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CHGO Sports taking its shows to the FAST laneHeaded South for Winter? 5 Tips for Snowbirds About to Take FlightDuring a four-hour journey on a Surat to Bangkok flight, passengers allegedly consumed the entire stock of alcohol. With around 300 passengers on board, they drank 15 litre of alcohol, worth around Rs 1.80 lakh, according to a report in Gujarat Samachar. In addition to the alcohol, the passengers also finished all the snacks, including popular Gujarati snacks like Khaman and Thepla. A video posted on X shows the passengers showing empty liquor bottles on the flight. "Surat to Bangkok flights started today. Passengers drank 15 litres of alcohol on the flight, and the alcohol ran out even before the plane reached Bangkok. 300 passengers consumed alcohol worth ₹1.8 lakhs during the 4-hour-long journey. They even finished all the snacks," the post caption read. Watch the viral video here: Surat to Bangkok flights started today. Passengers drank 15 liters of alcohol on the flight, and the alcohol ran out even before the plane reached Bangkok. 300 passengers consumed alcohol worth ₹1.8 lakhs during the 4-hour-long journey. They even finished all the snacks. pic.twitter.com/aq89qFS1xk — Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) December 21, 2024 However, no official statement has been issued regarding the consumption of all the alcohol and snacks on board. In Gujarat, the sale and consumption of alcohol have been prohibited since the state’s formation in 1960. The DNA app is now available for download on the Google Play Store. Please download the app and share your feedback with us.
President Joe Biden's trip to Angola next week is his first to Africa as president, and the first visit to Angola by an American leader since independence from Portugal in 1975. It comes as the governing People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) party prepares to celebrate 50 years of rule, and Angola gets ready to host the US-Africa Business Summit in mid-2025 The Biden administration has tried to increase its Africa engagement since 2021, through sharpened focus within its Africa network, increased official visits and important new initiatives such as the Lobito Corridor. The Corridor is planned as part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), a G7 initiative designed to compete with Chinese influence head on, in Africa and beyond. In these respects, US-Angola relations are at their strongest since 1993. This is a dramatic change. During the Cold War, Angola was a one-party Marxist-Leninist state, allied to the Soviet Union and Cuba. The country fought a long civil war with UNITA, a rebel group supported by apartheid South Africa and the US. (UNITA was the second largest recipient of US covert aid after the Afghan Mujahadin until 1992, poisoning relations between Washington and Luanda). The tide began to turn in May 1993, when President Bill Clinton formally recognized the government elected in Angola's first ever multiparty elections. US oil companies, Chevron and Exxon, have prospered in the country, and Angola was an important source of US oil imports. That continued until 2006, when this trade plateaued and then sharply declined following the US shale boom. Luanda's subsequent relationship with Washington has been patchy. At the end of the civil war in 2003, the Angolans complained to a senior US official that Washington supported an international donors conference for Afghanistan, but not for Angola. The reply, reportedly, was blunt. Bilateral relations with the US subsequently cooled, and Angola sought diplomatic and economic relations with China - resulting in $45 billion of infrastructure investment over the last twenty years. Angola still owes Chinese lenders $17 billion, constituting about 40 per cent of its total debt. However, Angola's strategic importance to Washington has increased in the last five years. There have been two key drivers for this. The first is João Lourenço's ascendency to the Angolan presidency in 2017, after almost 40 years of rule by former President Dos Santos. Lourenço's administration has seen Angolan foreign policy move away from ideology towards pragmatic multipolarity, becoming truly non-aligned. Luanda has sought to reduce its closeness to Beijing and Moscow, voting in favour of the 2022 UN General Assembly resolution condemning the Russian annexation referendums in Ukraine. Meanwhile Angola has deepened relations with the US - but also the UAE, Turkey and France. In early October the country joined Le Francophonie as an official observer, and Lourenço is due to visit Paris in early 2025, following the visit of Emmanuel Macron to Angola in 2023. Angola has also indicated it would like to join the Commonwealth. Second, Angola's strategic location is important for Washington. Angola has played a valuable mediation role to end confrontation between the DRC and Rwanda in recent years - it shares a long northern border with the DRC. Biden will be keen to ensure Angola's continuing support for those efforts. US officials were deeply involved in meetings on the fringes of this year's UN General Assembly, working to get a DRC- Rwanda ceasefire (signed in Luanda this July) to stick. President Lourenço is also seeking election to chairperson of the African Union in 2025 - an appointment that Washington would welcome. Biden will also focus on the Lobito Corridor. This project, to rehabilitate a 1,300-kilometre railway linking