Here's How to Make Decisions Based on Reality and How to Avoid Jumping to Conclusions
Toys can be expensive, but making the little ones happy this holiday season doesn't have to break the bank. We hit the toy stores to find some of the season's hottest toys and unique, vintage toys that you may not have considered. Tri-State mother Holly Meadows said she loves doing her Christmas shopping at King Arthur's Court in Oakley. "I’m just here looking for a few other toys for Christmas for him and for my older kids," she said, adding that LEGO sets were at the top of her son's wish list. Rob Kearney, manager at King Arthur’s Court, said LEGO sets are a bestseller every year. "There's new Star Wars shows out on Disney Plus, so the Star Wars stuff has been pretty popular," he said. When it comes to the hottest toys this season, Kearney said “Gravitrax” sets are flying off the shelves. The marble run sets allow kids to learn STEM skills in a fun, hands-on way. Kearney said "Gravitrax" has been gaining popularity on social media. "There are so many viral videos on TikTok and YouTube Shorts," he said. But classic toys haven't gone out of style either. "Something really increasing in popularity has been stuffed animal toys," Kearney said. "We have the classic stuffed animals, then these guys over here the 'Squishables,' which are just hilarious.” King Arthur’s Court also has a gift for the parents: If you purchase your toys at King Arthur’s, they will wrap your presents for free. “We’ve got couches, a Keurig machine, you can get some coffee, have some popcorn, and sit on the couch while we wrap all your gifts,” Kearney said. If you are looking for something unique, or you have a child who likes the offbeat, you may want to consider a vintage toy from the 80s or 90s. Best of all, they don't have to cost a fortune, as we learned during a trip to The Toy Department , a vintage toy store on Route 4 in Fairfield. Were you an Optimus Prime fan, from the popular 1980's show Transformers? You can purchase the exact toy you remember. How about a 1990s Star Wars figure, or a like-new 30-year-old Care Bear, Barbie, or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle? Co-owner James Sawyer said you can find them all at The Toy Department — though some of these vintage toys cost hundreds of dollars, like a rare Luke Skywalker figurine from the last 1970s for $500, or an unopened GI Joe for $400. The good news is there are also plenty of vintage toy options for much less. Sawyer said many cost just a few bucks. "We've got a whole section of Star Wars figures here that are all $4 or $5 each," he said. Sawyer said too many Star Wars toys were produced during the 1990s and early 2000s, making toys from those eras bargains. Older Hot Wheels cars can cost even less unless you want the original "red line" tire cars from the 1960's. "Some of these are just $1 or $2," he said, making the classic Hot Wheels accessible to anyone. Sawyer said many young kids will get a kick out of these toys, as almost every kid likes Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, or Chewbacca. But the best part is that Mom and Dad will get to relive their childhood too. "When you pick up one of these, it is that tactile connection that brings you back to being a kid playing with that toy," Sawyer said. For Robert Rouse, who we found shopping for WWE action figures, it's all a trip back in time. "It brings me back to when I was kid, going to Toys R Us, and finding all the cool toys I used to play with as a kid," he said That way you get to relieve your memories, while your child gets to make new ones. Before buying new toys this season, you may want to do a sweep of what your child already has. And remember, you don't have to spend a ton of money to make it a meaningful gift they'll always remember, that way you don't waste your money. "Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps"). Follow John: Follow Taylor: For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com
Hurricane Helene may have spread invasive critters in Georgiais one of the many NBA legends who hold a unique admiration for LeBron James. But while others are in awe of James' exceptional game and long list of accolades, "The Answer" is more impressed by what "The King" accomplishes off the court. For A.I., has been the epitome of a role model, not just for young athletes but for individuals across all walks of life. Though Iverson mentioned this in a profanity-laden speech in front of random people, the reactions from the small crowd listening to him tell that he was on point. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.
