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In the midst of this crisis, interim measures have been put in place to ensure the smooth functioning of the government. The prime minister has been appointed as acting president, and a new election is set to be held within the next few months to elect a new leader.Americans are heading into the first holiday season in years where buying less may be the first thing on their minds. And this year, gift lists may exclude one important person: you. Stacker dug into Deloitte's 2024 holiday retail survey to explore the psychology behind Americans' reluctance to self-gift this year. In the modern era, holiday gifting includes a practice that may seem rooted in consumerism—giving ourselves gifts. However, "self-gifting," psychologists say, carries its own importance. It's one consumers intend to cut back on or eliminate entirely this holiday shopping season, according to Deloitte's 2024 holiday retail survey of over 4,000 U.S. consumers. We've all done it. With hard-to-resist Black Friday deals and hypertargeted advertising, it can be difficult to resist shopping for yourself when doing so for others. Meanwhile, the cost of goods and services has risen faster than usual every year since 2021, when post-COVID-19 pandemic inflation took root in the U.S. economy and altered how we consume. Even so, Americans expect to spend more on gifts this holiday than in the previous five years. Deloitte found that the average person anticipates spending $1,778 this year, a 19% increase from 2019, when the average expected spend was $1,496. Baked into that figure are consumers' expectations of higher prices this season, according to Deloitte. In response, some Americans are signaling they may do less for themselves. About 1 in 3 consumers intend to self-gift this year, down from almost half of all consumers last year, Deloitte found. At least 2 in 5 (43%) won't spend on themselves at all, up from 25% last year. Today, the appeal of giving gifts around winter holidays is nearly universal. The holidays have long been an occasion to show our love for others in the exchange of gifts. Though giving gifts may have emerged from the biblical story of the three wise men, Christmas celebrations were among the first to lean into a commercialized version of the winter holidays. Other religious traditions like the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah have evolved to include gifting as a part of its observance over the winter holiday. Even workplace culture has adopted gifting as a way to foster connections and lift moods with traditions like Secret Santa. This holiday season, though, our modern treat-yourself-culture could be on pause for many Americans. You may also like: Gen X, millennials pay more for their mortgages Dr. Steve Westberg, a professor of marketing and consumer psychology at the University of Southern California, suggests that the uptick in surveyed adults who say they hope to scale back self-gifting this year may be due to consumer pessimism and financial concern. Faced with more limited options during the pandemic years, Americans bestowed themselves with material goods—some out of practical necessity, others not. Over the 2020 and 2021 holiday seasons, Americans hunkered down at home to avoid catching or spreading the latest COVID-19 variant. They bought lots of furniture, electronics, and other items in lieu of spending on travel, outings, and live events. In 2022 and 2023, consumers embarked on so-called " revenge travel " to catch up on international and domestic trips. They attended the live music and sporting events they had missed out on. Today, there are signs that all of that spending is beginning to cause stress for the typical American consumer as prices remain painfully high . Americans' total amount of credit card debt is at an all-time high, and default rates for vehicle loans and credit cards are rising. In almost every major poll leading up to the 2024 presidential election, the economy and inflation were consistently the top issues driving voters to the polls. However, as consumers pull back, there's evidence that self-gifting can positively impact personal well-being . Dr. Jacqueline Rifkin, an assistant marketing and management communications professor at Cornell University, describes the practice as a way to self-regulate emotions. Self-gifting can express positive emotions in a way we may recognize as a celebration. "You just got a promotion, or you won some big award, you're feeling good, and you want to extend or amplify those good feelings. You can use self-gifting to achieve that," Rifkin told Stacker. Self-gifting can also be a way to deal with negative emotions. Rifkin published research in the Journal of Consumer Research on self-gifting, which revealed that people were least likely to gift things to themselves when under stress or feeling constrained—even though self-gifting can help us regulate during stressful moments. "If you're going through a rough time ... you can use self-gifting to pick yourself back up. One of the colloquial ways we think about this is 'retail therapy,'" Rifkin said. Can self-gifting and retail therapy veer into wasteful self-indulgence? Potentially, according to Westberg, who says the reasons we self-gift are similar to those that drive compulsive shopping habits. The act generates a positive emotional response. There's an important distinction, however, that experts draw between the two. Westberg and Rifkin agree that self-gifting stands out from other forms of shopping in that it incorporates intentionality. "You could define self-gifting as being a little more thoughtful in your choice," Westberg explained. Consumer advocates suggest that shoppers looking to cut back on spending create guardrails to help them shop more intentionally. Removing credit card information from our web browser's autofill function or delaying the impulse to "buy now" and creating a wish list instead can elongate the purchase process. Putting space between the initial urge to buy and the purchase can be revealing, too: It clarifies what's really meaningful and worthy enough to justify buying. For others, like Westberg, shopping satisfaction is derived from researching items to self-gift in the future. Westberg's initial inclination when it comes to self-gifting, like many of us, is to reward himself with some kind of "big ticket" item. "On the other hand, I don't know that I'll ever actually do that because once I have it, the anticipation aspect is going to go away," Westberg said. "So while I do think about self-gifting myself a car ... I get a lot of enjoyment [from] doing the research. ... [It's] the thoughtfulness that I can put into it rather than having the physical thing." According to Rifkin, our reluctance to give ourselves gifts isn't always born of financial constraints but also a belief that giving ourselves something won't actually make us feel better, even though it can. She advises consumers to remember that gifts can take on different forms this holiday season, and many of them don't cost a thing. "It's this intentional behavior that we engage in. It's something you do, you do it on purpose, and you do it for yourself," Rifkin said. "Could it be going for a walk around the block? Absolutely. Could it be dusting off a book that you hadn't read in a while and spending an hour reading it? Yes." Story editing by Alizah Salario. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Kristen Wegrzyn.mnl168 jili 。