Angola's coast to the mineral fields of the DRC and Zambia, is the first strategic economic corridor launched under the PGII. The Corridor runs from the port of Lobito, on the Atlantic Ocean, to the town of Luau on Angola's north-eastern border with the DRC and a further 400 kilometres into the DRC mining town of Kolwezi. A branch line to Zambia is also envisaged. The project is intended to transport resources including copper and cobalt, critical for a new generation of batteries that will power the energy transition. The resilience of the strategic mineral supply chain is important for US and European technology industries. The Corridor is also intended as a crucial demonstration that the West can deliver on infrastructure projects in Africa. It may also help to engage the US private sector in broader investments on the continent, which have to date remained tepid (beyond hydrocarbons and critical minerals). But funding for the Corridor looks more uncertain following the election of Donald Trump. The Lobito project is aimed to compete with China. But both Western and Chinese firms will be able to use the infrastructure it delivers. In fact, a joint venture between Chinese Zijin Mining and Canada's Ivanhoe Mines was the Lobito Atlantic Railway's first customer. That may make its value questionable to Trump, a US president who will likely define his administration in large measure by competition with Beijing. Regardless, Biden's trip to Angola is a reminder to future White House incumbents that, unlike during the Cold War, the world is no longer defined by superpower competition. African leaders living in a multipolar world will not tolerate being caught up in a competition between Washington and Beijing. Should Trump fail to back Lobito, EU and African Development Bank investment is likely to continue. Donald Trump and his successors should take note: Angola, and countries like it, have many partners to choose from in a world of increasing competition for access to Africa's vital resources. Dr Alex Vines OBE, Research Director; Director, Africa Programme
After five quarters of stagnation, the EU economy returned to modest growth in the first three quarters of the year, while the disinflation process continued. According to the European Commission Autumn Forecast, the conditions for a continued gradual pick-up in growth in 2025 and 2026 are in place. Financial conditions are easing; the labour market remains strong; the disinflationary process is seen as solidly in place; and households’ disposable incomes are set to continue expanding. Elevated uncertainty at home and abroad is estimated to have exerted a considerable drag on growth and is likely to continue doing so. Fostering a more predictable economic environment could further lift growth over the forecast horizon. The forceful tightening of financial conditions contributed to five consecutive quarters of broad stagnation in the EU from late 2022 through 2023, but largely achieved its goal of a steady decline in inflation. Remarkably, the labour market has continued to show resilience — a soft landing under challenging circumstances. In 2024, the EU economy returned to growth. Despite recovering purchasing power, many households restrained their consumption and opted instead to save more due to lingering inflationary concerns and, to a lesser extent, higher interest rates (Baldassarri et al. 2024). Bobasu et al. (2024) also highlight the role of declining housing prices and uncertainty. By mid-year, the household saving rate had risen significantly to 14.8%, three percentage points above its pre-pandemic long-term average. At the same time, investment contracted sharply. Even net of one-off transactions in intellectual property, residential construction continued declining and equipment investment fell sharply, too. Beyond still tight financial conditions and falling profit margins, Revoltella et al. (2024) point to the role of elevated energy costs and uncertainty. With growth of imports lagging behind growth of exports, net trade turned out to be the main driver of growth. Weakening contribution from net trade and fiscal consolidation will impact growth... According to the Commission’s Autumn Forecast (European Commission 2024), merchandise and services exports will continue to expand. But import growth will also rise on the back of higher demand. Trade dynamics are thus projected to remain favourable but net trade will no longer prop up EU growth. Fiscal consolidation is underway. The EU general government deficit is projected to have resumed its decline this year, supported by revenue windfalls and restrained spending, though high interest rates are weighing on public debt. Fiscal policy is estimated to exert a mildly contractionary impact on the EU economy, particularly in 2024 due to the phasing out of ‘energy measures’ that provided support to private investments, especially housing renovations in Italy. In 2025, the contractionary impact of national fiscal policies on economic activity is expected to be offset by the accelerated utilisation of EU funds, including the Recovery and Resilience Fund. The forecast for 2025 however does not include the draft budgetary plans for a few member states – Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Spain – which had not been submitted to the Commission by the cutoff date. For 2026, the fiscal projections in the Autumn Forecast do not include the still unspecified measures needed to achieve the adjustment path planned in member