Karine Jean-Pierre refuses to apologize for saying Biden wouldn't pardon Hunter as she's asked why anyone should believe the presidentDiesel shipments from the U.S. Gulf Coast to Europe’s main trading and refining hub, the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region, are set to rise owing to improving export margins on the back of scarce supply in Europe and rising U.S. refinery production, according to traders and ship tracking data. Europe is seeking higher transatlantic diesel imports, as weaker export margins for shipments from east of Suez slowed flows on that route in the last two months. Rising European gasoil demand also prompted higher transatlantic imports. Independently held gasoil stocks in ARA fell for the third consecutive week on Thursday to 2.13 million tons, according to consultancy Insights Global. U.S. diesel exports to ARA could reach all-time high levels above 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) in December, compared with a monthly average of 28,000 bpd over January-October, according to ship tracking data from Kpler based on tankers signalling ARA as the destination. Kpler data dates back to January 2017. Total U.S. distillate fuel exports, including diesel and gasoil, reached 1.55 million bpd in the week to Nov. 29, the highest seasonal level since Nov. 2018, the Energy Information Administration said. “Strong U.S. refinery production, improved arbitrage economics, and supply tightness in the European market spurred the uptick in transatlantic diesel shipments,” Sparta Commodities analyst James Noel-Beswick said. Europe is a net importer of diesel, the primary transport and industrial fuel for the continent. Europe diversified its diesel import sources since the EU embargo against Russian oil following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia was Europe’s biggest diesel supplier before the war. Europe’s diesel imports from east of Suez sources fell in recent months. In October and November, east of Suez diesel exports to ARA fell to an average near 100,000 bpd, halving from 224,000 bpd averaged in January-September, according to Kpler. Still, higher U.S. refinery production could sustain diesel exports to northwest Europe, as U.S. diesel demand remains weak. U.S. refinery utilisation rate rose to 93.3% in the week to Nov. 29, compared with the 5-year average for November at 87%, according to EIA data. “The U.S. Gulf Coast will continue to need to clear excess diesel and much of this will still end up in Europe,” Ronan Hodgson, middle distillates analyst at FGE said. Source: Reuters (Reporting by Enes Tunagur in London and Shariq Khan in New York; Editing by Vijay Kishore)
1. Some Squishmallows scented slime because it's a perfect combo of their two favorite obsessions — Squishmallows and slime, of course! Reviewers are loving how stretchy this fluffy stuff is, *and* they say it's not sticky! They come with glitter, and a cutie lil' charm, and reviewers say they smell *divine*. So good you'll wanna grab an extra one for yourself. Promising reviews: "Perfect stocking stuffer. My daughter is going to love this. Bright color and Squishmallow-themed." — CraftyMom "I have loved slime since I was a child and my 4-year-old has followed in my footsteps. I am always on the lookout for great slime and omg, I have found it. I would say it’s the best cloud slime I have ever experienced. Literally like pizza dough or a thick cake batter that smells divine. Not sticky, it’s just heaven sent. My daughter flipped out over this slime, as did I. Get one, you will not be disappointed. The sparkly mix-ins you get are also great. Amazeballs!!!!" — Chelsea Reith Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in four scents/characters and in a four-pack). 2. A pack of 10 slingshot chickens so they can have EPIC slingshot battles. Fling them onto the ceiling and just let them eventually fall off and startle people, in a silly way, ofc! Promising reviews: "Great stocking stuffer or fun little gift. These slingshot chickens are so fun and my kids think they are the most hilarious things on earth . They fling them so they get stuck on the ceiling and then watch until the chickens drop down. It definitely provides hours of entertainment !" — Nichole G "Perfect stocking stuffer." — carolsioux Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in six colors and in 30-packs). 