​Rising global gold prices and attractive discounts in Dubai have prompted many Indian travellers to consider purchasing the precious metal in the United Arab Emirates and bringing it home. With gold prices touching nearly Rs 1,60,000 per 10 grams in India, Dubai’s relatively lower prices have increased interest among buyers seeking a better deal. However, Indian authorities have clear rules governing how much gold passengers can carry into the country and what taxes may apply. Under the

Global crude oil prices have surged past $110 per barrel as escalating tensions in the Gulf region shake energy markets worldwide. The sharp increase has triggered concerns about potential supply disruptions, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical oil transit routes globally. The sudden spike represents the biggest jump in crude prices since 2020 and has raised fears about its possible ripple effects on economies that depend heavily on imported oil. Desp

The New York Red Bulls are preparing for the start of the new Major League Soccer season with more than just action on the field. Fans attending matches at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison will also see an expanded stadium food menu designed to enhance the overall game day experience. Chef Maj Parvez, who oversees culinary operations at the venue, recently introduced several new menu items ahead of the team’s home opener. During a preview inside the stadium, Parvez showcased

Gold and silver prices surged sharply on Monday as rising tensions between Iran and the US rattled global markets. As the geopolitical crisis escalated, investors flocked to safe-haven assets, resulting in a significant spike in bullion prices on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX). By 11:45 AM, MCX Gold had risen by Rs 5,497, trading at Rs 1,67,601, while MCX Silver climbed by Rs 9,806, reaching Rs 2,92,450. The sudden surge in precious metal prices reflects growing concerns over geopolitical

More than a dozen locally owned restaurants in Columbus, Ohio, are offering special discounts to diners as part of the annual Columbus Independents Weeks event, which runs from March 2 through March 14. The promotion is organized by Columbus Independents, an association representing independent restaurants that aims to encourage residents and visitors to support local food businesses while enjoying limited-time dining deals across the city. During the event, participating restaurant

City officials in Fremont, California, announced that DoorDash will begin rolling out its autonomous delivery robots in the city as part of a phased program expected to expand over the coming months. The initiative will introduce small robotic delivery units designed to operate safely on sidewalks, bike lanes, and neighborhood streets while completing short-distance food and package deliveries. The project marks another step in the growth of robot delivery and urban mobility technology in Cal

The Sunset Night Market is set to return to San Francisco on Friday, marking its comeback after a year-long hiatus and bringing renewed energy to the Outer Sunset neighborhood. The highly anticipated event will once again transform Irving Street into a vibrant hub of activity, spanning multiple blocks from 20th Avenue to 25th Avenue. Organizers say this year’s reopening is especially significant as it coincides with Lunar New Year celebrations, adding a festive cultural dimension to the eve

In a major development, Netflix has officially pulled out of the bidding war for Warner Bros. This comes months after the two companies announced a potential multi-million dollar deal. Netflix cited that the deal was no longer financially viable, especially after Paramount Skydance made a revised and higher bid. As a result, Paramount now has a clear path to acquire the iconic studio, ending a long period of drama and negotiations between the two streaming giants. The announcement c

Pop Mart, the globally recognized designer toy retailer known for drawing long lines of collectors, has officially opened a new location at Westfield Old Orchard Mall in Skokie, Illinois. The debut marks the company’s sixth store in the state and reflects the brand’s continued retail expansion across the Chicago metropolitan area. According to the company’s announcement, the storefront quietly began welcoming customers over the weekend. The new shop is situated on the north si

Waymo has officially launched its driverless taxi service in Dallas, marking another major step in the company’s nationwide expansion of autonomous ride-hailing. The service is currently available to a limited group of riders who joined the app’s waitlist, with a broader public rollout expected later this year. The move has generated both enthusiasm about the future of transportation and renewed debate about the safety of autonomous vehicles. Company officials said early access

The rich, inviting aroma that greets customers at Dulcinea Panadería Oaxaqueña in downtown San Jose is often enough to draw them in before they even reach the display cases. Inside, visitors are met with an extensive selection of more than 100 varieties of cookies, pastries, breads, and cakes, most prepared fresh each day. The bustling bakery represents years of persistence and reinvention by owner Monse Barrita, whose journey into the food business has been anything but conventional.