Following his departure from Manchester United, Mark Ashton-Williams is being touted as a potential candidate for the role of Sporting Director at Arsenal, according to sources close to the club. The former Manchester United executive, who played a key role in the club's commercial and sponsorship deals, is rumored to be high on Arsenal's list of targets as they seek to revamp their sporting structure.In conclusion, Three Heroes Aurora's decision to invest idle funds in medium-to-low risk financial products is a strategic move aimed at optimizing its resources and ensuring long-term financial sustainability. By prioritizing capital preservation, stability, and prudent risk management, the company sets a solid foundation for continued growth and success. Through careful selection of investment options and a disciplined approach to portfolio management, Three Heroes Aurora remains poised to navigate the complexities of the financial market with confidence and resilience.

NoneNEW YORK (AP) — New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was a unanimous pick to win his second American League Most Valuable Player Award in three seasons on Thursday, easily outdistancing Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Shohei Ohtani was expected to win the National League honor later Thursday, his third MVP and first in the NL. Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average, hitting 32 homers with 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs. When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in 2022 voting . He didn’t pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery and signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title , playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder . Ohtani would become the first primary DH to win an MVP. He would join Frank Robinson for Cincinnati in 1961 and Baltimore in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. Ohtani would become the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each). New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte also were among the top three finishers in the NL. Lindor batted .273 with 33 homers, 91 RBIs and 29 steals, while Marte hit .292 with 36 homers and 95 RBIs. Balloting was conducted before the postseason. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

As for Doug Cockle, the voice actor who brought Geralt to life with his iconic growl and stoic demeanor, it seems that he will have to keep his lips sealed when it comes to discussing any potential sequels or spin-offs. However, one thing is for certain: fans of The Witcher will be eagerly anticipating any news or updates from CD Projekt Red regarding the future of the beloved series. Until then, we can only speculate and dream of the adventures that await us in the world of The Witcher.

