The Walt Disney Co. has settled claims that it violated child privacy laws, said the U.S. Department of Justice, with a federal court entering a stipulated order resolving the case, on Tuesday. The Justice Department had alleged that Disney Worldwide Services and Disney Entertainment Operations failed to accurately identify some YouTube video content as “Made for Kids,” enabling Disney and other parties to collect personal data from children under 13 years old. AdvertisementThe Federal Trade Commission investigated the matter and referred the case to the Justice Department. “Disney has a long tradition of embracing the highest standards of compliance with children’s privacy laws, and we remain committed to investing in the tools needed to continue being a leader in this space.”AdvertisementIn a statement Tuesday, Assistant Atty. Gen. Brett A. Shumate said, “the Justice Department is firmly devoted to ensuring parents have a say in how their children’s information is collected and used.

January 01, 2026 15:15 UTC

What America has planned for 250th celebration U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum joins “GMA” live to share details of the celebrations planned for America’s birthday in 2026.

January 01, 2026 15:05 UTC

LOADING ERROR LOADINGWASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has ended the lease agreement for three public golf courses in Washington, a move that offers President Donald Trump an additional opportunity to put his stamp on another piece of the nation’s capital. The National Links Trust, the nonprofit that has operated Washington’s three public courses on federal land for the last five years, said Wednesday that the Department of the Interior had terminated its 50-year lease agreement. The Interior Department said it was terminating the lease because the nonprofit had not implemented required capital improvements and failed to meet the terms of the lease. AdvertisementWhile it was unclear what the Trump administration’s plans are for the golf courses, the move gives Trump, whose private company has developed numerous golf courses in the U.S. and abroad, the chance to remake links overlooking the Potomac River and in Rock Creek Park and a site that is part of Black golf history. Officials for the National Links Trust said in a statement that they were “devastated” by the decision to terminate the lease and defended their management of the courses.

January 01, 2026 14:56 UTC

Source: Getty Images / UnsplashMost people assume their “bad habits” reveal something unflattering about them: a lack of discipline, social maturity, or emotional strength. Good GossipGossip is one of those words that immediately conjures images of whispered betrayals and unnecessary drama. Whether they know it or not, they’re transmitting social norms and helping one another make sense of their relational world. Humans aren’t built to decode social information in isolation; gossip is one of the oldest ways we learned to co-construct meaning and protect our emotional equilibrium. Although chronic, avoidant procrastination can indeed be harmful, recent research makes an important distinction.

January 01, 2026 14:55 UTC

ETIt's almost 2026, and thousands of people have flocked to Times Square in New York City to watch the annual ball drop to ring in the New Year. Read on to see a livestream from USA TODAY of New Year's Eve events around the worl, or learn how to watch the Times Square ball drop live on television. Watch a livestream of the 2026 Times Square ball drop in NYC, events around the worldCheck out a livestream from Times Square, and other events around the world, courtesy of USA TODAY, below:More holiday happenings: See families celebrate New Year's Eve in YonkersHow to watch the New Years Eve 2026 Times Square ball drop on TVCheck out the following television channels and streaming services for their coverage:ABC’s "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest," 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., will have, along with the ball drop, music performances. In the Lower Hudson Valley region, NBC and CBS affiliates typically broadcast New Year's Eve specials that include coverage of the ball drop. Live TV streaming services: Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, YouTube TV, and DirecTV Stream offer access to ABC, CNN, and other local channels, according to the Times Square website.

January 01, 2026 14:43 UTC





A look ahead at the movies in 2026 ABC News' Danny News unpacks some of the exciting films on the docket for 2026.

January 01, 2026 14:37 UTC

AdvertisementBe in no doubt that the mood among the Parliamentary Labour Party is grim, with their anger being directed at what they see as a misfiring No.10 operation. Advertisement“I want to pay tribute to Alaa’s family, and to all those that have worked and campaigned for this moment. seems to be under the illusion that there is going to be a strong start to 2026 ! pic.twitter.com/WOhzcKSZNV — PoliticalPics (@PoliticalPics) December 19, 2025On the face of it at least, Starmer remains upbeat that 2026 will be the year when “things start to feel easier” for hard-pressed voters. AdvertisementYet another battle for the soul of the Labour Party will then ensue, between those on the Right such as Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood, and the likes of Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham on the Left.

