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However, for those who need last-minute items or essential services, understanding what’s open and closed can be crucial. Here’s an overview of Christmas Day 2024, covering everything from federal holidays to store hours and garbage pickups.

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher once disclosed that they don't give their two kids any Christmas gifts. In light of Sean Diddy Combs' ongoing scandal, the Hollywood couple may soon renew their vows and even relocate to Europe. They have a 10-year-old daughter named Wyatt Isabelle and an 8-year-old son named Dimitri Portwood, as quoted in a report by The Express US. The celebrities believe their children don't need extravagant presents, or presents at all, apparently, despite having an estimated $275 million in combined wealth.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Eight years ago China lost a legal battle over its fantastical territorial claims in the South China Sea. An international tribunal ruled they had no basis.

The Federal Reserve lowered its interest rate target three times in 2024.

2024 has been a landmark year for the yellow metal, with Comex gold soaring over 40% from its yearly lows while MCX gold mirroring this trend and climbing by more than 25% year-to-date, driven by strong physical demand, Kaynat Chainwala, AVP-Commodity Research at Kotak Securities. While President-elect Donald Trump's tariff and tax cut policies remain a challenge, gold's role as a hedge against inflation, political instability, and economic uncertainty positions it well for the coming year, she adds. Edited excerpts:

Seth Meyers, host of NBC's ‘Late Night,’ took aim at the dynamic between Elon Musk and Donald Trump during his Thursday segment, ‘A Closer Look.’ The American comedian has said that US President-elect's friendship with the Tesla CEO is destined for failure. Meyers didn’t really believe in the duration of their relationship; he was certain that there was no way the relationship could last long before it would burst at the seam. “It’s just a question of how and when,” he remarked. ALSO READ: Elon Musk challenges government with a cryptic post after US House passes urgent funding bill to avert shutdown

Tom Holland says he is excited to work with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan for his next movie but doesn't know anything about the project. Nolan has lined-up a star-studded cast, including Matt Damon, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o and Charlize Theron, for the project, which is his follow-up multiple Oscar-winning movie «Oppenheimer». The untitled project will mark the maiden collaboration between Nolan and Holland, known for starring as superhero Spider-Man in multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films. «It hasn't started shooting, to be perfectly honest with you. I don't know anything about it,» the actor said on the Dish podcast.

Jennifer Lopez were among the most prominent Hollywood couples in the late 90s. The couple hogged the limelight with their glamorous appearances, high-profile romance, emotional ups and downs, controversies and ultimately legal issues. Ever since the controversial rapper has been arrested in alleged sex racketeering and trafficking case, Jennifer Lopez has remained largely tight-lipped about the ongoing controversiessurrounding her ex-boyfriend. She has noticeably distanced herself from allegations surrounding Sean 'Diddy' Combs as tabloids continue churning out a flurry of reports about her divorce. Her personal life has been under scrutiny due to reports about her split from Ben Affleck. While the breakup appears to have been a deeply emotional experience, it has reportedly provided her a temporary escape from the storm of allegations linked to Diddy.

Spot gold, reeling under the huge downside pressure due to lack of China’s stimulus details, strong US data and the Fed’s hawkish shift in its monetary policy announced on Wednesday fell below $2600, though it recovered some of its losses in the last two trading days of the week. The metal closed with a gain of 1.13% at $2624 on Friday. However, it was still down nearly 1% on the week. It traded in the range of $2583-$2693 in the week.

Motilal Oswal Financial Services, which sees consolidation in the first six months while a recovery in the next. The brokerage remains upbeat on the prospects of these 10 stocks viz. ICICI Bank, HCL Technologies, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Zomato, Nippon Life India Asset Management, Mankind Pharma, Lemon Tree, Polycab, Macrotech Developers, Syrma SGS — calling them as top bets of next year. “The year 2025 could unfold as a tale of two halves. The first half may continue to see market consolidation, while a recovery could take place in the second half. Indian markets are likely to face significant influences from a combination of global and domestic economic events. The anticipated rate cut by the RBI in February 2025, the ongoing trend of US rate cuts, and the expectations surrounding trade policy changes post Donald Trump taking over as US President in Jan’25 will contribute to market volatility.

Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced an Ambedkar scholarship for free foreign education of the city's Dalit students. Kejriwal said the Dr Ambedkar Samman Scholarship was a response to the BJP's «insult» of Ambedkar. Union Home Minister Amit Shah «insulted and made fun of Babasaheb Dr Ambedkar in Parliament. Crores of people who love Ambedkar were deeply pained,» the former Delhi chief minister said at the AAP headquarters. Ambedkar had said education was the way forward and secured a PhD from the US against all odds, Kejriwal told reporters.

Christmas is only a few days away and many Americans wait for a white Christmas, but few will end up walking in the snow. The weather is predicted to be warm and above average across the continental US for Christmas week of 2024. This is likely to result in precipitation that falls as rain, not snow, for many parts of the country, as per the CBS news weather report.

M1A2T Abrams tanks from the United States, marking the first US tank delivery to the island in 23 years, Radio Free Asia reported. According to Radio Free Asia, this shipment is part of a larger order of 122 tanks expected over the next two years. While the M1A2T is regarded as one of the most advanced main battle tanks globally, some experts have raised concerns about its suitability for Taiwan's mountainous terrain and dense urban areas. However, the tanks are seen as a major boost to Taiwan's defence capabilities, especially considering the ongoing tension with China. The M1A2T Abrams, an advanced version of the M1 Abrams produced by General Dynamics, is equipped with a 120mm smoothbore gun capable of penetrating armour up to 850mm thick. Its formidable firepower, enhanced armour, and speed make it a powerful asset for Taiwan's military.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. MI6 had a secret so sensitive that Slovenia’s spy chief needed to fly to London to hear it in person. Somewhere in his tiny Alpine nation, a pair of elite Russian spies were hiding under deep cover.

Stacy Herbert, El Salvador's national bitcoin office director, wrote on X that bitcoin would remain legal tender in the Central American country, and that the government would keep adding to its strategic reserves.

2024 is about to conclude, cryptocurrency investors are celebrating significant gains, with Bitcoin outperforming traditional investments like stocks, bonds, and gold, just as it did in 2023. Bitcoin was the best-performing investment of 2024, rising by 140% in just 12 months. Starting the year at around $42,000-$43,000, it skyrocketed to a record $1,08,000 by December. This return far surpassed the Nifty50 index, which gained about 10%, and gold, which rose by over 20%.

White House said, while the State Department approved the potential sale to the island of $265 million worth of military equipment. The United States is bound by law to provide Chinese-claimed Taiwan with the means to defend itself despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei, to the constant anger of Beijing. Democratically governed Taiwan rejects China's claims of sovereignty.

Israeli spyware maker Paragon to Florida-based AE Industrial Partners. On Monday, a person familiar with the deal confirmed its broad outlines to Reuters. Israeli media outlets, without citing sources, said the deal had secured the approval of American and Israeli officials.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Europe and the U.S. are trying to navigate an awkward choice in Syria: work with Islamists long designated as terrorists in the West or risk ceding influence to the countries that will.

The proposal is much narrower than the government's push to make Google sell its Chrome browser, which Google called a drastic attempt to intervene in the search market. Google urged U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington to move cautiously in deciding what the company must do to restore competition, after his ruling that the company holds an illegal monopoly in online search and related advertising. Courts have cautioned against imposing antitrust remedies that chill innovation, Google said in court papers.