San Francisco state and city leaders announced a proposed legislative change Monday aimed at expanding the use of court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment as part of an effort to confront the city’s ongoing mental health crisis. The announcement was made during a morning press conference outside San Francisco City Hall, where officials described the proposal as a significant shift in how treatment for severe mental illness is handled in California. Mayor Daniel Lurie joined mem

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that the 2026 tax filing season will officially begin on Monday, Jan. 26, giving taxpayers the green light to submit their 2025 individual income tax returns. The agency expects to process approximately 164 million returns during the upcoming season, with the vast majority filed electronically. Officials say new tax law provisions could lower tax liabilities for some filers and potentially increase refund amounts, while operational changes may alter

Iran witnessed a dramatic escalation in nationwide unrest as anti-Khamenei protests intensified following a rallying call by exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi. Demonstrations entered their 12th consecutive day, with residents across Tehran and other cities chanting slogans from homes and marching through streets despite heavy restrictions imposed by authorities. Late Thursday, internet connectivity and telephone services were abruptly cut across the country, triggering what monitorin

Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, has officially begun preparations to launch her own political party in the state, setting the stage for a fresh political chapter ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections. The move has sparked significant interest in Telangana’s political circles, as it signals a potential shift in leadership dynamics within the region. According to sources, Kavitha has already initiated the foundation-level planning for her par

President Donald Trump’s recently announced agreements with pharmaceutical companies are expected to have a limited effect on what most Americans pay for prescription drugs, according to health policy experts who say the scope and structure of the deals leave many patients unaffected. Since Sept. 30, the Trump administration has reached agreements with 14 drugmakers in exchange for relie

India has ushered in a new phase of insurance regulation with Parliament clearing the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, a move that comes at a time when trust between insurers and policyholders is increasingly strained. For millions of Indians, insurance is ultimately judged not by policy documents or premium receipts but by the ease and fairness of claim settlement. Delays, repeated document requests, late-stage exclusions, and opaque rejections have long plag

The Union government has sought additional information from social media platform X regarding the steps taken to address obscene and sexually explicit content linked to its artificial intelligence tool, Grok, and the measures planned to prevent similar incidents in the future, according to sources familiar with the matter. The request follows a detailed response submitted by the platform, which officials have assessed as insufficient in addressing key regulatory concerns. Sources in

Property owners in central Ohio will see notable changes to property tax payment schedules beginning in 2026, as officials in Franklin County revise due dates and Delaware County advances the start of its billing cycle. County leaders emphasized that the adjustments are designed to improve administrative efficiency and provide taxpayers with more time to prepare payments, without altering the total amounts owed or disrupting existing payment plans.

Chicago’s newly approved budget is now in effect, introducing a series of tax changes that will be rolled out in stages throughout the year. While some measures began immediately on Jan. 1, others are scheduled to take effect in the coming weeks and months, gradually reshaping costs for consumers and businesses across the city. Among the changes that began with the start of the new year is an increase in the checkout bag tax. Shoppers now pay 15 cents per grocery bag, up from the

Illinois is set to enter 2026 with sweeping changes to state policy as more than 200 new laws take effect at the start of the year, touching nearly every aspect of daily life. The legislation approved by lawmakers spans healthcare access, workplace protections, public safety, education standards, insurance coverage and the growing role of artificial intelligence, marking one of the most expansive legislative updates in recent years. Several of the most consequential measures focus o

The political atmosphere in Telangana is rapidly heating up with strong indications pointing towards a direct confrontation between Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrashekar Rao in the upcoming winter session of the Telangana Assembly. After remaining largely away from a

The administration of US President Donald Trump has announced a new financial incentive aimed at encouraging undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the country, offering cash payments and paid travel as part of a broader effort to accelerate deportations and reduce enforcement costs. The initiative, introduced ahead of the holiday season, is being framed by federal officials as a cost-effective alternative to traditional immigration enforcement measures. According to the Depar

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has publicly criticised the recently concluded India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, describing it as a low-quality deal that undermines New Zealand’s economic and labour interests. His remarks come just days after India and New Zealand announced the successful conclusion of FTA negotiations, which both governments claim could significantly boost bil

Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan made strong and clear remarks on the state’s political future, stating that the NDA alliance must continue in power for at least the next 15 years to ensure long-term stability. Addressing the current political climate, he issued a firm warning to the opposition

The Mahayuti alliance recorded a sweeping victory in the Maharashtra local body elections, winning 207 municipal president posts across the state and establishing strong control over urban local governance. Results from the State Election Commission showed the Bharatiya Janata Party leading the tally with 117 seats, making it the single-largest party in the polls. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena followed with 53 posts, while the Nationalist Congress Party secured 37, giving the ruling allianc

The US Justice Department restored a photograph featuring President Donald Trump in the Jeffrey Epstein investigative files after briefly removing it, triggering strong political reactions. Officials explained that the temporary removal was made to ensure no Epstein victims were identifiable in the image, not to protect the president. The photograph, which showed a desk drawer holding a picture of Trump with several women, was first taken down during a review process but reinstated within 24

Former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has resurfaced in the public eye after months of political silence, levelling serious allegations against the Congress-led government headed by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. Responding swiftly, Revanth Reddy countered KCR’s accusations and issued a challenge for an open debate in the Telangana Assembly on river water issues. He urged the BRS supremo to attend the sessions scheduled from January 2, assuring full respect and stating that the

Workers on Friday added President Donald Trump’s name to the exterior of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, marking the latest visible step following a recent decision by the institution’s board to adopt a new name. The change comes one day after the board voted to rename the landmark venue as the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” a move that has quickly drawn attention in Washington and beyond due to the center’s national prominence and its statutory ties to Congress. The r

Karnataka deputy chief minister and senior Congress MLA DK Shivakumar has stirred a new political flashpoint by challenging the BJP-led central government to remove Mahatma Gandhi’s image from Indian currency notes. His remarks came during a protest against the Centre’s decision to alter the rural employment scheme named after Gandhi, a move Congress leaders argue undermines the legacy of the Father of the Nation. Shivakumar accused the BJP of playing with constitutional values