassroots activism, advocacy for better policies, or supporting survivors directly, every action counts. The goal is clear: to create a Bermuda where gender-based violence is no longer tolerated and is eliminated. “Centre Against Abuse has designed a calendar of actionable ideas that everyone can do to bring awareness to ending GBV during the 16 Days of Activism. “CAA encourages everyone to begin this practice of activism during the 16 Day of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, to create a lifestyle of ensuring the equality of all, ending power dynamics that discriminate against the vulnerable, and upholding everyone as equal humans with inalienable rights.” : ,The NFC’s No. 1 seed will come down to the final week when the Detroit Lions host the Minnesota Vikings. The winner takes the NFC North and gets a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. The loser becomes the No. 5 seed and must play on the road in the wild-card round. The Vikings (14-2) held on for a 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers to set up the high-stakes showdown in Week 18. The Lions (13-2) visit the San Francisco 49ers (6-9) on Monday night in a rematch of the NFC title game. Win, lose or tie, they have to beat the Vikings again. Detroit beat Minnesota 31-29 in Week 7. The Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East and locked up the No. 2 seed with a 41-7 rout of the Dallas Cowboys. However, coach Nick Sirianni has a tough decision to make this week. Saquon Barkley is 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season record for yards rushing in a season. Sirianni has to decide whether to rest Barkley and most of his starters to prepare for the playoffs or let his star try for the 40-year-old record. The Los Angeles Rams (10-6) were on the verge of clinching the NFC West. They would lock it up Sunday night if the Commanders beat the Falcons. The outcome of the Atlanta-Washington game has a major impact on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7). If the Falcons win, they’d remain first in the NFC South and would win the division with a victory against Carolina next week. If the Falcons lose, the Buccaneers would take over first place and would secure the division with a victory over New Orleans next week. The Commanders would secure a wild-card spot with a win against Atlanta. If they lose, Seattle stays mathematically alive for a wild card and the Buccaneers could also find a path to the playoffs as a wild-card team. Three teams in the AFC have already secured their seeds. The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) won the AFC West weeks ago and clinched the No. 1 seed. The AFC East champion Buffalo Bills (13-3) are the No. 2 seed. The AFC South champion Houston Texans (9-7) are the No. 4 seed. The Baltimore Ravens (11-5) would win the AFC North and get the No. 3 seed with a win or tie against Cleveland next weekend or a loss or tie by Pittsburgh, which hosts Cincinnati. If they don’t win the division, the Steelers have already clinched a wild-card berth. The Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) also secured a wild-card spot. They’ll be no lower than the sixth seed. The final AFC playoff spot comes down to the Broncos (9-7), Dolphins (8-8) or Bengals (8-8). Denver clinches with a win or tie against the Chiefs. The Dolphins need the Broncos to lose and they must beat the Jets on the road to get in. The Bengals must win and the Broncos and Dolphins have to lose for them to get in. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLNEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
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 said 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. 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. 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. Get local news delivered to your inbox!BERKELEY — Berkeley is taking another step in its goal to “Keep Innovation in Berkeley” through a change in zoning laws that is meant to encourage companies conducting research and development to find a lasting home in the city. The Berkeley City Council voted Tuesday to permit labs studying biosafety levels 2 in mixed-use light industrial zoning areas while prohibiting level 3 and 4 uses in all parts of the city. A biosafety level 1 rating is given to labs that study toxins or agents not known to cause diseases in healthy adults, while level 2 has a moderate risk, . Biosafety level 3 and 4 labs study agents that pose a greater risk to the public and are subject to stricter safety precautions. The approval, which includes a reduction in parking requirements, also calls for clearly stating that research and development labs are permitted in Berkeley’s mixed manufacturing district. Research and development labs under 20,000 square feet will be permitted with an administratively approved zoning certificate in areas around U.C. Berkeley, including the University Avenue commercial corridor, North Shattuck Avenue, Telegraph Avenue and downtown. Spaces larger than 20,000 square feet would need an administrative use permit which would require a public review process. Of the city’s top 25 employers, six conduct research and development in various areas including biotechnology, climate technology and sound equipment manufacturing. More than 400 innovation sector businesses currently operate in Berkeley, . “We’re really lucky we have such a diverse economy,” said Elizabeth Redman Cleveland, chief strategist of sustainable growth with the city’s Office of Economic Development, during the council meeting Tuesday. “It’s really exciting to have so much innovation in our city.” Tuesday’s decision completes a referral put forward by former Councilmember Rigel Robinson and adopted by the council in September 2022. Zoning changes are just the latest effort by Berkeley councilmembers to encourage growth of the city’s innovation sector. In November, on government grants given to small research and development businesses to also include grants from philanthropic groups. Under the changes, companies with no more than $100,000 in gross receipts qualify for the exemption, which now applies to all grant amounts instead of just the first $1 million received. Over the last five years, about $45,000 in tax breaks were given out to 21 businesses that qualified for the initial exemption with staff asserting the expanded exemption would result in nominal financial losses to the city. Meanwhile, the amended zoning regulations could possibly lead to a modest increase in business license and sales tax revenue while also reducing city expenditures on staff time, according to a staff report. “It’s important to realize that Washington (D.C.) is going to upend our economy of the state and the city,” Councilmember Ben Bartett said. “It kind of behooves us to do all we can to strengthen our economy right now as soon as possible.” While supportive of the measure, Councilmember Ben Bartlett stressed the importance of adequate oversight, especially given that a due to a staffing shortage. Cleveland assured the council that there are numerous oversight agencies, including the city’s Toxics Management Team. Councilmembers lauded the proposal as a common sense approach to retaining innovative businesses and shared confidence in the city’s ability to prevent and respond to any threats. “I want to reassure folks anyway,” Councilmember Mark Humbert said. “It may sound glib, but I think it’s actually fair to say a restaurant with poor safety poses more of a risk than a lab working with BSL 1 and 2 agents.”
NoneNIFT announces admission schedule for the coming academic year starting from July 2025
Cameron Smith channels inner LIV Golf on Tour return with Party Hole showingBEIRUT — 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. 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. 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. Get local news delivered to your inbox!