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Paige Spiranac is constantly dealing with haters and trolls on social media. While the former professional golfer, who played collegiately at the University of Arizona and San Diego State, has millions of fans across social media. She gets a lot of praise for her content, though sometimes, fans take issue with her outfits on the course. Spiranac is constantly turning heads with her revealing outfits on the golf course. Instagram. Spiranac is tired of the criticism, though. She believes all women should be able to express themselves sexually, if they want to. "I dislike how women pick and choose when it’s okay to support other women for embracing their sexuality depending on if it appears to be for the female or male gaze. Women should be able to embrace their sexuality if that’s what makes them feel empowered. One shouldn’t be called a genius while the other is called an attention whore for doing the same exact thing," she said on social media. Paige/X Spiranac can wear whatever she wants on the course, but at the end of the day, when you're promoting yourself on social media, you're going to have to deal with some hating comments from time to time. It's unfortunate, but there's no escaping it.Breaking News Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Police in Georgia on Saturday fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse pro-EU protesters rallying for a ninth consecutive day against the prime minister's decision to shelve talks on joining the bloc. The Caucasus nation has been engulfed in turmoil since the governing Georgian Dream party declared that it had won a disputed October 26 election. The party's critics have accused it of creeping authoritarianism and of steering the country back towards Russia. Thousands of defiant pro-EU protesters in Georgia rallied Friday after the prime minister claimed victory in a "battle" against the opposition. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets since the election to protest against alleged electoral fraud. Fresh rallies took place across the country after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced last week that Georgia would not hold talks on European Union membership until 2028. Police have fired tear gas and water cannon against pro-EU protests in Tbilisi and hundreds of arrests have been made, triggering outrage at home and mounting international condemnation. France, Germany and Poland condemned what they called the government's "disproportionate" use of force against protesters and opposition leaders in a joint statement Friday. - 'Save my country' - On Saturday, riot police moved in with water cannon to disperse the rally outside the parliament building, making arrests as the crowd retreated a few metres (yards), an AFP reporter witnessed. Tear gas was later deployed and groups of protesters reportedly spread across the city, blocking traffic along the capital's key thoroughfare. Georgia's rights ombudsman, Levan Ioseliani, said police "had no legal grounds for the dispersal of peaceful rally." He called on the interior ministry "to immediately halt the dispersal of the protest, cease the detention of participants, and refrain from using special measures, ensuring that protesters can continue their demonstration peacefully." Thousands blocked the street outside parliament on Friday, with some blowing whistles and others setting off firecrackers. "People will continue the protest," said one demonstrator, 23-year-old Giorgi, wearing a Georgian flag and a back scarf pulled over his nose. "They're patient, I will be here for the rest of my life if it is necessary to save my country." Separate protests were held outside Georgia's public broadcaster -- accused of being a government propaganda tool -- as well as the education ministry and the country's tourism administration offices. - 'Form of resistance' - Thousands have also staged anti-government rallies in the second city of Batumi on the Black Sea coast. On Friday, a court in Tbilisi put a 19-year-old youth activist in pre-trial detention on charges of "organising, leading, and participating in group violence". Zviad Tsetskhladze told the judge "the rule of law has been crushed. "Our actions are a form of resistance, aimed at preserving the rule of law, defending democracy, and protecting the rights of every individual." The prime minister on Friday praised his security forces for "successfully neutralising the protesters' capacity for violence". "We have won an important battle against liberal fascism in our country," he told a news conference, using language reminiscent of how the Kremlin in Russia targets its political opponents. "But the fight is not over. Liberal fascism in Georgia must be defeated entirely," Kobakhidze said. With both sides ruling out a compromise, there appeared to be no clear route out of the crisis. The leader of the opposition Lelo party, Mamuka Khazaradze, said the government "has resorted to arresting young activists and political opponents out of fear of relentless public protests and growing civil disobedience by public servants." - Arrests of opposition - Masked officers have raided several opposition party offices and arrested opposition leaders earlier this week, while around 300 people have been detained at rallies. On Friday Nika Gvaramia, leader of the opposition Akhali party, was sentenced to 12 days in prison. Alexandre Elisashvili, leader of the Strong Georgia opposition group, was remanded in custody for two months of pretrial detention. More trouble