Amazon has overtaken Walmart to become the world’s largest company by annual revenue, marking a historic shift in the long-running rivalry between the two retail giants. Walmart reported revenue of $713.2 billion for its most recent fiscal year, narrowly trailing Amazon’s $716.9 billion. The development had been anticipated for months after Amazon first exceeded Walmart in quarterly sales roughly a year ago, signaling a gradual but decisive change in the competitive landscape. W

Trading gold and silver futures on India’s major commodity exchanges has become more affordable after the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) removed additional margin requirements that were imposed earlier due to market volatility. This move is expected to make futures trading more accessible, especially for retail traders and smaller investors, as it reduces the amount of upfront capital required to enter these contracts. The decision reflects stabilizing

Gold and silver prices saw a sharp correction on February 17, rattling investors after weeks of strong gains. Gold dropped by Rs 2,561 or 1.65% to Rs 1,52,199, while silver fell by Rs 6,241 or 2.6% to Rs 2,33,650 at the time of writing. The sudden decline comes amid reduced global trading activity and rising volatility in the bullion market. A major reason behind the decline is low participation from key global markets. Chinese markets remain closed from February 15 to February 23 f

Many taxpayers are facing a frustrating wait for their tax refunds as nearly 24 lakh income tax returns (ITRs) for the Assessment Year 2025–26 have been pending for more than 90 days. According to the Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, as of February 4, 2026, out of 8.79 crore ITRs filed, approximately 24.64 lakh were yet to be processed, leaving millions of individuals waiting for their refunds. The large backlog has triggered concerns, especially for senior citizen

A broad range of American goods, including wines, spirits, dry fruits, technology products and select industrial items, are set to enter the Indian market at zero or reduced import duties under the first phase of a new trade pact between India and the United States. The move is expected to lower retail prices for consumers, expand market access for businesses and strengthen bilateral trade ties between the two economies. Officials from both countries confirmed that they have finalised the framework for the initial phase of a bilateral trade agreement aimed at cutting tariffs and easing barriers that have historically slowed cross-border commerce. The framework will now be converted into a legally binding agreement, with signing expected by mid-March. Duty concessions are likely to come into effect immediately upon implementation, while some reductions will be introduced in stages. Under the arrangement, India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on several categories of US industrial and agricultural goods. These include dried distillers’ grains, red sorghum used for animal feed, soybean oil, fresh and processed fruits, and a variety of tree nuts. Almonds, walnuts, pistachios and certain lentils are among the products that will benefit from lower import duties. Alcoholic beverages such as wine and spirits are also expected to become more competitively priced in the Indian market as tariffs decline. The concessions extend beyond food and farm products. High-end cars and motorcycles, along with aircraft, semiconductor components and specialised machinery, will receive duty benefits. Medical and healthcare products, including select medicines for neurological, cardiac and diabetes treatment, as well as medical devices, diagnostic reagents, pacemakers, imaging equipment, hearing aids and artificial joints, are also covered under the pact. Both sides have agreed to address non-tariff barriers that affect trade flows. India has committed to easing restrictions that have delayed market access for US medical devices and to simplifying import licensing procedures for information and communication technology goods. These products are considered essential for India’s expanding data centres and industrial infrastructure. At the same time, New Delhi said it will adopt a calibrated approach to protect domestic producers, including small and medium enterprises and farmers. Minimum import prices on certain products, such as apples, have been fixed to safeguard local interests. In return, a wide basket of Indian exports will gain duty-free or preferential access to the US market. Spices, tea, coffee, coconut-based products, cashews, fruits such as mangoes, bananas, guavas and pineapples, along with bakery goods, cocoa products, seeds, vegetable planting material and processed foods, are among the items set to attract zero reciprocal tariffs. Officials said the measures could provide a significant boost to India’s agriculture and food processing sectors. Trade experts view the agreement as a step toward deeper economic integration between the two countries, with the potential to diversify supply chains and stimulate two-way investment. By reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, the pact is expected to increase trade volumes, enhance competitiveness and create new opportunities for exporters and consumers on both sides.