3. A pack of 50 Pokemon cards since your child is suddenly obsessed with tryna catch 'em all. If every conversation at the dinner table includes Charizard, Pikachu, and Jigglypuff, they'll obsesssssss over this little gift. Promising reviews: " My kids are always pleased with these . I’ve bought them a few times. They make a perfect stocking stuffer." — Samantha H. "So cheap and affordable, great quality, no dents, no wear and tear, nothing. Perfect, brand-new cards wrapped in sealed packaging. You absolutely get a variety and you never know what you’re going to get. Works great as a gift, a stocking stuffer, or if you’re a collector yourself." — Crystal Joubert Get a 50-pack from Amazon for $5.99 . 4. A two-pack of TikTok popular Mini Brands mystery balls that all the kids are totally loving right now. It's got five mystery compartments that open up to reveal mini versions of your fave brands like Kellogg's, Sunny D, Pringles, and more! Promising review: ""Perfect stocking stuffer. These were so adorable and accurate. We got a variety of different miniature food products. I bought four of these and had no duplicates. You get a list of all the different collections and products with every ball. My kids loved them and I even wanted one for myself!" — Marisa Get a pack of two from Amazon for $17.98 (available in two styles). 5. A Roblox gift card because you can hardly pull your kiddo away from this dang game. Redeem it online, and they'll be glued to the game all winter break long. Promising review: "Perfect stocking stuffer. This was for my 12-year-old grandson who is all about Roblox. I got him this gift card and he was very happy until he redeemed it. At that point, he went from happy to ESTATIC!!! A $50 Roblox gift card redeems for over 4000 robux! Thank you Roblox!" — Donna Get it from Amazon for $50 (available in other money amounts). 6. A six-piece set of clip-in hair tinsel so your little one can have those trendy sparkly locks that are literally so freakin' cute. The tinsel is heat-resistant and it'll be *way* easier to put these in your mini's hair than the strands. ✨Fairy hair for the win ✨. Promising review: "Perfect stocking stuffer!!! My daughter couldn’t stop changing her hairstyle after opening this present! Holding up well, and the colors are so pretty!" — Eryn Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in nine colors). 7. A screaming goat figure your kiddo will be pressing ALL 👏 DAY 👏 LONG. The only sounds of winter break will be screaming goats and laughing kiddos. Who wouldn't love this? He also comes with a little book of equally delightful goat facts. Pstt! If you'd like one that's a bit more festive, you can grab this screaming goat wearing a Christmas sweater ! Promising reviews: "My daughter's favorite part in the new Grinch cartoon (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) is when the screaming goat is there. She will fall down laughing so hard. I purchased this to put into her stocking. She is 3 and absolutely loves it. Everyone couldn't resist pushing it to make it scream. Also the book about screaming goats is fantastic and educational!" — Tara A Pittman "My son was watching screaming goat videos so I decided this was a perfect stocking stuffer. The screaming goat definitely lives up to the hype. " — Kattosha Get it from Amazon for $8.18 . 8. Or a yodeling pickle to bring them lots of joy and lots of "yodel-ey-eee-hooos!" I can't think of absolutely anything better than this to be honest. Promising reviews: "He's no average yodeler, he's 'the' yodeler, the teacher of all yodelers. He's the yodel master. And, he is my best friend. I'm beyond fortunate to have met him. I now share my home with him. You can only hope that your yodeling pickle is half as good as mine. And if not, I'm not sharing — he's mine, all mine. Hear that? So, how did my yodeling pickle and I meet? My sister gave him to me for my 23rd birthday. I was so excited, I started crying, but the streams flowing down my cheeks were tears of joy. You know what my pickle did for me next? You'll never believe it. He serenaded me with a yodel birthday song — Yodel-Aey-Eee-Ooooooo. The way those five syllables rolled off his tiny pickle tongue was pure bliss to my ears. It was divine. The voice of my yodeling pickle is sweet as honey. " — B & J "Hysterical yodeling pickle. Perfect stocking stuffer." — Kristin Get it from Amazon for $13.34 . 9. A bicycle noise maker that'll have your kid's bike sounding like a motorcycle rolling down the street. Be ready for a Christmas morning bike ride cuz they'll wanna test this out as soon as they get it. Promising reviews: "This is a perfect stocking stuffer for kids. It is loud enough for you to hear, but not too much. It definitely makes for a fun day outside." — Mona Brown "A FANTASTIC stocking gift for my dirt bike-obsessed 6-year-old boy. Easy peasy to put on , I did it myself, and my boy LOVED how it sounds like a two stroke dirt bike." — D. D. Young Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in five colors and in two-packs). 