Burning Question: From Coaching Centres To BnBs, Why Delhi's 'Illegal Basements' Frequently Turn Death Traps
The fundamental danger of Delhi's basement economy stems from a blatant defiance of structural design and zoning regulations
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The fundamental danger of Delhi's basement economy stems from a blatant defiance of structural design and zoning regulations
America has days to secure a peace deal with Iran or risk recession. Stalled talks and rising oil prices have pushed the US economy to a critical point. If gas prices reach five dollars per gallon, consumer spending could collapse. Energy analysts warn that time is running out for President Trump to find a solution.
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The S&P 500 and the Dow closed modestly higher โon Tuesday as risk appetite driven by AI fervor was counterbalanced by tensions arising from U.S.-Iran talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the months-long war.Gains in most of the 11 major S&P sectors kept the S&P 500 and the Dow in the green, with the small-cap Russell 2000 outperforming its larger-cap peers. The Nasdaq โended the session essentially unchanged.Small-cap โ stocks have โ been some of the biggest beneficiaries of the ongoing enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence stocks, which provided some upside muscle. The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index advanced on the day.The Software & Services Index, โbattered in recent months over worries of AI disruption, closed in negative territory.Strong results from Hewlett Packard Enterprise and a funding commitment from Alphabet reinforced confidence in the โAI buildout."The market is kind of muted at the surface level, but there is a lot going on under the hood, and that describes much of this year," said Mike Dickson, head of portfolio management at Horizon Investments in Charlotte, North Carolina. "There's some massive dispersion in the whole AI infrastructure โecosystem.""Markets could be in for one of these heated, melt-up rallies where the momentum keeps โ winning," Dickson โadded. "I would not be surprised at all to be sitting here at the end of the summer a good bit โhigher."Tehran is studying a โU.S. proposal to bring the war to a halt, but has not been in contact with Washington โ for days, according to Iranian media, which also said Iran is taking a "stern" approach, given โwhat it views as a history of U.S. noncompliance and mutual distrust. Simultaneously, Israel is continuing its โstrikes on Lebanon, despite Tehran's warnings that the attacks are threatening to derail the fragile truce.The war has sent crude prices soaring, reviving worries over inflation and giving rise to an increasing likelihood that the U.S. Federal Reserve could hike interest rates by year-end. Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack said on Tuesday that such a hike could become necessary if already-elevated inflation pressures continue to mount. On the economic front, a report from the Labor Department showed an unexpected spike in job openings, driven by the volatile professional and business services sector. Otherwise, hiring, firing and quits all decreased, suggesting a slowdown โin labor market churn in the face of uncertainties related to strife in the Middle East and inflationary effects.Analysts look to the May employment report due on Friday, which is expected to show the U.S. economy added 85,000 jobs last โmonth, a monthly deceleration โof 26.1%. The unemployment rate is forecast โ to stand pat at 4.3%.According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 gained 10.07 points, or 0.13%, to end at 7,610.03 points, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 8.78 points, or 0.03%, to 27,095.59. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 237.13 points, or 0.46%, to 51,316.01.Hewlett Packard Enterprise jumped after โthe AI server maker pulled forward its long-term financial targets by two years. In further evidence of AI buildout, Alphabet said it was looking to raise $80 billion in equity offerings, including an investment from Berkshire Hathaway, to fund a costly expansion of its AI infrastructure. Its shares lost ground on the day. Marvell Technology's shares surged after Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang called the chipmaker the next "trillion-dollar company" at the Computex conference in Taipei. Nvidia invested $2 billion in Marvell in March.A drop in bitcoin hit cryptocurrency firms Coinbase and Strategy Inc.Broadcom is expected to report quarterly results on Wednesday.
Itโs easy to understand why so many graduates are booing commencement speakers who tell them how great AI is. They face a brutal job market, with unemployment for recent college graduates nearing recession levels, and AI is often cited as the reason they canโt find jobs or have to drastically reassess their career plans.I have a message for the class of 2026: AI is not ruining your job prospects, at least not yet. A better explanation for the tough job market may be the prevalence of WFH, not the rise of AI.131463654Two new studies, one from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and one from the London School of Economics, look at the recent rise in unemployment among young workers. The authors of the LSE study looked at 243 million new hires and 407 million online job postings from 2017 to 2025 in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. They observed a notable decline since 2022 in the hiring of new graduates. AI was presumed to be the reason, since the falloff tends to be in the sort of industries that are adopting AI.But these are also the same kinds of jobs โ reliant on computers, knowledge-intensive, white-collar โ that are most amenable to working from home. When they controlled for WFH, the authors found that the impact of AI on hiring was negligible.The study postulates that where WFH is more common, managing junior staff is more expensive. At the same time, young staffers who receive less training may be less productive than they would be otherwise, even as they mature and demand more pay. So the cost of WFH to young graduates is not just a harder job market โ it also makes it harder for young employees to get good training, supervision and mentorship, a point also made by the New York Fed study.WFH has always had a superficial appeal. At first, it seems easier and often cheaper for both employers and employees; companies can pay less if they offer more flexibility, and many staffers have commitments that keep them at home. In the long term, however, both management and workers pay a price in terms of lost training and career development of younger employees.This could get even worse as AI is more widely adopted. New hires recently out of college who work on their own may figure out how to do specific tasks (perhaps with AI assistance), but they wonโt learn much about how to manage office politics, charm clients or build networks. All these skills will be even more valuable in an AI job market, and none can be gained without coming into the office and observing senior colleagues.The new research doesnโt argue that AI will have no impact on hiring in the future, or that it is currently affecting hiring decisions. Itโs also worth noting that many firms are still hiring โ just not as much as before. There are a lot of factors that go into the health of the labor market, and if the economy worsens, the combination of AI and WFH could make it even harder for young graduates.What does seem clear is that AI is becoming a convenient villain for a lot of complaints people have about the economy. Tech executives arenโt helping by regularly declaring that AI can replace a lot of jobs. More likely, they are using AI as an excuse when they are letting people go for financial reasons. In the case of WFH, it may be easier to blame AI than to ask reluctant staff to come into the office.Iโve seen this reluctance firsthand: A few years ago I met middle-aged media executive who told me how much she loved working from home (or, often in her case, from a resort in Mexico). When I asked her about junior staffers missing out on mentoring and on-the-job training, she admitted she never would have succeeded if senior people werenโt in the office when she was coming up. But she didnโt seem too bothered by it, either.Iโve never been asked to give a commencement speech, but if for some reason I were, this would be my advice: Find a company where everyone likes going to work. Then try to get a job there โ and if you do, go into the office every day.