states’ medium-term fiscal-structural plans. The proper implementation of the plans is estimated to imply a slightly contractionary EU fiscal stance in 2026 which, also depending on the nature of the underpinning measures, can be expected to weigh on the GDP growth outlook. ...while credit conditions are set to ease markedly With energy inflation cooling, overall inflation resumed its downward trend in August. Looking forward, the disinflation process hinges upon easing price pressures in services, as nominal wage growth slows down and productivity resumes growing. All signs point to a solid disinflationary trend. The ECB has lowered interest rates three times since May, and further substantial loosening (125 basis points) is expected by the end of 2025. Financial conditions are also easing markedly, as retail rates are set to keep falling and credit standards to keep loosening. Domestic demand is set to rebound, while service inflation keeps easing Although the labour market has loosened somewhat, job creation continues, especially benefiting women, older workers, and foreign-born jobseekers. Employment growth is projected to slow down further, with job intensity of growth converging towards pre-pandemic rates. Wage growth, following a peak in 2023, is set to slow yet should continue to outpace inflation, restoring real purchasing power for households. Households, having accumulated savings and improved their financial positions, are expected to lower their saving rates slightly, leading to gradual acceleration in consumption growth. Households, having accumulated savings and improved their financial positions, are expected to lower their saving rates slightly, leading to gradual acceleration in consumption growth. A global recovery for manufacturing and trade of goods, coupled with easing conditions and improving profit margins, set the stage for a rebound in investment. Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) funding is also set to help businesses transition to energy-efficient, low-emission production, though ongoing structural changes could challenge segments of manufacturing, especially energy-intensive and automotive sectors. Residential construction remains subdued in 2025, but is expected to recover by 2026 – leading to a broad-based acceleration of investment. The Autumn Forecast sees a gradual acceleration of economic activity, amidst further decelerating inflation The forecast projects moderate real GDP growth of 0.9 % for the EU in 2024 and an acceleration to 1.5% and 1.8%, respectively, in 2025 and 2026. Inflation is expected to halve in 2024 and continue easing. However, elevated uncertainty, at home and abroad, is weighing on the EU economy. Elevated uncertainty is estimated to exert a heavy toll on economic activity, especially investment Uncertainty – proxied by the Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) index by Baker et al. (2016) – has been on the rise, particularly over the last few quarters. Elevated uncertainty reflects heightened geopolitical tensions, especially in the EU’s eastern and south-eastern neighbourhood, but also domestic political instability, especially in France and Germany. To quantify the effects of uncertainty on the economy, a vector autoregressive (VAR) model 2 was used to gauge how sudden increases in uncertainty influence investment and GDP within the euro area. Results suggest that each unexpected surge in uncertainty, equivalent to a one standard deviation shock, exerts a cumulative drag of approximately 0.45 percentage points on GDP growth within a year. Investment is particularly sensitive to these conditions: faced with a murky economic outlook, companies often defer or cancel spending, particularly on capital projects, until greater clarity emerges. 3 Consumption, though less impacted than investment, is not immune as households tend to increase precautionary savings. A progressive decline of uncertainty would significantly boost GDP growth over the forecast horizon Looking forward, a scenario analysis 4 further underscores the economic stakes associated with different uncertainty paths. If uncertainty in the euro area were to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the forecast period, it could boost GDP by up to 1.2 percentage points, given the positive effects this would have on restoring confidence in both private consumption and business investment. Under a more optimistic scenario, where uncertainty reverts to levels seen before the Global Financial Crisis, the boost to GDP could reach as high as 1.7 points. However, if uncertainty were to rise by another 50% above current post-pandemic levels, the implications would be adverse, resulting in an estimated 0.6% reduction in GDP, further depressing both consumption and investment growth across the region. While the impact of an individual uncertainty shock eventually dies out, repeated exposure to episodes of high uncertainty can leave lasting scars by making businesses and households more risk-averse. This ‘hysteresis effect’ leads firms and individuals to adopt a more cautious outlook even once stability returns. EU policymakers must strive to foster a more predictable economic environment. Much of the uncertainty affecting the EU originates beyond its borders. Stability in domestic policy, even amid global turbulence, would go a long way towards ensuring that businesses and households feel secure enough to invest and spend, bolstering economic growth in the process. Creating clear and stable policy signals will be crucial to support investment and consumption. Source: CEPR