January 01, 2026 13:52 UTC

The Defence Headquarters has revealed that a damage assessment of the recent United States strikes conducted in conjunction with Nigerian forces is still ongoing. “On the United States strikes in conjunction with Nigerian forces, there is a process of battle damage assessment. According to him, the armed forces are also engaging civilians to support security agencies with timely information. It is not for the Armed Forces to focus on what some people in society do not agree with in our activities. He assured the public that the armed forces would continue operations against terrorist groups into the new year.

January 01, 2026 13:12 UTC

The Trump administration is terminating a nonprofit’s management of three public Washington, DC, golf courses, in what may be the latest effort to put President Donald Trump’s stamp on local institutions. The $8.5 million in capital improvements the group says it has invested is more than what the Interior Department says it owes in rent. “We are fundamentally in disagreement with the administration’s characterization of NLT as being in default under the lease,” National Links Trust said in its statement. Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementEast Potomac Golf Links on Hains Point has played a part in one renovation overseen by the president. It’s unclear whether Trump has ever golfed at any of the courses managed by National Links Trust.

January 01, 2026 13:04 UTC

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January 01, 2026 12:45 UTC

I usually use an electric toothbrush, but I feel like I'm getting a much more satisfying clean from these?? I've switched to using this in the morning and the electric one at night, and I definitely see a difference in that area in particular. I was skeptical, but my kids hate flossing their teeth, so I thought this might help in between making them floss. My kids said they could see and feel a difference on the first use and I agree! I would suggest not pushing too hard, those tiny bristles really get in there, and if you push too hard, you might be sore like I was.

January 01, 2026 12:35 UTC

Here’s a basic truth of human life: No one plans a visit to the emergency room, and no one really wants to be there. SDI Productions via Getty ImagesEven with “atrocious” wait times, try to stay calm. Ross acknowledges that this is a hard truth: “I know that wait times can be atrocious in busy ERs,” he said. Sometimes, though, wait times are exacerbated by patients who force things to take much longer than they need to. “Unfortunately, family members and visitors sometimes display verbally or physically aggressive behaviors, like yelling about wait times, insisting upon immediate attention or even threatening staff,” Selby said.

January 01, 2026 12:21 UTC

A fire at a bar in the Swiss Alps has left people dead and injured during New Year’s celebrationsFire at a bar in the Swiss Alps leaves people dead during New Year's celebrationsThe Associated PressBy The Associated PressBERLIN -- A fire at a bar in the Swiss Alps has left people dead and injured during New Year’s celebrations, police said early Thursday. Multiple people were killed in the blaze at the bar “Le Constellation” and others were injured, police said. The fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. in the Alpine ski resort municipality of Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Details were not immediately available.

January 01, 2026 11:38 UTC

Israel on Thursday said 37 humanitarian agencies supplying aid in Gaza had not met a deadline to meet "security and transparency standards", and would be banned from the territory, despite an international outcry. The international NGOs, which had been ordered to disclose detailed information on their Palestinian staff, will now be required to cease operations by March 1. Several NGOS have said the requirements contravene international humanitarian law or endanger their independence. - 'Critical requirement' -NRC spokesperson Shaina Low told AFP its local staff are "exhausted" and international staff "bring them an extra layer of help and security. In March, Israel gave NGOs 10 months to comply with the new rules, which demand the "full disclosure of personnel, funding sources, and operational structures".

January 01, 2026 11:29 UTC

Get New York Times alerts: Sign UpNew York Times News SummaryHere are the key news stories impacting New York Times this week:Analysts Set New Price TargetsSeveral analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Read Our Latest Research Report on New York TimesNew York Times Stock Down 0.4%NYT stock opened at $69.50 on Thursday. The New York Times Company has a twelve month low of $44.83 and a twelve month high of $71.23. Research analysts expect that The New York Times Company will post 2.08 EPS for the current year. New York Times Company ProfileThe New York Times Company is a publicly traded media organization best known for publishing The New York Times newspaper and operating the NYTimes.com digital platform.

January 01, 2026 10:50 UTC