is expected after December 14, when Georgian Dream lawmakers elect a loyalist to succeed pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili. She has vowed not to step down until the parliamentary polls are re-run. Local media has also reported protests across the country, including in the cities of Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Rustavi and Telavi. Critics of Georgian Dream are enraged by what they call its betrayal of Tbilisi's bid for EU membership, enshrined in the constitution and supported by around 80 percent of the population. Several ambassadors, a deputy foreign minister, and other officials have resigned over the suspension of EU talks. Georgian Dream, in power for more than a decade, has advanced controversial legislation in recent years, targeting civil society and independent media and curbing LGBTQ rights. Brussels warned such policies were incompatible with EU membership, while domestic critics accuse the government of copying Russia's playbook. Rights ombudsman Ioseliani has accused the police of "torture" against those arrested. ub-im/rsc Originally published as Georgia police fire tear gas, water cannons at pro-EU protesters More related stories Breaking News Syria govt loses control of key city Daraa Syria govt loses control of key city Daraa Read more Breaking News Australia reacts to death of first supermodel Tributes are pouring in for Australia’s first supermodel and the face of Women’s Weekly Maggie Tabberer – with prominent Australians remembering her as a “trailblazer”. Read more
of the NFL season kicked off Thursday with the winning a snowy battle against the . Sunday started with a handful of thrillers. The snapped their five-game skid, beating the , and the upset the . The earned an overtime win against the , and the narrowly beat the . Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let's get to it. Vikings Simply put, weird things happen to the Vikings at Soldier Field. The Vikings were up by 11 points with 22 seconds remaining. Although their defense allowed Bears quarterback to run all over it in the fourth quarter, the real issue was tight end letting an onside kick hit him in the foot. That allowed the Bears to recover the kick long before it went the required 10 yards. If it had not been for that fluke bounce, the conversation would have been much different. No. 2 receiver had a huge day, catching seven passes for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown. The Vikings finally made an opponent pay for the attention it was paying to , but he managed only seven receiving yards in regulation. That would have been a career low before Jefferson caught a 20-yard pass in overtime. Quarterback is tough, and he might have had his best stretch as an NFL player in overtime. He left Sunday's game for two plays in the fourth quarter because of what appeared to be an ankle injury. But he returned and completed all six of his pass attempts in overtime to salvage the game. vs. Cardinals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET) Bears Williams has averaged 2.42 seconds on passes in Brown's two games as interim OC, which marks his quickest throws this season. That helped him go 9-of-12 for 128 yards and two touchdowns against the blitz, which is his first multi-TD game versus the blitz this season. He was 5-of-12 for 141 yards on passes with at least 15 air yards, which was his season-best. Williams also showed an ability to evade pressure and make difficult throws on the run, highlighted by throws to and on Chicago's first touchdown drive. Allen was a late addition to the injury report Friday after rolling his ankle in practice, but he turned in a season-high, team-best nine catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. He ignited the Bears' dormant deep passing game when he hauled in a 40-yard reception from Williams that set up Chicago's lone touchdown in the first quarter. This was Allen's third game with double-digit targets. After his blocked game-winner against Green Bay, ' first field goal attempt of the afternoon was blocked by the Vikings. His three blocked field goals are the most in the NFL this season and Chicago's most in a season since 2012 (also three). He converted on two other attempts, including a 48-yarder to send the game into overtime. at Lions (Thursday, 12:30 p.m. ET) Cowboys The Cowboys entered the game with more than $100 million in salary cap space on injured reserve in , , , and . Their best offensive lineman, (ankle), was also ruled out Sunday. They overcame two missed field goals, a deflected punt, a penalty on a kickoff and iced the game on a pair of kickoff returns by (99 yards) and (43 yards) after Washington nearly pulled off its second miracle of the season. is steady, and that's what teams need from their backup quarterback. Against the Commanders, Rush completed a season-high 78.5% of his passes and avoided big mistakes. His previous best as a starter was 67.7% in a 2022 win against the Giants. He threw two touchdown passes in the second half and looked like the quarterback who went 4-1 as Dak Prescott's replacement in 2022. When the Cowboys host the Giants, don't expect an uptick in the quality of football after the Giants lost 30-7 to the Buccaneers. This will be just the fourth time in the Super Bowl era that both teams are under .500 when playing on Thanksgiving. At least the Cowboys enter the game with a win. vs. Giants (Thursday, 4:30 p.m. ET) Commanders Washington's offense powered its 7-2 start. Now it's responsible for its past two losses. Dallas' defense