EXCLUSIVE Controversial proposal for Elon Musk's DOGE that would save billions for Americans picks up steam DOGE scores support from another top Democrat CLICK HERE: Sign up for DailyMail.com's daily U.S. politics newsletter By JON MICHAEL RAASCH, POLITICAL REPORTER ON CAPITOL HILL, FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 21:17 GMT, 10 December 2024 | Updated: 21:37 GMT, 10 December 2024 e-mail 114 View comments One of the most controversial proposals from Elon Musk 's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is gaining support as he and lawmakers look to cut costs. President-elect Donald Trump has tapped the Tesla CEO and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to cut trillions of dollars in federal spending as the U.S. national debt continues to balloon to staggering new highs inflated by runaway expenditures over the few last decades. As it stands, that debt totals $36.2 trillion dollars, but Musk estimates that DOGE could cut 'at least $2 trillion' from the current White House 's $6.5 trillion budget in the near term. The next natural questions is where should these cuts will come from. Musk and Ramaswamy are reportedly considering stripping all taxpayer-funded foreign aid , which would send shock waves internationally. The United States spent an estimated $70 billion in foreign aid in fiscal year 2022 to help economic development and humanitarian causes and other interests. And America has allotted a whopping $175 billion total in foreign aid to Ukraine alone since the outbreak of its war with Russia in 2022. But the spigots spewing U.S. taxpayer dollars abroad may soon be turned off. South Carolina Republican Rep. Ralph Norman told DailyMail.com DOGE 'absolutely' should target foreign aid, though he admitted slashing funding to Israel is off the table. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., similarly told DailyMail.com that 'foreign aid for every country except Israel' should be cut. Elon Musk met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill last week to speak about DOGE initiatives Former Texas Rep. Ron Paul asked to help DOGE with its cost cutting efforts, Musk agreed that he could help advise the team A search and rescue operation is underway after a Russian missile strike, Zaporizhzhia, southeastern Ukraine on December 10, 2024. Paul and Musk have both called for eliminating foreign aid to countries like Ukraine and elsewhere to help achieve DOGE's cost saving goals 'Here’s an easy one for @DOGE !' three-time presidential candidate and former lawmaker Ron Paul posted on X recently. 'Eliminate foreign aid!' 'It’s taking money from the poor and middle class in the US and giving it to the rich in poor countries - with a cut to the facilitators in between! Americans don’t want their government to borrow more money to spend on foreign aid,' the post continued. 'Besides, it is the immoral transfer of wealth and is unconstitutional.' Musk has posted about the libertarian: 'Would be great to have Ron Paul as part of the Department of Government Efficiency!' Democrats, however, bristle at DOGE's sweeping mandate, and the thought of unraveling expenditures approved by Congress. 'Well, I think $2 trillion is an unrealistic figure,' Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told DailyMail.com of DOGE's objective. At 85-years-old Hoyer is one of the longest serving congressmen first joined the House in 1981. During that year the national debt sat at $988 billion, a modest number compared to today's jaw-dropping $36 trillion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) posing for a picture with servicemen holding a Ukrainian flag. The U.S. has sent nearly $200 billion dollars to the country in recent years President Joe Biden has repeatedly urged Congress to pass additional funding for Ukraine. He is reportedly planning on pushing for an additional $1 billion to the country soon The veteran Maryland Democrat was not optimistic that the Musk-led initiative would create meaningful cuts, and he seemed opposed to lessening the scope of government. Hoyer said he would urge DOGE only to cut things 'that can be affected without adversely affecting the services that people need and that the Congress has voted for.' But most lawmakers were keen on other ways to whittle down waste too. 'So the whole key to me is pick the low hanging fruit, the DEI things comes to mind, transgender surgeries, all that kind of things,' Norman floated as quick DOGE targets. 'The Farm Bill's SNAP, look at the waste that's going there,' he added about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as food stamps. The food subsidy program costed the U.S. roughly $115 billion in 2023, per federal data. 'Every government agency has created new grant programs,' Comer said. 'We've got all this money and energy spending on solar and wind and energy initiatives in the green New Deal that people don't think are working out.' 'We spent all this money to run broadband, yet nobody's hooked on to the broadband,' he added. 'The list goes on and on and on of money that has just been absolutely wasted, all this money spent on charging stations, and yet no charging stations were built.' He said funding could be taken from agency's whose usefulness has also been diminished over time, like the United States Postal Service. Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., a physician, suggested that DOGE look into cutting Medicare and Medicaid fraud, which he says would cut hundreds of billions of dollars in government spending over the next 10 years. The U.S. has recently approved Ukraine to use its advanced HIMARS weapons system to attack deep in Russian territory Republicans were against slashing foreign aid funding for Israel despite being open to cutting the funding for Ukraine and other nations Medicaid fraud $413 billion in the next 10 years,' he said, arguing that reforms in this sector would make far more meaningful spending cuts than suspending foreign aid payments. 'At least with foreign investment you don't end up isolationist,' he told DailyMail.com. 'Every isolationist country in history has gone the way of the dodo,' he said referring to the extinct bird. The Republican claimed that adding income verification for the federal health programs would immediately cut cost. 'If you want to talk about waste, fraud and abuse on the way we do claims ... we spent 25 percent of every dollar spent on health care, actually it's more than that now, on administrative costs.' 'We can modify this without a lot of pain,' he said with a smile. Politics Elon Musk Israel Share or comment on this article: Controversial proposal for Elon Musk's DOGE that would save billions for Americans picks up steam e-mail Add commentDiplomatic sources on Fidan’s remarks: “The Treaty of Lausanne is clear; It refers to a Muslim minority”