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Monty Rakusen Shares of VSE Corporation ( NASDAQ: VSEC ) have surfaced on my radar as recent dealmaking has driven a huge momentum run this year; in fact, shares essentially doubled year to date. Momentum has been seen despite, or in spite, a myriad of M&A activities, which If you like to see more ideas, please subscribe to the premium service "Value in Corporate Events" here and try the free trial. In this service we cover major earnings events, M&A, IPOs and other significant corporate events with actionable ideas. Furthermore, we provide coverage of situations and names on request! The Value Investor has a Master of Science with specialization in financial markets and a decade of experience tracking companies via catalytic company events. Value In Corporate Events Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.None1. A fill-in-the-blank book for your bestie if your goal is to bring a tear to their eye. Fill it up with funny, sweet, thoughtful things about your friendship, and don't forget to grab a tissue before you read through it together! Promising review: "Absolutely loved this. It took a little bit of time to fill it out but it was fun reflecting back on the years. My friend absolutely loved it and said she'd treasure it always. I love how despite its small size, the pages are thick and it seems like it will last for the rest of her life and maybe beyond." — Lily Price: $9.95 (also available in other designs , including one for your partner , mom , dad , and more) 2. A darling embroidered bookmark any avid reader is sure to cherish. This is not only the perfect combo of beautiful and useful, but the monogram detail will also make it feel extra special. Promising review: "I gave it as a gift along with a book. The gift was liked very much, and I think because it was monogrammed with her initials, it made it more special. Very inexpensive. Was worth it." — Donna Faulkner Price: $6.98 (available in letters A–Z and four styles) 3. A Breakfast at Tiffany's -inspired eye mask that your glamorous friend who has an Audrey Hepburn canvas print hanging in their apartment will 100% appreciate. This will help them get some shut-eye while also helping them fulfill their fantasy of living in a 1960s rom-com. Promising review: "Comfortable, soft and cute! Gives enough darkness for a peaceful sleep without feeling suffocated like I have with other sleep masks. The elastic is secure but not too tight." — K. Garrett Price: $15.99 4. A customizable Lego bouquet-building set for adults who are both new to Lego building or old pros at it. Not only will it be fun for them to put together, but it'll also serve as a vibrant piece of decor that won't die a couple of days later. Promising review: "These Lego flowers were amazing! I purchased them for my fiancé for Christmas, and we had such a fun time building them together! There is a good variety, getting you lots of different flowers and repetitions of ones that are really nice! For an experienced Lego builder, these are gonna be a super easy build and come together very quickly! For someone not as experienced, it's gonna take a little more time, but is entirely within the realm of reason! Additionally, they look amazing set up and posed! " — Brayden Rozelle Price: $47.99 5. A Silly Poopy's Hide & Seek game that will play hide and seek with your kiddo, so you don't have to. Just hide the rainbow-colored poop toy, and it'll give clues until your little one finds it. Meanwhile, you can enjoy some much-deserved couch time. And let's be honest, what kid won't giggle when they open up a rianbow poop toy?? Check out a TikTok of the Silly Poopy in action. Promising review: "Let me tell you that if you want hours of endless fun of hide and go seek without having to hide yourself, this is a must get! When it's hidden it makes various toot noises and says stuff so the kids know if they are close. And when they find it and press the button to do and sing the silly poopy dance ... even you will dance and sing along!!! Doesn't need batteries and come on, it's poop? Who doesn't think poop and toot noises are funny and if they don't they are lying to themselves. A must-have for fun with your kids without barely doing any work!! " — andrea kelli gorman Price: $9.88 6. The Reverse Coloring Book , a clever way for them to zen out and take some time away from their phone and computer. Instead of adding the color to pages, they add the lines! It's simple yet satisfying, and reviewers are raving about how fun and calming it is. Check out a TikTok of the Reverse Coloring Book in action. Each book includes 50 pages of watercolor art for you to add lines, along with suggestions for what to add if you want a jumping off point. Bonus: the pages are perforated so you can easily tear them out and frame them! Promising review: "Changed my life. So I get anxious doing the adult coloring books. This was so much fun and made me really think outside of the box. I'm not the best at drawing but I felt like I was when I was a kid doodling in my textbooks in school." — Carley C. Price: $9.90 7. A silver cuff with a hidden message perfect for a loved one who needs a little pick-me-up. Plus, this simple accessory will work with almost anyone's style. The bracelet above says, "You are enough." But, there are TONS of other motivating messages to choose from including: "Be amazing today," "Just