Pentagon Reaches Historic Settlement with LGBTQ+ Veterans Over 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy

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The Pentagon has agreed to a historic settlement with more than 35,000 LGBTQ+ veterans who were discharged under the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy. The settlement will allow these veterans to easily update their paperwork to remove mention of their sexuality, and for some, to upgrade their discharge status. This move is a long-overdue step towards recognizing the honorable service of these veterans, who were denied benefits and faced discrimination due to their sexual orientation.

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Apple Settles Siri Privacy Lawsuit for $95 Million: What You Need to Know

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Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit that accused the company of using Siri to eavesdrop on customers. The lawsuit claimed that Apple activated Siri on iPhones and other devices to record conversations without the users' knowledge or consent. The proposed settlement also covers consumers who owned Siri-equipped devices from September 2014 through the end of last year. If approved, eligible consumers can file claims for up to $20 per device, but the payment could be reduced or increased depending on the volume of claims. Attorneys who filed the lawsuit may seek up to $29.6 million from the settlement fund to cover their fees and expenses.

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Homelessness in the US Surges to 18.1%, Affecting Over 770,000 People

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Homelessness in the US has reached an 18.1% increase, with over 770,000 people affected. The rise is mostly due to a lack of affordable housing, natural disasters, and a surge of migrants. Family homelessness has seen a nearly 40% rise, with more than 150,000 children experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2024. However, homelessness among veterans continues to trend downwards.

ABC News and George Stephanopoulos Apologize, Pay Trump $16 Million in Defamation Settlement

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Donald Trump Has Won $16 Million in a Defamation Settlement Against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos
ABC News and top anchor George Stephanopoulos have agreed to pay Donald Trump $16 million in a defamation settlement.*
The settlement comes after Trump sued the network and Stephanopoulos for falsely claiming that he was 'found liable for rape' during a contentious interview with Rep. Nancy Mace.*
As part of the agreement, Stephanopoulos and ABC will issue statements of 'regret' for their comments and pay $15 million to a 'Presidential foundation and museum' in Trump's name, as well as $1 million in Trump's attorney fees.*
The settlement marks another legal victory for Trump, who is also suing CBS News for $10 billion in damages.*

Unidentified Drone Sightings in New Jersey: What's the Latest?

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What's Going On?
There's been a bunch of mysterious drones flying around New Jersey lately. But don't panic just yet! The Pentagon says there's no evidence of a foreign threat. Phew!

Who's Looking Into It?
The National Security Council, Department of Homeland Security, and FBI are all on the case, trying to figure out where these drones are coming from.

What Do We Know?

  • Many sightings turned out to be lawful manned aircraft.
  • The investigation is ongoing.

Stay Tuned!
We'll keep you updated as more info comes in. Don't forget to enable browser notifications for breaking news!

Mysterious Drones Over New Jersey: The Latest Update

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Who's behind the mysterious drones over New Jersey?** The Pentagon says it has no evidence of foreign involvement or U.S. military drones. Despite over 3,000 sightings, the FBI hasn't identified the culprits yet. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration had banned drone flights in parts of New Jersey, but the drones kept coming. Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon press secretary, assured that the drones were not coming from a foreign entity or adversary. Rep. Jefferson Van Drew's (R-NJ) theory of an Iranian 'mothership' launching drones towards the U.S. was also dismissed. Theories about what the drones are have ranged from secret military programs to UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena). The investigation is ongoing, and some reported sightings could be drones or 'small airplanes.'

Trump's Defense Pick Hegseth Faces Misconduct Allegations

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Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Defense, is under scrutiny due to allegations of financial and sexual misconduct during his time at two veterans groups. A former staffer described Hegseth as frequently drunk and creating a hostile work environment for female staffers. Allegations also include spending non-profit funds on personal expenses, running one organization into the ground, and a confidential settlement paid in a sexual assault investigation. Hegseth needs Senate confirmation to take up the position.

Lufthansa Fined $4 Million for Refusing Jewish Passengers

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Big Trouble for Lufthansa!** The German airline was slammed with a record $4 million fine by the US government after refusing to let 128 Jewish passengers board a flight in 2022. The passengers were blocked from getting on a connecting flight in Frankfurt, Germany due to alleged misconduct on the initial leg of the journey. But many of the passengers didn't even know each other and had nothing to do with the misbehavior! The penalty is the largest ever issued by the agency against an airline for civil rights violations. Ouch!

Thailand Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage: A Historic Move in Southeast Asia

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Thailand has made history by becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage! King Maha Vajiralongkorn has approved a law passed by the parliament three months ago, allowing same-sex couples to legally register marriages from January 22. Under the new law, Thailand will recognize marriage registrations of same-sex partners aged 18 and above, along with their rights to inheritance, tax allowances, and child adoption. This is a huge win for LGBTQ activists who have fought for over a decade for the same rights to marry as heterosexual couples. Thailand is now the third country in Asia to recognize same-sex marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal. Let's celebrate love and equality!

Sydney Train Services Disrupted and Census Changes for LGBTQ+ Community

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Sydney Trains Face Delays:** Commuters in Sydney faced extensive delays and cancellations on Monday due to urgent repairs near Central station, affecting the T1 north shore, T9 northern, T2 inner west, T3 Bankstown, and T8 airport and south lines.

Census Changes for LGBTQ+ Community: The government will add a new topic on gender and sexual orientation to the 2026 census, restoring a proposed question on gender identity along with one on sexuality, after initially planning to dump both due to a backlash. The new topic will likely include two questions and will be in addition to an existing question on respondents' sex at birth.

Keywords: Sydney trains, delays, repairs, central station, LGBTQ+ community, census, gender identity, sexuality, 2026