A record number of employees across the United States are expected to miss work on the morning following the Super Bowl, according to a new survey that highlights growing concerns about workplace attendance and productivity after one of the country’s most-watched sporting events. The annual absenteeism survey conducted by workforce management company UKG estimates that approximately 26.2 million workers plan to be absent the day after the game, marking one of the highest projected totals since the study began tracking post-event workplace trends. The findings suggest that many employees are planning their time away in advance rather than calling off unexpectedly. Most respondents indicated they intend to use paid time off or swap shifts with colleagues to accommodate late-night celebrations tied to the Super Bowl. These planned absences reflect a broader effort by workers to manage personal schedules responsibly while still participating in the festivities surrounding the NFL championship. However, the survey also found that not all absences will be scheduled. Roughly five million people reported they may call in sick or simply not report to work without prior notice. Such last-minute absenteeism can present operational challenges for businesses, particularly in industries that rely on hourly employees or strict staffing levels, including retail, hospitality, healthcare, and manufacturing. Employers in these sectors often experience increased strain when shifts must be covered unexpectedly. Human resources professionals note that the Super Bowl has increasingly become an unofficial national event, with celebrations often extending late into the night. As a result, attendance patterns the following Monday have become a predictable concern. Companies have responded in various ways, including offering flexible scheduling, remote work options, or encouraging employees to request PTO ahead of time to minimize disruptions. These strategies aim to maintain productivity while recognizing the cultural significance of the event. The projected absenteeism figures also underscore broader workplace trends related to employee engagement and work-life balance. Experts say that when organizations provide clear policies and flexible options, employees are more likely to communicate their needs and plan time off responsibly, reducing the impact of unscheduled absences. As millions tune in to watch the Super Bowl each year, businesses may need to continue adapting their staffing and attendance practices to accommodate the reality that the day after the game has become one of the most challenging for workplace attendance nationwide.

Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency, faced a dramatic price drop on February 6, 2026, hitting an intraday low of $60,008.52 during volatile trading. This marks the lowest point for Bitcoin since October 2024. The decline occurred amid a broader selloff across global markets, especially in technology stocks, metals, and other riskier assets, raising concerns about whether Bitcoin could fall below the $60,000 mark in the coming days. After touching this 16-month low, Bitcoin

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will announce its latest monetary policy decision today, February 6, 2026, with markets largely expecting the central bank to keep the repo rate unchanged. This announcement follows a series of rate cuts, with the last one made in December 2025, reducing the repo rate from 5.50% to 5.25%. Experts predict that the RBI will maintain a pause in rate cuts as it assesses the impacts of the previous changes on inflation and growth. RBI Governor Sanjay Malho

Green card holders will no longer be eligible for government-backed small business loans in the United States beginning March 1, 2026, following a policy change by the US Small Business Administration that tightens citizenship and residency requirements for borrowers. The revised rules limit access to key SBA lending programs exclusively to US citizens and nationals who maintain their principal residence within the country or its territories, effectively barring lawful permanent residents from participation. According to an official policy notice issued in early February, the agency updated its Standard Operating Procedure 50 10 8, the framework that governs lender and development company loan programs. The revision rescinds earlier procedural guidance that permitted limited ownership by foreign nationals or certain residents living outside the United States. Under the new language, every direct and indirect owner of a small business applicant must meet the citizenship criteria. The SBA said the updated rules require 100 percent of ownership interests in any applicant or borrowing entity to be held by eligible US citizens or nationals. As a result, even minority ownership by a legal permanent resident will disqualify a company from receiving SBA-backed financing. The policy applies broadly to applicants, operating companies, and entities tied to the loan structure, leaving little flexibility for mixed-ownership businesses. The change is expected to affect a wide range of small and early-stage firms that rely on SBA loans for working capital, equipment purchases, and expansion. Many startups and family-owned enterprises depend on these lending programs because they offer lower interest rates and government guarantees that make financing more accessible. With the new restrictions in place, businesses that include green card holders among their owners may need to reconsider ownership arrangements or seek alternative sources of credit from private lenders. Agency officials indicated that the revisions align loan eligibility standards with existing federal regulations and a recent executive directive emphasizing stricter residency compliance. The policy will take effect for all new applications submitted on or after the effective date. Existing and prospective borrowers are being advised to review their ownership structures carefully to ensure continued eligibility under the updated requirements. The move marks a significant shift in how federal small business lending programs define qualification, narrowing access to public funds and reshaping the financing landscape for immigrant entrepreneurs. As the implementation date approaches, legal and financial advisers expect increased demand for guidance from affected business owners who must evaluate their options within the new framework.