keep swimming," and "Believe in you like I do." Promising review: "I got this bracelet for a friend who was having a tough time. It is great quality and well made. The engraving is well done! Heavier than I thought it would be! Would order again! Thank you!" — HeatherMarie Price: $12.97+ (available in over 100 designs) 8. A Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza card game perfect for anyone who loves a good game night. Kids and adults alike enjoy this game because it's easy to play and sure to get everyone laughing. You deal all the cards out to your 2–4 players, and everyone keeps their mini-deck face down. Everyone takes a turn putting a card down in the middle of the table, saying one of the words "taco," "cat," "goat," "cheese," and "pizza," in that order. If the picture on your card matches the word that's said, everyone slaps their hand on the card in a pile as quickly as possible. The last person on the pile has to take the stack and add 'em to their cards, and whoever runs out of cards first wins! Promising review: "Fun, clean, family-friendly game. Easy to learn and fun for all ages. Quick games so players can jump in and out or swap. Could easily extend the game with another pack of cards. Lots of laughs! Buying for Christmas gifts this year!" — W M Price: $9.84 9. A bucket list insulated water bottle your frequent flyer family member will be obsessed with. If you know they're on a journey to check off all 50 states, then this gift will be the perfect way for them to keep track of how many places they have left while also keeping them hydrated on their many adventures. Promising review: "This is the perfect water bottle! Perfect size, insulates very well, high quality, beautiful colors on the stickers that adhere very well, and a super fun way to show your travels!! I am running a half marathon in every state - I have received lots of compliments on it!" — Cody Price: $45.99 Also available in a National Parks version ! 10. A stemless wineglass sure to make an a-meow-zing gift for any of your cat-loving colleagues. Promising review: "This is made out of heavy glass, not plastic. It has been through the washer more than a dozen times and the engraving is still intact and looks as great as it did from day one. Got this for my cat-loving wife for Christmas. Success! Always a winner for that cat-lover in your life, including yourself." — Arrr Matey Price: $16.99 11. A mini Bob Ross paint-by-numbers kit that comes with everything they need to create a teeny masterpiece on a cozy night at home. Complete with three pre-printed canvases, seven paint pots, a mini brush, and a mini easel, the budding artist on your list will surely get a kick outta this. The kit's three paint-by-number canvases include two landscapes and one portrait of Bob. They'll also get an instruction sheet and a mini book all about Bob! Promising review: "I have to admit I was skeptical because of the price and size. However, I got these for my husband for his birthday (he loves Bob Ross) and What a find!! We had so much fun mixing colors and painting. Would definitely recommend. The fact that they are small makes them even more special. I wish there were more to paint!" — slb m Get it from Amazon for $7.99 . 12. A ridiculously cute Groot flower pot perfect for your friend who cried with you throughout Avengers: Endgame . Promising review: "I bought this as a gift for a coworker who is a fellow Marvel fan and he loved it! I really like that it can be used for so many different things!" — Roberta Bowden Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two designs). 13. The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook by Dinah Bucholz , a ~magical~ book of recipes that'll allow the Potterhead on your list to properly dine like a witch or wizard at Hogwarts. It includes more than 150 easy-to-make recipes, tips, and techniques. It'll teach them how to make everything from treacle tart (Harry's favorite dessert), to Molly Weasley's meat pies, to pumpkin pasties (from the Hogwarts Express cart). Editor's Note: BuzzFeed does not support discriminatory or hateful speech in any form. We stand by the LGBTQ+ community and all fans who found a home in the Harry Potter series and will work to provide a safe space for fans. If you, like us, feel impassioned about trans rights, learn more or donate here . Promising review: "I LOVE THIS. I'm no master chef, but this cookbook might change that: I might even become a master wizard chef! Anyways, the recipes are phenomenal. The book has a bunch of cute references, and my younger siblings go crazy whenever I make something from this book. I most recently made the meat and potato pies, which can be found on page 44." — Tigerlily Price: $13.39 14. A super soft pair of fuzzy slippers with memory foam insoles to give to anyone who just loves to be cozy at home. They'll probably never want to take these things off. In fact, you may want to grab a second pair for yourself! Promising review: "Incredible. Wow. I don't even know where to begin. These slippers are so soft and sturdy. My feet never slide out of them. There's a foam padding for foot support... OMG. I can go on and on. These are incredible. 