The Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to hear a high-profile dispute over the early termination of federal COVID-19 unemployment benefits, a decision that could determine whether roughly $900 million in aid will finally reach hundreds of thousands of residents. The case centers on Gov. Mike DeWine’s 2021 decision to withdraw the state from the federal program that provided an additional $300 per week to eligible jobless workers during the height of the pandemic. Lower courts have concluded that

The Cupertino City Council voted unanimously to appoint Tina Kapoor as the city’s next city manager, formally removing the word “interim” from her title and signaling a shift toward stability after years of leadership turnover. The decision places Kapoor at the head of the municipal administration during a period of ongoing debate over housing, development, and long-term economic planning in the Bay Area. Her appointment follows a series of frequent leadership changes that have shaped t

India’s seafood industry is witnessing a sharp rise in demand from China after Beijing imposed a complete ban on Japanese seafood imports. The move comes amid escalating geopolitical tensions between China and Japan, triggered by remarks linking the Taiwan conflict to Japan’s national security. As China halted all Japanese seafood imports, Indian seafood exporters experienced a significant surge in interest, marking a major shift in Asian trade patterns. Indian seafood stocks re

US rapper Travis Scott returned to Mumbai for his second India performance within a month, drawing massive crowds and viral attention. While the concert highlights quickly spread online, one particular video stood out: security teams spraying water over fans before the show to help them cope with Mumbai’s heat. The move was welcomed enthusiastically by attendees, who cheered and enjoyed the cooling showers as they waited for Scott to take the stage. With temperatures running high during thi

In a major political development, the Telangana Governor has officially approved the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s request to prosecute former IT minister K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) in connection with the alleged Formula E scam. Over the last two years, KTR has been under growing scrutiny as the ACB intensified its investigation. The bureau had already questioned him four times, probing financial and procedural lapses linked to the project. After conducting a nine-month detailed inquiry, reviewing doc

Questions continue to emerge at the California Capitol as Attorney General Rob Bonta faces heightened scrutiny over his use of campaign funds for legal services during his recent reelection effort. The issue gained traction after disclosures showed that Bonta’s campaign spent more than $468,000 on legal assistance connected to a federal inquiry that intersected with his 2022 campaign. Although Bonta has not been accused of wrongdoing, his reliance on campaign money to cover significant lega

Illinois residents can now use digital driver’s licenses and state identification cards on their iPhones, marking a significant technological shift in how individuals verify their identity at airports, bars, restaurants, and select venues across the state. The program officially began Tuesday morning following the implementation of a new state law that authorizes digital IDs and enables their integration into mobile devices. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced the launch

Prosecutors in Travis County have dismissed the long-standing murder case against Allen Andre Causey, more than three decades after he was convicted in the 1991 killing of Anita Byington. Causey, who received a 50-year prison sentence, spent years in state custody before his release on parole in 2022. The decision to end the case follows a series of legal developments that raised significant concerns about the evidence used to secure his initial conviction. Attorneys with the Innoce

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has introduced full contactless payments on Metrobus, marking a significant expansion of the Tap. Ride. Go. system that first debuted on Metrorail earlier this year. Beginning Tuesday, riders across the region can use a contactless credit or debit card, as well as mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, to pay fares directly at the bus card reader. The update is designed to reduce friction for daily commuters and casual riders, particul

A significant privacy issue in WhatsApp has come to light after researchers revealed that a long-standing flaw exposed the phone numbers and profile photos of nearly 3.5 billion users worldwide. The discovery was made by a team from the University of Vienna, who found that WhatsApp’s contact-discovery system lacked proper rate limiting, allowing automated tools to check millions of phone numbers per hour. Through this gap, researchers were able to confirm whether a number was registered on

The Kerala High Court has issued a strong warning to the state government and the Travancore Devaswom Board, stating that a disaster at Sabarimala is inevitable if the current level of crowd mismanagement continues. The court criticised authorities for failing to anticipate and control the massive influx of devotees during the pilgrimage season. Within just 48 hours of its opening on November 17, the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple saw nearly two lakh devotees arrive, overwhelming police and Devasw

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a sharp warning that the country cannot rule out the possibility of an all-out war with India, stating that Islamabad remains on full alert as tensions rise across the region. Speaking to Samaa TV, Asif said his analysis suggested India could adopt hostile strategies, including border incursions or coordinated attacks, and stressed the need for complete preparedness. His remarks follow Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi’

The long-pending CBI and ED cases involving Jagan have remained nearly inactive for many years, with hearings moving at a slow pace and the accused avoiding personal attendance. Over the past several years, Jagan has not appeared before the CBI court despite multiple hearings being scheduled, leading to increasing discussions over prolonged delays. Now, for the first time in years, Jagan has been directed to appear in person, bringing renewed attention to the long-standing cases. Reports indi

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made headlines as she attended the birth centenary celebrations of Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh. The event was marked by the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, and several union ministers including Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and G Kishan Reddy. Before taking the microphone, Aishwarya touched the feet of PM Modi, who was seated on the stage, a gesture that sparked widespread conversations both at the venue and on

India has begun rolling out its next generation of e-passports equipped with advanced digital and physical security layers designed to strengthen identity verification and eliminate fraud. The upgraded system is part of Passport Seva Programme 2.0, which introduces new standards in passport security, digital integration, and citizen services. All new passports issued henceforth will be e-passports, while existing non-electronic passports will continue to remain valid until their expiry, with

A major breakthrough in Andhra Pradesh’s anti-Naxal operations unfolded on Tuesday as police arrested 31 Maoists hiding in Vijayawada, Kakinada and other parts of Krishna district. The arrests created a stir across the region, especially as several of those detained were senior Maoist leaders from Chhattisgarh who had quietly entered the state to escape intensified combing operations.  In a major strike, 27 Maoists were arrested from a four-storey building in New Autonagar, K

President Donald Trump has introduced a new fast-track visa system called the “FIFA Pass” for international fans attending the 2026 World Cup in the United States. Announced at the Oval Office alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the scheme offers ticket holders a prioritized visa appointment to ensure smoother travel ahead of the massive tournament. The US expects between five and ten million visitors, making streamlined entry a major focus for the administration. Despite

The investigation into the Red Fort blast has taken a darker turn as the NIA uncovered evidence showing the accused had initially planned large-scale rocket bomb strikes across Delhi before turning to a car bomb. According to sources, the group was actively attempting to develop a Hamas-style drone system capable of launching rocket-based explosives into crowded and high-security zones. Investigators revealed that the module was modifying commercially available drones to carry and launch leth

As the NDA prepares to form the next government in Bihar after securing a sweeping mandate, intense negotiations have begun between the BJP and JD(U) over control of the crucial Assembly Speaker’s post. Senior leaders from both parties are meeting in New Delhi to finalise the structure of the new administration, including the allocation of major cabinet portfolios. According to sources, both parties are making a strong case for the Speaker’s position, with the BJP reportedly determined to