As the number of applications for the automobile trade-in subsidy program continues to rise, it is clear that the initiative has been successful in achieving its goals. The positive response from car owners, the economic benefits for the automotive industry, and the environmental impact all demonstrate the effectiveness of the program. Moving forward, it will be important to build on this success and further promote the transition to cleaner vehicles.

AP News Summary at 5:00 p.m. EST

One key consideration for Three Heroes Aurora in selecting medium-to-low risk financial products is the need to safeguard their capital. While higher risk investments may offer the allure of greater returns, they also come with increased volatility and potential for losses. By allocating funds to more stable investment options, such as government bonds, high-grade corporate bonds, or diversified low-risk mutual funds, Three Heroes Aurora can protect its capital base while earning a reasonable rate of return.Apple’s investment in the UK over the last five years has now surpassed £18 billion, with the technology giant’s engineering teams in the country doubling in that time, the iPhone maker has said. The US tech giant said it now supported 550,000 jobs in the UK through direct employment, its supply chain and the economy around its App Store – with app developers having earned nearly £9 billion since it launched in 2008. Apple said its engineering teams were carrying out critical work on the firm’s biggest services, including key technology within Apple Intelligence, the iPhone maker’s suite of generative AI-powered tools which are expected to launch in the UK for the first time this week. Elsewhere, the firm said its growing TV empire, spearheaded by its Apple TV+ streaming service and production arm, had also helped boost its investment in the UK with Apple TV+ production in this country tripling in the last two years, the company said. Chief executive Tim Cook said: “We’ve been serving customers in the UK for more than 40 years, and we’re proud of our deep connection with communities across this country. “We’re thrilled to be growing our Apple teams here, and to keep supporting the extraordinary innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs who are pushing the boundaries of technology in so many ways.” The Chancellor Rachel Reeves said companies such as Apple were “intrinsic” to the UK’s prosperity by boosting jobs. “This government is laser focused on creating the right conditions for growth to help put more money in people’s pockets. “That’s what underpins the Plan for Change and is what has driven £63 billion worth of inward investment in the UK through our first international investment summit. “Companies like Apple are intrinsic to the success of our nation’s prosperity – helping deliver jobs, innovative technology, and boost infrastructure.”