entered the game ranked 29th in scoring and 23rd in yards, but Washington managed only 319 yards, surpassing 300 for the first time in three games. The offensive line is banged up, and in the past three games, its running backs have averaged 3.2 yards per carry and gained 181 yards combined. It hasn't been good. The pass game lacked any rhythm, and quarterback averaged just 3.9 yards per attempt until he had to throw downfield to play catch-up late in the game. Daniels was considered an MVP contender early in the season. Now they just need to get him back to being the presumptive Offensive Rookie of the Year. The kicking game. missed two extra points and a 51-yard field goal. Entering the game, Seibert had made 25 of 28 field goals and all 22 extra-point attempts. However, he had missed the past two weeks with a hip injury and was bad Sunday. 's low snaps and a 99-yard kick return by the Cowboys didn't help either. vs. Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET) Titans The Titans scored 30 points for the second time this season. Before reaching that threshold against the Dolphins in Week 4, Tennessee had not done it since Jan 2, 2022. continued his hot play with his sixth touchdown over the previous six games. The suddenly explosive passing game produced three plays of 30 yards or more, matching last week's output against the Vikings. absorbed seven sacks in the first half, becoming the first QB to be sacked at least seven times in multiple halves of a season since Randall Cunningham with the Eagles in 1986. Levis was also sacked seven times by the Packers in the second half of a Week 3 loss. Levis continues to be late on throws or avoid making them. At least three of Houston's eight sacks could have been avoided if he saw receivers coming open. His predetermined read kept him from seeing Texans safety in the passing lane, leading to a pick-six. But Levis showed resilience, connecting with for a 70-yard touchdown that held up as the game-winner. at Commanders (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET) Texans The Texans allowed quarterback Will Levis to go 18-of-23 for 278 passing yards and two touchdowns. In December, Houston faces the Dolphins, Chiefs and Ravens, whose offenses can score in bunches. Those issues must get fixed or the hopes of a deep playoff run won't materialize. 's missed 28-yard field goal in the fourth quarter was unexpected. It moved NFL teams to 155-159 (97.5%) on field goals of 29 or fewer yards (98.0%) in 2024. Two of those misses are by Fairbairn. 's performance was a mixed bag. He threw multiple touchdown passes for the first time since Oct. 13, but he also threw multiple interceptions for the second time in three weeks and was sacked four times. Houston's line has allowed 17 sacks in its last four games. at Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET) Dolphins The temperatures for the Dolphins' game against the Packers are expected to drop below freezing -- which has historically been the Dolphins' kryptonite. But with a convicted emphasis on high-efficiency passes and ball control this season, Miami appears to be better equipped to play in frigid temperatures than it was in either of the past two seasons. If it can overcome the weather, Thursday night presents an intriguing matchup for Miami against a Packers defense that ranks 22nd in defensive expected points added since Week 8. Quarterback has matured as a passer and that was on full display Sunday with a four-touchdown performance. He completed 72.5% of his passes against the Patriots -- not far from his career-high 74% this season. It's clear he is less insistent on attempting deep passes and more willing to take what defenses give him. Tight end will have another big game against the Packers. He has scored three touchdowns in his past two games and faces a Green Bay defense that's allowed the 13th-most yards to opposing tight ends this season (entering Sunday). Miami's intention to run the passing offense through Smith is no secret, but Green Bay is still more likely to shade coverage toward receivers and . at Packers (Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET) Patriots The Patriots had played competitively in four games since coach Jerod Mayo called the team out for " ," so this was a big step back. It was a poor reflection on Mayo and his staff, as well as the players. The Patriots return home to face the Colts on Sunday, then they have their bye week before finishing the season against the Cardinals, Bills, Chargers and Bills again. Mayo has said he hopes to be a team that no one wants to play coming down the homestretch. They hardly looked like that against Miami. Undisciplined mess. The Patriots had nine penalties in the first half, six of which were pre-snap infractions -- four false starts, one offensive offside and one defensive neutral zone infraction. Before a team can beat an opponent, it has to not beat itself. Was there a game plan? The Dolphins ran circles around them, especially in a 24-0 second quarter, which was the largest margin in any NFL quarter this season. Tackling on defense was also shoddy. vs. Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET) Chiefs The Chiefs can't have too many threats, so having another reliable receiver is a welcome development for them. It's unlikely their passing game will feature as many big plays as they envisioned before the start of the season, but the Chiefs showed against the Panthers they can be effective with mostly shorter gains. Wide receiver could return later in the season, which would give the Chiefs yet another threat. Tight end had 11.9 yards of separation on his first touchdown, which is the most yards of separation on a Chiefs receiving touchdown in the past two seasons. He was wide open. The Chiefs' defense had more trouble with quarterback and the Carolina offense than expected. The Panthers entered the game averaging 281 yards (last in the league) and 17 points (30th). But the Chiefs failed to contain them. Carolina had 249 passing yards, allowing them to tie the game with less than two minutes left. vs. Raiders (Friday, 3 p.m. ET) Panthers Coach has been careful not to name Young the starter each week until evaluating the film. No further need. The top pick of the 2023 draft had his best game, considering the opponent, and deserves to play out the season. He handled the blitz in particular like a seasoned pro. He was blitzed on 38% of dropbacks. He was 11 of 13 for a season-high 135 yards with a touchdown against five or more defenders. Turning point? Despite the loss, Carolina went toe-to-toe with the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. This may have been a bigger confidence booster than the consecutive wins against the Saints and Giants entering the day. Young looked great. The defense created pressure (5 sacks). This team had an identity. Defending the Chiefs' second tight end, Noah Gray. He had four catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns, including a 35-yarder on the first series. The Panthers did a decent job on star , but Gray made them pay throughout the afternoon. vs. Bucs (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET) Lions Nicknamed "Sonic & Knuckles," Gibbs and Montgomery combined for three rushing touchdowns against the Colts, becoming the first duo in NFL history with 10 rushing touchdowns each in consecutive seasons. Sunday's game also marked the 11th time the duo has each scored a touchdown in the same game -- including the playoffs -- which is the most such games by an RB duo in NFL history, per ESPN Research. At this point, it's not a question of whether they're the best in the league; the production speaks for itself. It's now time to decide their place in league history if they can keep it up. Defending the deep ball. Dealing with a , rookie cornerback was ruled out for Sunday's game and didn't travel with the team. His absence was felt. Detroit's defense allowed Colts quarterback to connect with . for a 30-yard pass and another 39-yard bomb to . Lions wideout . In Detroit's previous four games, Patrick logged five receptions for 38 yards, but he found a groove against the Colts. He grabbed four receptions for 55 yards, including a 27-yard catch at the end of the first quarter, which helped the Lions offense find an early rhythm. vs. Bears (Thursday, 12:30 p.m. ET) Colts The Colts entered the day in the eighth position among AFC playoff contenders and didn't help their case with a loss. After starting the day with a 34% shot at the playoffs, according to ESPN Analytics, the defeat lowered those chances to 27% independent of other outcomes. On the other hand, the Colts have one of the more favorable schedules down the stretch, with four of their five remaining opponents currently under .500. In any case, it will take significant work for them to reverse the damage done to their postseason hopes by losing four of their past five games. Sunday demonstrated that Anthony Richardson needs more help from his supporting cast. Indianapolis was flagged for a season-high eight offensive penalties, several of them proving to be crushing by negating big plays from the quarterback. Richardson also had some underwhelming performances from his pass targets, including a dropped touchdown by tight end . This was the first loss in a game in which the Colts did not commit a turnover since a loss to the Raiders on Jan. 2, 2022. In the past five seasons, the Colts have 22 games in which they have avoided a turnover. They are now 19-3 in those contests. The Colts' six points Sunday is the fewest scored in any of those three losses. at Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET) Buccaneers Yes, as long as quarterback 's stinger isn't serious and these late-game fumbles stop. Getting franchise leading scorer back was huge. So was having both starting cornerbacks in and , and the waiver wire pickup of safety , who came in on third-down passing situations and then to relieve after he had a pectoral injury in the fourth quarter. Only one of their remaining opponents -- the Chargers -- has a winning record. Mayfield still has some of that Oklahoma swag, or "spavalderia" if we're speaking Italian. Never mind the Bucs came into Sunday's game on a four-game losing streak. He hurdled Giants cornerback , did Giants quarterback 's signature and sprinted downfield to deliver a block on 's 56-yard run. The Bucs had 11 different receiving targets catch passes, tied for their most in a game in franchise history. This was last done Week 16 of 2020, when Tom Brady threw for four touchdowns in a 47-7 win over the Lions, according to ESPN Research. at Panthers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET) Giants It's hard to imagine it wasn't a significant factor. The Giants benched their starting quarterback, saw him step in as a scout-team safety during a walk-through period at practice Thursday, and he was released by Friday. Players such as captain said publicly they thought Jones was still the team's best quarterback. Clearly, it had an effect. DeVito hardly provided the "spark" or energy that coach