10/10 recommend for anyone." — NG Price: $14.99+ (available in women's sizes 5–10 and 13 colors) 15. A keychain bracelet that has a card holder so they can keep their keys, ID, and cash handy and easily accessible. This stylish bracelet is much cuter than a basic lanyard and a great gift or stocking stuffer for anyone who just got their license or just got a new car. Promising review: "Bought two bracelets in the denim blue for my teenage granddaughters. They love them and actually said they will wear them out and use them for shopping and when they are driving and don’t want to take a purse. You can fit your driver's license, credit card, and some cash. Teens are hard to buy for, and I came off a winner here!" — Fashionista Grandma Price: $6.99+ (available in 22 colors) 16. A 60-shade eyeshadow palette full of various neutral shades in matte, foil, pearl, and metallic finishes perfect for your makeup-loving friend or sibling. They'll think you spent a pretty penny at Ulta or Sephora on this because of how great the quality is — reviews say the shades are super pigmented, blendable, and long-lasting. Promising review : "This was way better than I expected it to be! More pigmented than some of my 'high-end' eyeshadow palettes. I would most definitely purchase from this company again, and again!!" — Shawna Promising review: "BUY IT! 100% WORTH IT... love the creamy formula, lots of pigment, and it blends so nicely with the other colors in the palette. I recently got the Bare Necessities palette from ColourPop, but this one has 2X as many colors at 1/3 the price, and it isn't as nice as this one in quality, tbh! Back in the day, I owned the original Naked 1, 2, and 3 palettes from Urban Decay, and THESE MATCH THE COLORS PERFECTLY AT A FRACTION OF THE PRICE. Plus, it has the honey and heat versions, too! I will use this every time I do my makeup. " — katherine Price: $11.99+ (available in two options) 17. And a 14-piece rose gold makeup brush set that's great for makeup beginners or those who can do a contour way better than you ever could. This set has almost everything they'll need and it'll look fabulous on their vanity. The bristles are vegan and cruelty-free, made of durable synthetic fiber that's soft and silky! This set will fulfill pretty much all of your makeup needs, including a blending brush, eyebrow brush, eyeshadow brushes, as well as ones suited for eyeliner, contouring, blush, and more. Promising review: "I am a makeup brush fanatic! I own Sigma and Sephora and It Cosmetics brushes, as well as Elf and Real Techniques. I love quality, not brand labels. This is one of the best makeup brush sets I own. There are lots of thick soft hairs in the brush that help to create a smooth flawless looking finish. The handle and ferrule are made of nice materials and lend the brushes the perfect balance of weight right where you need it." — Christina Price: $8.99+ (available in six colors) 18. An extremely delightful boba tea pencil holder perfect for holding their supplies for class, homework, or bullet journaling. This will be a cute and organized way to keep pencils, gel pens, scissors, erasers, and more in one spot. Promising review: "This is super cute! It holds my skinny markers. It came intact. When I saw it I didn't see the pockets — they are farther down and they work. It's worth the $10. I take it to work and get compliments on it. I'm gonna get another one :)." — Kona Price: $6.99+ (available in six colors) 19. A pair of LED light saber chopsticks for anyone who is always watching Star Wars movies on repeat. They definitely won't have to ~force~ a smile when they open this gift! There's a button to turn 'em on and off, and they come with batteries. Here's why BuzzFeed Shopping writer, Emma Lord , loves them: "As you can see from the above GIF, I bought these for myself, and I love them to pieces. TBH, I use them as decor every bit as much as I use them to eat. Sometimes I just keep them in my work area to light them up during the day to feel fancy. They toggle back and forth between a bunch of different colors, like red, blue, yellow, purple, and multicolor, so you can either make them match *or* have a red and blue one together and bring ~balance~ to The Force." Price: $10.97 (available in two styles) 20. A set of 12 handcrafted, moisturizing bath bombs made with natural ingredients, perfect for anyone who loves a good #SelfCareSunday moment. Promising review: "After receiving the first box as a gift, I had to order more. I am a true bath person and have tried bath products across the globe. I can honestly say that these are the absolute best bath bombs I have ever used! The fragrance is incredible and my skin is left soft, not oily. Here comes the part that blew me away: No residue or ring left in my tub! One more thing, the price allows me to order more and give as gifts!" — Pamela Price: $26.80 21. A cozy blanket sweatshirt for the person in your life who is like, always cold and loves to be cozy. Speaking from personal experience, they will want to wear it every day this winter! I LOVE this thing. It allows you to literally wrap yourself in a blanket, but still be able to use your hands, without your poor arm suffering in the cold breeze. I wear this while working from home, watching Netflix, and while taking naps. It's so comfy that there have been times I don't want to take it off when I have to run to the store — the only reason I do is because I don't want it to get dirty. I can't imagine one person who wouldn't be happy to have this wonderful bundle of coziness. Promising review: "To say that it is comfy is more than and understatement. It feels like wearing a soft and warm blanket turned into a hoodie. Because I want to take a nap while wearing, I just put the hood on, tuck my legs in and fall asleep right away, warm and