10. A Tamagotchi , aka everyone's favorite virtual reality pet. They'll love taking care of their new little friend — feeding it, giving it medicine, disciplining it...they'll have a blast. It's the same good ole '90s toy you enjoyed, so you may end up trying to take this off their hands. Promising reviews: "Perfect stocking stuffer, my daughter loves to just carry it around all the time." — kelsea gardner "Got these for my boys for Christmas 🎄🎁!!!!! I had them as a kid and it just reminded me of when I had them, so I couldn't resist!!!!! Love it. 😅" — Busy mama Marie Get it from Amazon for $18.38+ (available in 45 colors). 11. A pack of four Mr. Bubble bath potions that'll make bath time a lot more fun for them and a lot less whiny and stressful for you. Once they add water, the science beaker will begin to fizz and foam like some Bill Nye experiment. So fun. Promising reviews: "Perfect stocking stuffer. Kids love them and makes bath time fun. " — Marcy B. "My daughter LOVES baths! It’s her unwind time. Making 'potions' out of shampoo, soap and whatever she can find is her favorite. Thanks to this wonderful product, my expensive conditioner is safe now. She said that it was her favorite Christmas present . 100% kid and parent approved!" — carmella Get a pack of four from Amazon for $16.59 (available in an unscented version and in a 12-pack). 12. A pack of mini Reese's cups because who can resist a good classic chocolate and peanut butter combo? And is it just me or does candy taste better wrapped in red and green? Promising reviews: "Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the best, of course. I was hesitant to order them online because I live in Florida and was afraid they'd be a gloopy mess by the time I got them. They are shipped with cold packs though — and they work! I've gotten two shipments of them and both arrived in perfect condition. Will purchase again." — D. Green "Perfect for Christmas stockings! The size of the candies are perfect. In a family with four kids in the house, one bag was the perfect amount needed for each stocking. " — Caroline S. Get it from Amazon for $4.48+ (available in two sizes). 13. Or a bag of cherry-flavored reindeer farts cotton candy they're sure to get a kick out of. Who knew that reindeer had cherry-flavored gas? Super Christmas-y *and* super yummy. Promising reviews: "This was the perfect 'topper' for my 9-year-old's stocking stuffer. The packaging is perfect and he loved the joke. He hasn't eaten it yet so no news on the taste. They even sent a sweet email letting us know that they are a family-owned business and making sure we were satisfied with the product! This may be a regular purchase for us !" — D. Powers "I bought these for my nephews to put in their stockings and they both laughed until they made themselves sick. They also enjoyed the cotton candy inside." — Phil Skaggs Get it from Amazon for $9.95 . 14. ORRR a bag of holiday Nerds clusters because, uh, yum. If they love Nerds ropes, they'll love these mini clusters, and won't be able to put 'em down! Promising reviews: "These are so good! I purchased these to put in my son’s Christmas stocking. These are one of his favorite candy and this little bag is the right size for a child. " — Joel " My family loves these and they are in Christmas colors, so it's absolutely perfect for stocking stuffers!!!" — Rachel Cherry Get them from Amazon for $1.98 . 15. A pack of Crayola Globbles that seem like they'd be a nightmare, but I swear they aren't. They'll keep kids entertained, and honestly, parents may wanna have a turn playing with these babies, too. They can be squished, stacked, and slung onto the walls. Sticky residue? We don't know her, cuz these bad boys leave NONE behind. Their sticky powers are restored by washing them with soap and water. Promising review: "They were the perfect stocking stuffer! My kids played with them for days and whenever they have friends come over, it’s one of the first things they play with them too . If they get dirty, just rinse with water and the sticky returns." — RH Get a set of 16 from Amazon for $19.59 . 16. A set of eight temporary tattoo markers for your kid who draws all over themself anyways. They'll love covering themselves with their own artwork and will probably be *tatting* up the whole fam. Promising review: "This was more of a stocking stuffer and I wasn't sure my kid would like it, then, her arms were covered with her own artwork! She listed these as one of her favorite gifts this year, so big win! I would buy them again!!" — Jenn M Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $22.49 . 