Brian Daboll thought it would while his team fell behind 23-0 by halftime. DeVito wasn't the answer. He went 3-of-5 passing for 31 yards with three sacks in the first half. He finished 21 of 31 passing for 189 yards. He was also sacked four times. Not that DeVito stood a chance. The Giants lost left tackle on the opening drive. That put third-string left tackle into the game opposite for what was already the lowest-scoring offense in the NFL. A no-show by the Giants defense coming out of the bye week. Inexcusable. At points, Lawrence stood despondent, by himself, on the sideline. Perhaps it was because the defense barely sniffed Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield during a sackless afternoon while allowing 400-plus yards of offense. at Cowboys (Thursday, 4:30 p.m. ET) Steelers Don't be distracted by the first part of 's stat line. Yes, the quarterback completed 21 of 28 attempts for 270 yards and a touchdown, but he was also sacked four times. And the offense had six empty possessions that ended either with a punt, turnover on downs or a turnover. Wilson had some moments of field-stretching brilliance, firing off three deep balls on third-down completions to Calvin Austin, and , but he also struggled against pressure. Winning like they did against the Ravens, with six field goals, isn't sustainable. It wasn't against the Browns, and it won't be as the gauntlet of AFC North games continues. Trap game. Hindsight is 20/20, but this had all the makings of a trap game. Though the Steelers said they didn't overlook the hapless Browns, they were clearly overpowered and outwitted by a motivated team playing with nothing to lose. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski took risks that paid off, while Steelers coach Mike Tomlin did the opposite. Though they briefly erased their 12-point deficit, the Steelers are the only franchise that hasn't overcome a deficit of 12 or more points in the fourth quarter of a regular season game since 2000, per ESPN Research. at Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET) Browns Thursday night's win over the Steelers marked the Browns' second upset victory over a divisional opponent, coming weeks after they stunned the Ravens. With four of its final six games coming against teams with winning records, Cleveland has the opportunity to play spoiler a few more times and a strong finish could raise optimism heading into the offseason with a roster that disappointed in the first half of the season. No quit. Four days after giving up 21 points in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss to the Saints -- their seventh defeat in their previous eight games -- the Browns delivered a gritty victory at home against the division-leading Steelers. Browns offensive tackle . The veteran lineman held outside linebacker to just one pressure across 24 matchups. It was just the second game this season that Watt was held to one pressure. at Broncos (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
* Recent rains ease some concerns about dryness in Argentina crop * Funds seek short-covering in wheat market * Weakness in Brazilian real weigh on corn, soy futures (Updates with market moves, market closing prices, updates headline) By P.J. Huffstutter CHICAGO, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures turned lower on a choppy, lower-volume session on Monday, as weakness in the energy market and mild weather forecasts for Brazil's oilseed crop weighed on prices, market analysts said. Wheat futures firmed on a technical rebound from last week's losses, and after Sovecon agriculture consultancy said next year's Russian wheat exports would fall sharply due to a poor harvest and low carry-over stocks. Meanwhile, corn futures ended higher, bolstered by mixed Argentinian weather outlooks and as investors set final positions ahead of the Christmas holiday break on Wednesday. CBOT's most-active wheat settled up 7-1/2 cents at $5.40-1/2 a bushel. Soybeans ended the session down 3-3/4 cents at $9.75-1/2 a bushel, while corn ended up 1-1/2 cents at $4.47-3/4 a bushel. While trade volumes were fairly light throughout the day, weakness in the energy markets cast some spillover pressure on corn and soy futures early in the day, said Karl Setzer, partner at Consus Ag Consulting. Strength in the U.S. dollar, compared to weakness in the Brazilian real, also weighed on corn and soy markets, said Don Roose, president of Iowa-based U.S. Commodities. The real fell 1.4% against the dollar on Monday, giving up gains from Friday when central bank intervention helped the currency pick up off record lows. "Traders know that harvest momentum will start to pick up in South American going into January," Roose said. "So with the real down and the dollar up, that gives South America's crop the advantage over the U.S." The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday confirmed private sales of 132,000 metric tons of U.S. soybeans to China, and 132,000 tons of U.S. corn to unknown destinations. Both are for delivery during the 2024/25 marketing year. (Additional reporting by Michael Hogan in Hamburg and Mei Mei Chu in Beijing; Editing by Sumana Nandy, Subhranshu Sahu and Alexander Smith and Aurora Ellis)
