A prominent luxury car dealer from Hyderabad, Basharat Khan, has been arrested in Gujarat for his alleged involvement in a massive customs duty evasion racket worth nearly Rs 100 crore. According to officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Khan manipulated the import process of high-end vehicles by undervaluing them and using fake documentation to bring the cars into India illegally. Khan, who runs the ‘Car Lounge’ showroom in Hyderabad and has been

House Republicans have unveiled a sweeping new tax proposal dubbed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” aligning with President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign promises. The bill includes major tax breaks for workers, significant penalties for elite educational institutions, and the introduction of a 5% tax on money transfers sent abroad, a move likely to impact immigrant families across the country. The proposed legislation eliminates federal income taxes on tips and o

Stock futures rose sharply on Thursday following an announcement from President Donald Trump that the United States and the United Kingdom have finalized a major trade agreement. This development sparked enthusiasm across Wall Street, especially in technology stocks, and contributed to a strong premarket rally. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 303 points, a 0.7% increase, while futures on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq

A new congressional proposal to reduce Medicaid funding for Washington D.C. is causing concern among officials and health experts, who warn that such cuts would have wide-reaching consequences beyond the program’s low-income beneficiaries. Medicaid is deeply integrated into the region’s health care infrastructure, and any funding reduction could disrupt care for patients across the income spectrum, affecting hospitals, clinics, and community health providers. House Rep

Millions of borrowers with defaulted federal student loans will soon face renewed consequences as the U.S. government resumes collections. The Department of Education has confirmed that, beginning May 5, it will refer defaulted loans to the Treasury Department’s offset program. This program allows the government to garnish wages, withhold tax refunds, and seize portions of Social Security checks to collect unpaid student debt. These measures officially end the collections pause introduced

The Income Tax Department has officially released the Income Tax Return (ITR) forms 1 and 4 for the assessment year 2025–26, enabling individual taxpayers, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), and firms (excluding LLPs) with total income up to ₹50 lakh to begin filing their income tax returns. This marks the beginning of the tax season for income earned during the financial year April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. Taxpayers must submit their returns by the due date of July 31, 2025, to avoid l

The City of Houston spent $180 million from its general fund on purchasing goods and services during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, according to newly released public financial records. Overseeing that massive flow of public funds was the Strategic Procurement Division of the Finance Department, which itself cost about $9.5 million to operate last year. City officials emphasize that purchasing within a government body like Houston is far different from everyday consumer spending. Unlik

Drivers in Fremont and throughout California are experiencing a welcome break in gas prices as the busy spring travel period winds down. With demand for fuel easing, average prices at the pump have fallen, offering some economic relief to commuters and travelers alike. According to the latest figures from AAA Northern California, the statewide average gas price now sits at $4.84 per gallon, a notable decrease from the same time last year when it hovered around $5.44 per gallon. Th

 Maryland’s latest budget cycle has ended, but its financial aftershocks are just beginning to ripple through the state's residents and businesses. One of the most significant changes coming into effect is a new 3% tax on information technology and data services, a move intended to help fill a substantial budget deficit left behind by mounting fiscal obligations. Set to begin in July, this new levy is expected to have wide-ranging impacts on both service providers a

Two healthcare executives were sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating a massive medical fraud operation that bilked the U.S. government out of $127 million through a scheme involving unnecessary medical braces and illegal kickbacks. The sentencing took place in federal court in Newark, marking the conclusion of one of the more brazen cases of healthcare fraud in recent years. Eric Karlewicz, 46, of Rockland County, New York, and Nicco Romanowski, 33, of Roswell, Georgia,

  Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Tuesday, reflecting investor caution after a turbulent session on Wall Street. The instability stemmed from renewed political pressure by U.S. President Donald Trump on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Trump's latest comments criticizing Powell’s leadership and calling for lower interest rates reverberated through global markets, reigniting concerns about central bank independence and its role in shaping monetary policy.

In a dramatic escalation of political tensions between the federal government and academic institutions, U.S. President Donald Trump has called on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status. The move follows ongoing criticism from Trump regarding the Ivy League school’s handling of antisemitism and diversity-related issues, as reported by The Washington Post. Though no final decision has yet been announced, reports suggest that an

A growing clash between academic independence and federal oversight has erupted into a full-scale standoff after the Trump administration announced a freeze on over $2 billion in federal grants to Harvard University. The decision comes after the Ivy League institution firmly rejected a list of sweeping federal demands, including audits of student viewpoints and the dismantling of diversity and inclusion programs. On Monday night, the administration's Joint Task Force to Combat

In a ruling that could significantly influence the tax liabilities of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) investing in Indian mutual funds, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Mumbai bench, has determined that capital gains earned by NRIs on the redemption of mutual fund units are not taxable in India. This decision was delivered in a case involving a Singapore-based NRI who had declared short-term capital gains from mutual fund investments but claimed exemption under the Double Taxation Avoidance

In a heartfelt effort to ease the burden of rising living costs, a Jersey City gas station will be offering a generous giveaway this weekend that is expected to draw hundreds of locals. Tom Critelli’s Sunoco station, located at 465 Grand Street in Jersey City, is giving away $30 in free gasoline to the first 500 vehicles as part of a special event dubbed “Fueling the Community.” The giveaway will begin promptly at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, and it will operate on a first-come, firs

A roofing company in northern Washington state became the focal point of a major federal immigration enforcement action this week, resulting in the arrest of 37 individuals. The operation took place in Bellingham, a city situated near the Canadian border, where federal agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) executed a raid at Mt. Baker Roofing’s warehouse early Wednesday morning. The agents, part of ICE’s Home

Swiggy, the popular online food and grocery delivery platform, is facing new tax troubles with a total tax demand of over Rs 165 crore for the financial year 2021-22. The first of the two orders was issued by the Profession Tax Officer in Pune, Maharashtra, demanding Rs 7.59 crore. This order alleges that Swiggy failed to properly deduct profession tax from its employees' salaries, which is required under the Maharashtra State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings & Employments Act, 1975.

In 2025, residents of North Texas are witnessing a noticeable increase in gas prices, with the average price for a gallon of regular gas now at $3.04. This marks a significant jump from the previous week's price of $2.81. While many have been speculating about the reasons behind this rise, particularly in relation to ongoing economic discussions and the threat of tariffs, experts are weighing in to clarify the situation. Currently, Texas gas prices are still below the natio

For Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), securing health and term insurance for themselves and their families back in India is more than just a financial obligation—it is a critical step toward safeguarding their loved ones and managing long-term security. As global citizens, NRIs often weigh the pros and cons of buying insurance in their country of residence versus opting for policies in India. What tips the scale in favor of Indian insurance are three strong reasons: affordability, extensive

In a noteworthy development signaling the economic progress of Andhra Pradesh, the state has recorded its highest monthly Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection in nearly a year. The GST revenue generated in the state for the month of March 2025 has reached an impressive ₹3116 crore, breaking past the ₹3000 crore milestone for the first time in the last 11 months. This also marks an 8.35 percent year-on-year growth compared to March of the previous year, indicating an upward trend in tax