Millions of Amazon customers are set to receive refunds after the company agreed to a $2.5 billion settlement over its Prime membership practices. The settlement includes $1.5 billion in consumer refunds and a $1 billion civil penalty, making it one of the largest of its kind. At the center of the dispute were claims that Amazon misled customers into signing up for Prime memberships and created barriers that made cancellations unnecessarily complicated. The case was tied to the Re

Starbucks has announced a sweeping restructuring plan that includes the closure of select stores across North America and the elimination of approximately 900 corporate and non-retail jobs. The move marks one of the most significant strategic shifts for the Seattle-based coffee company in recent years as it attempts to stabilize financial performance and reignite growth momentum. In a letter to employees, CEO Brian Niccol emphasized that while store openings and closings are routi

Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle and the world’s second-richest man after Elon Musk, has pledged to donate 95% of his estimated $373 billion fortune. His vast wealth comes primarily from his 41% stake in Oracle and significant investments in Tesla, both of which surged in value due to the AI boom. Ellison first made this pledge in 2010 through the Giving Pledge, a global philanthropic commitment by billionaires to give away most of their fortunes.

Gold, the most closely watched safe-haven asset, slipped from its record peak this week, sparking fresh debate among investors and traders. The decline in 22-carat and 24-carat gold prices has been tied to three key factors: the strengthening US dollar, cautious Federal Reserve signals, and anticipation around upcoming economic data. Despite the retreat, gold remains under the spotlight as global uncertainty keeps demand resilient.

Ranked among the world’s top public institutions, the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia has gained recognition for shaping students into leaders who can thrive in rapidly evolving global markets. With students from across the world joining its programs, Indian students in particular are increasingly enrolling with a clear aim: to sharpen their leadership and entrepreneurial skills while learning how to apply technical expertise in international business contexts.

The clock is ticking for taxpayers who are required to file their income tax audit reports for the financial year 2024–25. The deadline has been set for September 30, 2025, and unlike in some past years, the Income Tax Department has not announced any extension. For companies, proprietorships, and firms whose accounts must be audited, filing the audit report on time is not just a compliance requirement—it is essential to avoid hefty penalties unde

The Government of India has rolled out a historic reform in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system by eliminating the 12% and 28% slabs and restructuring the tax categories. The changes, which took effect today, bring relief to households as 99% of daily-use products will now fall under lower tax rates. However, in order to balance revenue and discourage harmful or luxury consumption, the government has introduced a new 40% GST slab for specific goods.

In a significant development within the corporate world, Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of the iconic ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s, has announced his resignation after 47 years of involvement with the company. This decision comes amid escalating tensions between Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company, Unilever, over issues related to the brand’s social mission and autonomy. Greenfield's departure is rooted in a deepening conflict with Unilever, which acq

The government extended the Income Tax Return (ITR) filing deadline for Assessment Year 2025–26 by one day, from September 15 to September 16, 2025. However, many taxpayers still missed this revised cut-off. If you are among them, there is no need to panic, as the Income Tax Department allows belated returns to be filed until December 31, 2025. A belated return refers to an ITR filed after the due date. Accord

The Income Tax Department extended the ITR filing deadline for Assessment Year 2025–26 by one day, moving it from September 15 to September 16, 2025. The announcement came after the e-filing portal suffered major technical glitches, including login failures and frozen screens, leaving lakhs of taxpayers stranded. By the original deadline, 7.3 crore returns were filed, crossing last year’s record, but at least 1.5–2 crore taxpayers were still

Italian fashion legend Giorgio Armani, who passed away on September 4 at the age of 91, left behind not just a legacy of timeless style but also a carefully planned future for his empire. With an estimated net worth of $11.8 billion, Armani’s will, made public by the Italian press, revealed how his foundation, family, and even global luxury giants will shape the brand’s future. The Armani Foundation inhe

A Chicago business owner is speaking out about the challenges she faces as crime and violence continue to impact her livelihood. Jackie Jackson, the owner of Fatburger in Chatham, has shared her story of struggle, resilience, and determination to keep her restaurant open while giving back to the South Side neighborhood she calls home. Jackson opened the Fatburger location at 825 E. 87th Street in November of last year. Since then, she has invested in extensive safety measures to pro

For a short-lived but historic moment, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison became the world’s richest man, overtaking Elon Musk after Oracle’s stock soared on the back of its booming AI cloud services. According to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, Ellison’s net worth touched $393 billion, surpassing Musk’s $385 billion. The sudden surge was tied to Oracle’s quarterly earnings, which revealed a massive jump in cloud revenue foreca

Elon Musk has once again secured the top spot as the world’s richest person, overtaking Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison after a dramatic shift in billionaire rankings. The change followed Oracle’s historic stock rally on Wednesday, driven by strong quarterly earnings and soaring investor confidence in its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure services. At one point, Ellison briefly surged past Musk with the largest single-day gain ever record

India’s wealth has always been closely tied to family-run businesses, many of which span across generations. The latest Hurun India Rich List 2025 has revealed fascinating insights into which surnames dominate the country’s wealthiest business dynasties. According to the report, Agarwal and Gupta families lead the pack, with 12 families each making it to the list of India’s richest. This reflects how certain surnames continue to hold influenc

After six years of serving customers in Cranford, Witch Baby has officially closed the doors of its Eastman Street brick-and-mortar store. The closure, which came just before the busy holiday shopping season, reflects the mounting challenges faced by small businesses in New Jersey and beyond. Owners cited rising electricity costs and tariffs as the key reasons for the difficult decision, underscoring the financial pressures that continue to weigh heavily on independent retailers. Wi

Walmart has confirmed that its Neighborhood Market at 3112 Santa Rita Road will close on October 2. The store’s pharmacy will also shut down on the same date. Walmart spokesperson Anne Hatfield did not give a specific reason for the closure, but noted there are three Walmart locations within eight miles of the Pleasanton market including a full-service Walmart in Livermore and a newly remodeled Neighborhood Marke

Bravazo, the highly rated Peruvian spot named after a slang word for “excellent,” has opened a new home at 428 Main Street in downtown Pleasanton. The move follows a popular run inside Passion Pastry on Bernal Avenue, and early diners say the Main Street space lives up to the name with friendly service and crowd-pleasing plates. Founded by Lucho Blanco, Bravazo draws on family recipes and the flavors he g

Tesla’s board of directors has proposed an unprecedented compensation package for CEO Elon Musk that, if fully realized, could make him the world’s first trillionaire. The proposal, which is entirely structured around Tesla stock awards, will be voted on by shareholders on November 6. If approved, it would cement the largest executive compensation deal in corporate history and tie Musk’s personal wealth directly to Tesla’s transformation into a technology powerhouse.

With the rationalisation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) completed, the Indian government is preparing a targeted relief package for exporters impacted by steep US tariffs. According to official sources, the Centre is working on a set of schemes designed to help sectors that have been hit hardest by the 50 per cent import duties imposed by President Donald Trump, which included a 25 per cent penalty linked to India’s Russian oil purchases.