Suns may get Kevin Durant back vs. up-and-down JazzAir Force starts the bidding for $750M CENTCOM support contractTIOHTIÀ:KE ( MONTREAL ), QC , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Calling all youth in Canada , Mexico and the United States ! Are you ready to act now to support North American communities and preserve our shared waters, lands and air? The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is pleased to announce the launch of the second edition of its Generation of Environmental Leaders Program (GELP). This exciting program supports young leaders in accessing seed funding and developing the necessary skills to make a real and meaningful impact in their communities and beyond. The selected youth will benefit from a year-long mentorship program, networking opportunities across North America , receive C$15,000 in seed funding and the chance to present their solutions to North America's top environmental officials as part of the CEC's annual Council Session in the summer of 2025. It's time to act now. The GELP invites young people from North America to support communities and preserve our shared waters, lands and air. The program is aimed at youth who are 18–35 years old and are part of a team such as, but not exclusively, youth-led organizations, youth-led associations, nongovernmental organizations, not-for-profit youth-led businesses, and teams of youth innovators and entrepreneurs interested in building their businesses. Here's what the current GELP cohort is saying. "The mentorship provided by the GELP has greatly helped me grow as a person and has made me feel more comfortable stepping out of my comfort zone, especially in areas like preparing for presentations and managing stress. Today, I feel much more at ease speaking in front of an audience!"—Alexandre Savard, Encore! Biomatériaux, Canada . "The seed funding provided through the GELP was a wonderful opportunity to kickstart some of our project's most important activities. Thanks to this support, we were able to initiate the implementation of an Environmental Management Unit, a step that will foster restoration and conservation of the area." —Ana Cristina Posadas García, Strategy for the Restoration and Conservation of the Ciénega of Tamasopo Wetland, RAMSAR Site, Mexico . "As members of the inaugural GELP cohort, we have had the privilege of connecting with individuals and organizations driven to be a power for good in the environmental and climate space. These experiences have been the catalyst for additional award nominations and the formation of collaborative partnerships that we believe will further grow our work at the intersection of justice and an equitable energy transition."—McKenna Dunbar and Jake Barnet , Electrivive: An Equitable Building Electrification Workforce Redevelopment Tool, United States . We're giving youth the resources to succeed and lead. In addition to building capacity for youth, this program accelerates youth leadership by expanding youth environmental networks and providing seed funding for creative solutions to flourish, particularly at the local level. During the year-long mentorship program, youth leaders receive advice from experts to help advance their solutions and guidance on various elements of their projects, including how to pitch their solutions and other project development and management topics such as risk management, budgeting, outreach and fundraising. The program supports impactful and enduring community-driven activities and establishes a robust youth network across North America . The GELP also provides extended networking opportunities for participants. The selected solutions are presented to the public and selected teams can engage with the CEC's Joint Public Advisory Committee and Traditional Ecological Knowledge Expert Group , and Government officials and experts, during the CEC Council Session , an ideal platform to showcase the impactful ideas at the ministerial level. Requirements for participation. Applicants must demonstrate that their solutions can address or respond to critical issues related to supporting our communities and preserving our shared waters, lands and air across North America . Submissions should be practical, effective, achievable and propose sustainable solutions to an identifiable environmental problem. They should also be context-specific and consider the unique characteristics of the community or region targeted by the project. The eligibility and evaluation criteria prioritize solutions that have established a clear objective and will have a significant impact on local communities and their environment: Priority is given to proposals submitted by diverse youth who identified or developed their solutions jointly with communities, including community members who traditionally do not have access to decision-making spaces. Submission deadline : Completed submissions must be uploaded to the submission platform by 23:59 local time on 12 January 2025 . Click here to learn more about the program, the submission guidelines and criteria, and to apply. For more information about the Generation of Environmental Leaders Program and the submission process, please join us for a virtual information session on 17 December 2024 from 13:00–14:00 Eastern Time (12:00–13:00 Central Time) and (10:00–11:00 Pacific Time), available with simultaneous interpretation in English, French and Spanish. If you would like to know more about CEC initiatives, opportunities and efforts, you can sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media . Media Contact Patrick Tonissen Head of Communications +1 (438) 885-8463 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cecs-generation-of-environmental-leaders-program-now-open-to-north-american-youth-302314604.html SOURCE Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)
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