17. A Christmas Mad Libs book that'll have your kiddo cracking up at the silly stories they create. It'll surely be a fave. They may even stall on opening all their gifts because they'll wanna do it right when they open it. Promising reviews: "Perfect stocking stuffer that my whole family enjoyed, especially my 8- and 5-year-old." — George " Got these as stocking stuffers for Christmas and they were a big hit. Great to fill out as a group and be in stitches." — D Get it from Amazon for $5.99 . 18. A pack of 28 Christmas-themed squishy mochi toys , which are suuuuper popular with all the kiddies right now. What do they do with 'em? No idea, but they stick to stuff, they're cute, and kids love 'em. Promising review: "These little squishies are so stinkin' cute and perfect for my students!! Comes very nicely packaged with a re-usable gift box and each squishy is individually packed!! Very nice quality, perfect stocking stuffers!" — Rayanna Davis Get a 28-pack from Amazon for $6.99 . 19. A s'mores ChapStick collection because seeing your kiddo's little chapped lips every winter makes your heart ache. This stuff will have them constantly applying because of how freakin' delish they smell. Each set comes with three flavors: Milk Chocolate, Marshmallow, and Graham Cracker. Promising reviews: "My mom and I are ChapStick fans, so I bought us each a pack of these. The marshmallow is clear, the chocolate is brown, and the graham cracker is tan. The color isn’t too extreme, but it will leave a little bit of tint on your lips. The flavors are DELICIOUS . Graham cracker reminds me of Golden Grahams cereal and chocolate is just perfect. I love the marshmallow best because it tastes slightly toasted." — Elle Ardee "Got these as a gift for my teenager and they loved the scent. Perfect stocking stuffer. Highly recommend!" — Double H Get it from Amazon for $4.99 . 20. A pair of suuuuuper cool BPA-free, reusable glowing chopsticks for your Star Wars lovin' little one. May the yummy food be with them. Promising review: "I purchased two pairs of these as stocking stuffers for my kids. They were instantly a big hit. They truly look like little lightsabers. It’s been four months since the kids got them as gifts and they are still using them and are just as excited. We initially had a small issue with one of the chopsticks/lightsabers but customer service was so outstanding that they sent a replacement ASAP. Highly recommend." — Amazon Customer "These were a perfect stocking stuffer. They are really cute. My boys will happily use them as toys instead of chopsticks." — Christy Get them from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in multipacks and in eight colors). 21. A farting poop pen because nothing, and I mean NOTHING is funnier to your little one than farts and poop. It makes seven funny fart sounds that'll have your kid in a fit of giggles on the floor. Promising reviews: "Perfect stocking stuffer for my 8-year-old!" — Avid Reader "I got this pen for a 7-year-old along with some other gifts. Of all the things he received, he loved this pen this most . He thought it was hilarious. He literally carried it with him everywhere in the house . It works fantastic right out of the package and it makes a variety of sounds. The plastic is a good quality, it feels sturdy, and looks good — exactly like the picture." — Shawkins Get it from Amazon for $14.95+ (available in seven styles). 22. A set of eight hot chocolate sticks in some irresistible flavors. I mean, french truffle, peanut butter cup, peppermint, and salted caramel — my mouth is watering. Christmas morning hot cocoa, anyone? Promising review: "I bought this as a gift for my nephew, but had to try it before I sent it to him. It is absolutely delicious — decadent, creamy, rich and easy to make! There are many flavors to choose from, so there are plenty of opportunities to share this delicious beverage! It makes a perfect stocking stuffer or a 'just because' gift. Yummy!" — DrSam Get a set of eight from Uncommon Goods for $40 . 23. A set of three Christmas-themed pop-it fidgets that will for sure be the star of the show. Fidgets are all the rage amongst the kiddies, so throw these in their stocking and watch their little face light up. Promising reviews: "Our toddler loves to play with these. It was the perfect addition to their stocking this year!" — Connor "This was a gift for a pre-teen girl and she was over the moon with them. Of course it is seasonal, but a welcome addition to her collection." — Steven Get a set of three from Amazon for $17.99 . 