comfortable, no need to wear a blanket over it. Perfect for lazy Sundays!" — Patricia Price: $49.99+ (available in 28 styles) 22. A copy of Nevertheless, She Wore It: 50 Iconic Fashion Moments by Ann Shen , which any fashion-obsessed friend will love to flip through. It'll inspire them to try new styles *and* teach them about powerful, groundbreaking women throughout history. Here's what my colleague, Heather Braga , had to say about the book: "Ann Shen's book, Nevertheless, She Wore It: 50 Iconic Fashion Moments , is jam-packed with stunning illustrations and facts about fabulous women from all around the world. I have a copy and it's something I absolutely treasure — and I learned a lot from it! Anyone would be lucky to receive this book this holiday season!" Price: $14.28 23. A set of three terra-cotta pots with drainage holes and saucers perfect for the plant parent on your list who has more greenery in their home than Poison Ivy does. Promising review: "I love these so much. The depth is perfect for my plants! I never write reviews but had to with these pots because they are stunning and inexpensive ." — Dominique Friend Price: $28.99 (available in four colors and four sizes) 24. A teak bathtub tray so they can have a convenient place to put their book, candle, and beverage while they soak in a luxurious bubble bath. Promising review: "Well made, pretty tray that fits all the way across my tub. Has support for a book or iPad which is great." — Jolene Saiz Price: $55.99 (also available in a bamboo style ) 25. A glass teapot , which comes with a glass infuser that's perfect for loose teas. It's microwave- and stovetop-safe and it's so stinkin' adorable it'll have them begging you to come over for tea parties. Promising review: "I absolutely love my little teapot. I use it on the stovetop ever morning and it is perfect. I have had mine about three weeks now and it’s doing amazing. I love using the hot water first for my morning matcha, then I add the loose tea to the remainder of the hot water for my afternoon tea. It’s perfect for me and despite being worried about putting it on the burner at first, it turns out it’s nothing to be worried about at all. It works and looks super cute!" — Amazon Customer Price: $29.99 26. A CovoBox — it's hollow on the inside, so they can use it to hide any unsightly cords or routers. Instead, it'll look like they have a beautiful collection of perfectly coordinated books. Before adding this to your cart, you have the option to customize it, including selecting from 14 lengths and 15 colors (including custom colors). The CovoBox is made from reclaimed books and sustainable wood. Covogoods is a small family-owned business creating home decor in Utah! Promising review: "I’m pretty sure I’ve never loved a purchase from Amazon as much as I love this one. This product is EXTREMELY well made and very unique. Plus, it does the job of hiding the ugly routers and cords. And the customer service was great and responsive. I was a little hesitant to spend the money on this but after years of living with the husband’s pile of technology, the money was well spent!" — AmazonEmme Price: $29+ (available in customizable sizes and colors) 27. A portable instant photo printer great for the person who is constantly snapping pics. The sticky-backed paper makes this perfect for journaling and scrapbooking! Promising review: "I originally purchased this product for my 11-year-old granddaughter who's always taking pictures. This is the absolute best gift I could have ever given her. It is compact, easy to use, and takes great quality reproductions of pictures in sticker form — how fun. I would recommend this product to anyone who wishes to give an out-of-the-ordinary gift." — Bianca Trevino Price: $67.99+ (available in five colors and a stater bundle option) 28. A shower phone holder for anyone who would love to watch YouTube videos, TikToks, or jam to their favorite playlist while they take way too long in the shower. Promising review: "This product is the answer to my search for a way to have music or Netflix playing while in the shower! The adhesion quality is great, and it's very easy to use. It fits my iPhone XS Max very well and is very sturdy. I would recommend this to anyone!" — Jackie Donovan Price: $9.99+ (available in nine colors/styles) 29. A 3-in-1 wireless charger that'll allow them to charge their iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods at the same time *without* a bunch of cords cluttering up their nightstand. Promising review: "I love this charging station! I‘m one of those people who has all the Apple things, so being able to charge my phone, watch, and AirPod Pros at the same time is a total game-changer for me. I can’t even guess how many times I’ve misplaced my AirPods because I didn’t have a dedicated place for them. Now there’s no question where they are every morning. Not only that, but the charger is pretty fast (especially for the watch and earbuds), and the station itself is easy to set up and use." — Anonymous Price: $29.99 (available in seven colors) 30. An LED flat plate so they can read all night long if they want, without disturbing their partner. The bookworm on your list will totally appreciate this. Promising review: "LOVE! This book light is perfect for nighttime reading. I opted for this particular brand over others I saw for less as it has a dimmer. I really like this one as the glow is soft and not harsh on my eyes. The dimmer has a wide range when I turn the knob. You