Joann, the well-known retailer specializing in fabrics and crafts, is undergoing a major restructuring plan that includes shutting down more than 500 of its nearly 850 U.S. locations. This significant downsizing effort comes amid financial struggles and an increasingly competitive retail environment. The decision is part of Joann's bankruptcy proceedings and is aimed at optimizing its physical presence to ensure long-term viability. Stores in 49 states

JCPenney has recently announced plans to close select store locations by mid-year as part of a targeted response to expiring lease agreements and shifting market conditions. This decision, while affecting only a small portion of its overall network of stores, reflects the company’s broader strategy to adapt to an evolving retail landscape. The closures come at a time when the retail environment is undergoing significant transformation, influenced by c

The social media platform X has agreed to pay 10 million dollars to former President Donald Trump as part of a settlement that brings an end to a legal dispute stemming from the suspension of his account. This resolution marks the conclusion of a contentious legal battle that had its roots in the events following the U.S. Capitol incident. In January 2021, two days after the events at the Capitol, X – formerly known as Twitter – made the decision to su

Why the U.S. Raised Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum According to the U.S. administration, the tariff hike is designed to strengthen the country's industrial base and national security. A statement released by the White House emphasized that excessive steel imports have weakened American manufacturing and put domestic jobs at risk. The policy reinstates full tariffs on steel and raises aluminum

Trump Suspends US Anti-Bribery Law, Potential Relief for Adani Group In a major policy shift, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order suspending prosecutions under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a law that penalizes individuals and companies for bribing foreign government officials to secure business deals. While the move a

The Andhra Pradesh Excise Department recently implemented a marginal increase in the prices of certain liquor products, prompting immediate reactions from political leaders. YSR Congress Party (YCP) leaders accused the AP government of committing a major mistake by raising liquor prices. However, Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra swiftly countered these claims.   Minister Ravindra clarified that the price hike only affects hard liquor, and even then, it is a modest ₹10 in

Valentine’s Day Flowers Arrive in the U.S. as Miami Handles Nearly 1 Billion Stems MIAMI — With Valentine’s Day approaching, anyone forgetting to buy flowers won’t be able to blame a shortage. Leading up to February 14, agricultural specialists at Miami International Airport have processed approximately 940 million stems of cut flowers, according to U.S. Customs and Bor

GameStop and MicroStrategy Shares Rise After Ryan Cohen’s Photo With Michael Saylor Shares of GameStop and MicroStrategy saw an uptick on Monday after Ryan Cohen, CEO of the video game retailer, posted a photo with Michael Saylor, co-founder and chairman of the largest corporate holder of bitcoin. GameStop, a favorite among day traders and meme stock enthusiasts, climbed more than 7%, wh

McDonald’s Reports Lower-Than-Expected Revenue Amid U.S. Sales Decline but Foresees 2025 Recovery On Monday, McDonald’s announced weaker-than-expected quarterly revenue, primarily due to a drop in U.S. sales following an E. coli outbreak early in the quarter. However, the company’s stock rose by more than 4% in morning trading as executives expressed confidence in a sales rebound by

Trump’s Tech Power Play: How Silicon Valley’s Titans Could Shape His Political Future President Donald Trump is strengthening ties with some of the most influential figures in tech—Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Sundar Pichai—signaling a major shift in the relationship between conservatives and Silicon Valley. These tech moguls control platforms that dominate

Infosys Ltd. has confirmed that over 300 employees were let go, responding to earlier reports alleging forceful termination. The company clarified that the layoffs, which mainly involved freshers at the Mysuru campus, were not forced but were the result of failure to clear internal onboarding tests. This follows allegations from the IT employees’ union NITES, which claimed that nearly 700 freshers were abruptly let go just months after being hired.   NITES also rai

Zomato’s Corporate Name Change Announcement: On Thursday, Zomato Ltd. revealed its decision to change the corporate name to Eternal Ltd. The company clarified that this change would only affect the official corporate identity, not the popular Zomato brand or its app. The Zomato brand, which is widely known in the food delivery space, will continue to operate under its original name.   Explanation by CEO Deepinder Goyal: Deepinder Goyal,

The Union Budget 2025 has introduced significant changes to the income tax regime, offering relief to middle-class taxpayers. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed raising the basic exemption limit to Rs 4 lakh and increased the income threshold for the rebate under Section 87A to Rs 12 lakh. This means individuals earning up to Rs 12 lakh, with a standard deduction of Rs 75,000, can avoid paying taxes altogether. But for those earning more than Rs 12.75 lakh, choosing between the old

The Andhra Pradesh government has established a strong and effective relationship with the central government, which has led to significant financial support for the state. Key leaders, such as Chandra Babu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan, have played a crucial role in ensuring the state receives adequate funding, especially for critical infrastructure projects. This relationship was evident in the recent 2026 b

Volkswagen has filed a lawsuit against Indian authorities, contesting a $1.4 billion tax demand that the company describes as "impossibly enormous" and in violation of India’s import tax regulations. The dispute centers around the classification of car imports, with Indian officials accusing Volkswagen of misclassifying imports to avoid higher customs duties. In particular, Volkswagen allegedly broke down nearly complete vehicles into individual parts, which are subject to low

On Monday, the Indian rupee plunged by 67 paise to hit a record low of 87.29 against the US dollar. This sharp depreciation came in the wake of US President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, sparking fears of a global trade war. Trump’s tariffs—25% on Canada and Mexico, and 10% on China—sent shockwaves through the financial markets. As the US dollar gained strength amid risk aversion, the rupee faced mounting pressure due to sustaine

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued a notification that seeks to limit the financial burden on senior citizens regarding health insurance premiums. The new directive mandates that insurers cannot increase premiums for individuals aged 60 years and above by more than 10% annually. This move addresses the concern that steep premium hikes for this vulnerable demog

DTC to Be Introduced Separately: Sources have confirmed that the much-anticipated Direct Tax Code (DTC), which seeks to simplify India’s income tax laws, will be introduced separately and not as part of the Union Budget 2025. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to deliver the budget speech on Saturday, but the new tax code will be presented at a later date. This move marks a shift from earlier reports suggesting the DTC would be included with the budg

Gold prices in Delhi hit an all-time high of Rs 83,750 per 10 gram on Wednesday, marking a significant rise of Rs 910 from the previous trading session. The surge was attributed to increased demand from jewellers and retailers. The 99.9% purity gold, which had closed at Rs 82,840 per 10 gram on the previous day, experienced a sharp rise, continuing its upward momentum seen earlier this year. From January 1, gold has jumped Rs 4,360 or 5.5%, reflecting a steady demand for the precious metal.

In response to the government's request, IndiGo has decided to reduce airfares for flights to Prayagraj by 30-50%, a move aimed at making travel more affordable during the ongoing Kumbh Mela. This decision follows consultations between airlines and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which urged the carriers to adjust their pricing and increase their flight capacities to accommodate the massive influx of devotees. The Kumbh Mela, which began on January 13, is expected to attract aro