24. A set of 12 flower claw clips for some sssss'cute '90s-style hairstyles. Thank goodness claw clips are back in style. Promising review: "These flower hair clips are perfect to add to an outfit for a pop of color or something different than your standard claw clip. My hair is semi-thick and it holds my hair really well and they seem to be durable, too . I would definitely buy these again and they would be perfect as a gift or stocking stuffers. 10/10." — Neil Eubank "Coming from a mom of two teens who have extremely thick hair, these are great!! Good support and grip ! So cute!!" — Alicia Trodahl Get them from Amazon for $9.99 (available in three color sets). 25. A Baby Yoda Bluetooth speaker so they can listen to their fave bops in the cutest way possible. It also comes with a strap they can attach to their backpack so go with them everywhere he can. Promising review: "Holy cow! I was not expecting this tiny golf ball Yoda to be so loud! It's louder than my echo. They are not kidding by calling them Bitty BOOMERS. Wow is all I can say. Pleasantly and ecstatically surprised. Perfect stocking stuffer for anyone and everyone. I'm buying more. So many more." — Jessica Get it from Amazon for $17.99 . 26. A holiday version of the beloved Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza game, Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman . This game is simple and silly enough to keep everyone, any age, laughing and having a great time. Perfect if they are TCGCP obsessed and, even if they aren't, this game is sooo popular, they'll love it after a few intense, belly laugh rounds. To play, pass out all of the cards to players and have everyone keep their pile face down. Everyone takes turns putting a card in the middle while saying "Santa," "cookie," "elf," "candy," and "snowman," in that order. If the picture on the card that's placed down matched the word that's been said, everyone races to slap the center pile of cards, and whoever slaps the pile last has to add the center pile to their personal pile. Oh! And there are also three wildcards with matching motions. Whoever does the motion last picks up the center pile. Whoever runs out of cards first wins! You can play with three to eight players, and the *recommended* age is 8 and up. Annnnd you could even grab the original, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza for even more fun. Promising reviews: "We love games and this one is so much fun! Easy instructions and fast paced! All ages enjoyed this game and it’s a great stocking stuffer! The holiday theme is perfect! Would definitely gift this to any family for the holidays, though we are sure to play it year round !" — Kriston "If your family likes the card game, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, they’ll love this Christmas version. Perfect stocking stuffer." — Scott Ruggles Get it from Amazon for $9.99 . 27. A so fun Taco Vs. Burrito game that was actually made by a 7-year-old! Sure to be a family game night fave, as you all sabotage each other so you can come out on top with the best yummy meal. So, to play, deal each player five cards, add ingredients, and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins. But watch out for action cards like "Tummy Ache," "Food Fight," or the dreaded "Health Inspector" that'll force you to throw all your food in the trash. Promising reviews: " Perfect for stocking stuffers!" — Larry Hultquist "This game was so fun!! It was so quick to learn . My daughter and I played it for two hours straight! We laughed and had so much fun! I even bought the expansion pack ." — Kim Get it from Amazon for $19.99 . 28. A tortilla blanket because, I mean, who hasn't wondered what it's like to be a burrito? Once they see this gift, it'll be a *wrap* for all the others. Promising reviews: "Teenager loved it (15-year-old boy)! Gave as a Christmas 'stocking' gift. Super soft, lightweight, and HUGE! About the size of a full-sized bed!! Worth the $." — Jason McGowan "Getting ready for the holidays and this makes the perfect stocking stuffer. Super soft and lightweight . Plus, freaking cute!" — Sarah Bausch Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in six styles and four sizes). 