can use this book light horizontally or vertically. It’s not large enough to cover the whole page of most books, but it does completely light up an entire page so you don’t have to move it up and down while reading." — Flora Price: $24.99+ (available in two colors) 31. A crystal carafe that'll look so chic on their nightstand. No more stumbling out of bed in the middle of the night for a glass of water. They will definitely feel luxurious when they use this gift (and they'll never know it was under $25). Promising review: "I bought one and love it so much that I got another one. It's meticulously made, gorgeously crafted solid crystal, and has serious heft. It's not huge or unwieldy but has enough capacity for not only nighttime carafe use, but also for daytime, e.g. I make iced tea and use it at my home office. I love the convenience of the glass/cover, which I use not as a drinking glass but for for dust particles not to get into my water and drinks. For the price, this cannot be beat. The quality of this is remarkable and if you're on the fence about this, get it — you won't be sorry. :-)" — IandThouSpirit Price: $21+ (available in three colors) 32. A pack of Crayola Globbles — a fidget toy that they'll love throwing at the wall and watching as they roll back down... so they can do it all over again. They can also squeeze and squish them as a stress ball. And the best part? These won't leave behind any sticky residue! Some reviewers initially bought them for their kids, but then bought more for themselves! After they get a little dirty, just wash them with soap and they'll be sticky again! Promising review : "Amazing toys! My 1- and 2-year-old LOVE them! They scream 'sticky balls!' and run around throwing them on the fridge, windows, cabinets, walls, etc. Easy to wash and air-dry, and don't lose their stickiness! My new go-to gift! Love them!" — Rachel Price: $19.59 (for a pack of 16) 33. A pair of aerating wineglasses that might just make their $8 bottle of Moscato taste like something from a fancy restaurant. Your wine-loving auntie will be using this all the time! Promising review: "I got these for my mom and she loves them! They are great conversation pieces, and fun to use. The wine fans out and falls into the glass as pictured. She runs them through the dishwasher and hasn't had any issues cleaning them that way. These are fun for wine drinkers." — Kaitlyn G. Price: $59.19 34. A felt letter board for the person who always has the best inspirational quotes in their Instagram captions — now they can display their skills in their home for all guests to admire. Promising review: "Great idea. Great for a small space on your wall that you need to fill. The white letters fix nicely to the fabric board until you want to remove them — which is also easy to do. Very cute." — Grant Price: $18.99+ (available in four sizes and 27 colors) 35. A pair of humorous novelty socks that'll make a great gift for a bacon lover, wine lover, taco lover, coffee lover, and more. Basically, these are an adorable add-on or stocking stuffer for pretty much anyone on your list. Promising review: "Funny and well-made. Got these for my lady friend, who funny enough drinks tea and wears socks. She loved the colors, the graphics and the material. Extra soft and comfortable. Highly recommend." — Rick Baird Price: $9.99+ (available in 16 designs) 36. A copy of Burn After Writing , a guided journal meant to encourage them to explore their feelings. It features different questions and thought experiments to help them learn about themself and let go of certain things. Promising review: "I first saw this book on TikTok and decided to look more into it. I purchased four total because I know some people holding onto things that are difficult to let go of. It’s a great way to look at things from a different perspective and truly hold yourself accountable to different things in your life. I love what it stands for and I look forward to when I burn mine after I’m done. Self love, self care, and meditation for a better state of mind tomorrow is always the goal. I definitely recommend it to those susceptible to change and the willingness to try things different. You’re so much more than what’s been done to you and someone’s inability to see your worth does not decrease your value. Choose you for a change." — Brent Helm Price: $7.32 37. A pair of constellation tassel earrings that are ~out of this world~ gorgeous! And for less than $10??! Any fashionista who loves a good accessory will be thrilled to unwrap these. Promising review: "These are absolutely beautiful, and clever with the post being falling stars. The stud sits comfortably and is lovely. Not gaudy or tacky in the least. I’m thrilled with them — and the price? If you are charmed by the picture you won’t be disappointed! They’re beautiful!" — Amyss Price: $8.66 (available in two colors) 38. A Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Guy to keep on their desk so they can have a little dance party with him whenever they need some cheering up. Promising review: " I opened the package and screamed for joy! As I placed the 9-volt battery my hands were trembling with what was going to happen next! As I turned on the wacky waving inflatable tube man I knew I have a friend for life. Someone you can really count on cheering you up when you are feeling down. He brought me such joy, I started to cry with laughter and happiness. " — Robert Wurstner Price: $8.58 Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.