29. A Baby Einstein toy with 10 melodies for baby to choose from. I know what you're thinking, baby toys with music = headache for parents buuuuttttt the volume control on this thing will be music to your ears. Recommended for ages 3 months and up. Promising reviews: " My almost-not-newborn hates car rides but this magical toy delays her screaming by 15 minutes, which often buys us enough time to get to our destination without a meltdown. Someone has to sit in the back seat with her to keep pressing the play button, but soon she’ll have that figured out. We use it at home when she’s getting fussy or needs a distraction, too. The music is much better quality than many children’s toys . I was skeptical when I read all these amazing reviews but for $10 figured, why not try it? So glad I did!" — KSong "Love this little toy. The tunes are adorable and not annoying. There's an on/off switch and low and high volume buttons. Perfect size for tiny, curious hands. Safe for the curious little mouth. Perfect stocking stuffer." — darcyhernandez100 Get it from Amazon for $8.88 . Your kid opening their stocking and seeing their new screaming goat: The reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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The low utilization rate, delayed procurement, and omissions committed by the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2023 have significantly contributed to a whopping P12 billion reduction in its budget for next year, administration lawmakers said Monday. Under the approved bicameral report for the P6.352 trillion expenditure for fiscal year 2025, the DepEd’s budget saw a nearly P12 billion cut, P10 billion of which was intended for the agency's computerization program. Initially, DepEd was allotted P748.6 billion before it was trimmed down to P737 billion by the bicam panel, sparking public backlash for its potential unconstitutionality. Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun asserted that the education sector remains a top government priority but deficiencies in budget utilization during Vice President Sara Duterte’s stint as DepEd secretary were observed. This includes the computerization program, in which a large number of laptops went undelivered. “We financed that during the time that Vice President Sara Duterte was still the Department of Education secretary [but] what happened was many laptops that are still in the warehouses that have actually not yet been delivered,” Khonghun told reporters. “So, they need to explain first what are the programs, and how will they use the money given to them by our government. Because we could not just give them [money] without accounting for how they used the funds,” he added. During the budget deliberations in September, the DepEd confirmed that there are 12,022 laptops for teaching personnel and 7,558 laptops for non-teaching staff were still undelivered by year-end 2023. The delay in the delivery of the computers and laptops, which amounted to P9.17 billion, persists despite the current student-to-computer ratio being 9:1 and the teacher-to-computer ratio being 30:1. Meanwhile, Tingog Rep. Jude Acidre contended that inefficiencies in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in delivering infrastructure projects should not be grounds to deny the agency its much-needed allocation increase of P1.113 trillion. “It's not the delivery of computers that has delayed DPWH projects. It often has something to do with climate, natural disasters,” Acidre said in the same briefing. “We [have to] remember that the size of the infrastructure will always be the size of [our] economic growth,” he added. With the significant budget cut of DepEd, Khonghun the agency must first improve its utilization rate before they implement any budget adjustments. Based on findings from the Commission on Audit that have yet to be made public, DepEd during Duterte’s tenure disbursed only 2.75 billion of P11.36 billion allocated for information and communication technology in 2023. “During the past administration, DepEd was notorious for delayed procurement and its failure to uphold transparency and accountability,” Khonghun said. “So, the Department of Education should really prove now that it has changed and that it has improved the responsibility of spending of our government funds,” he averred,” the lawmaker concluded. Nevertheless, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has pledged to restore the budget slashed from the DepEd following public uproar. “So, we're working on it to make sure that we will restore it. I do not want to line item veto anything because that just gets in the way. So we're still talking about it and trying to find a way,” the President committed.Trump appoints ‘AI and crypto czar’This Chipmaker’s Crisis! Nvidia Faces Unexpected Setback