India's first AI-powered music company PaRa Music launched on Tuesday, offering a model designed to help original Indian music reach larger audiences across the country and worldwide, but does not create its own music.The music venture combines human-created music with proprietary AI-led market intelligence to guide catalogue development, distribution, and monetisation of music. It is backed by a funding from a consortium of angel and institutional investors led by Apollo Growth Capital and plans to build a catalogue of 40,000 songs over the next four years across film and non-film music, spanning Hindi and regional languages.Tapping one of the worldโs largest music markets, PaRa is aiming to bridge the gap between audience demand and effective discovery, particularly for regional and non-film music. With the industry projected to reach Rs 7,500 crore in 2028, estimates point to continued expansion in both streaming and recorded music revenues.Para Music has deployed a model "ParaMeter" as its in-house AI Chief of Music Intelligence who does not create music.This AI brain analyses audience signals across platforms and geographies to identify emerging demand, guide investment decisions, and support smarter catalogue and release strategies. The approach is intended to improve discovery and market fit while keeping music creation firmly in the hands of artists, composers, and songwriters.The venture is planning to build its business around the premise that original Indian music should have a stronger path to audience reach and long-term monetisation. It combines human creativity, institutional capital with data-led decision-making to support catalogue creation, targeted distribution, and diversified revenue opportunities for creators and rights holders.It further aims to partner with central and state governments to support music-led cultural, creative, and economic initiatives across India.PaRa Music is entering a broader market in which music rights and catalogues are increasingly viewed as long-term assets, with global investment activity expanding across recorded music and related rights. It adds volume to Indiaโs national music arena through a technology-led approach and a professional team aiming to build Indian music IP for the world, ensuring creators achieve stronger commercial outcomes and capture greater long-term value.โIndia has one of the worldโs richest and most diverse music ecosystems, yet much of its potential remains untapped. PaRa Music was founded to unlock this opportunity through technology, data, and strategic investment in Music IP," said founder Rashna Pochkhanawala.As the global recorded music market moves towards $200 billion by 2035, Pochkhanawala believes that India is poised to become a major growth engine.โWe rarely encounter opportunities where a large market, a proven business model, and exceptional leadership converge so clearly. Indiaโs music economy is entering a period of unprecedented growth, and we believe Music IP will be one of the defining asset classes of the next decade," said Johri, Company Spokesperson - Apollo Growth Capital.
Punjab CM says, โProjects will generate employment & strengthen Punjabโs economyโ
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To limit the impact of these external shocks, the government has stepped up measures aimed at reducing foreign exchange outflows and stabilising the economy. These steps include increases in fuel prices and a sharp rise in import duties on precious metals.
New Delhi: India's CPI inflation is expected to rise by around 70 bps to 4.8 per cent with crude oil averaging USD 90/bbl in FY27, according to a report by 360 ONE Capital. This projection comes as the ongoing conflict in West Asia and a downgraded domestic monsoon forecast introduce fresh challenges to India's macroeconomic trajectory.The report noted that the conflict in West Asia and the resulting energy supply disruptions warrant a reassessment of key macroeconomic assumptions. "Our revised base case assumes de-escalation by mid-June, with crude oil averaging USD 90/bbl in FY27. Under this scenario, CPI inflation is expected to rise by around 70 bps to 4.8% (from 4.1%), while GDP growth moderates to 6.3% (from 6.7%). The fiscal deficit is projected to widen to 4.6% of GDP (from 4.4%), and the current account deficit to 2.1% of GDP (from 1.3%)," the report stated.Also read: India meets FY26 fiscal deficit goal at 4.4% of GDP despite revenue and global pressuresThe report noted that India's economic momentum remains stable due to domestic consumption and public spending, but geopolitical frictions pose tangible downside risks. Supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz are particularly vital, as India sources nearly 50 per cent of its LPG and around 30 per cent of its natural gas requirements through this route.Even though the "net petroleum import bill has declined from 5.5% of GDP in FY14 to around 3.0% in FY25, the economy remains exposed to a prolonged disruption in energy supplies."On the monetary front, global financial conditions continue to tighten as central banks react to persistent inflationary impulses. While the Reserve Bank of India is expected to keep policy rates unchanged in the upcoming meeting, domestic bond yields face upward pressure from a widening fiscal deficit and higher energy costs.Also read: Manufacturing activity at 3-month high in May despite cost woesThe report mentioned that the impact on macroeconomic variables is likely to be non-linear, implying significantly larger downside risks if the conflict persists. "A further USD 10/bbl increase in crude prices above our base assumption could push inflation to 5.6% (assuming a partial pass-through of around 5% to retail fuel prices), lower GDP growth by an additional 40 bps to 5.9%, widen the current account deficit to 2.5% GDP, and increase the fiscal deficit to 4.8% of GDP," the report added.Compounding these external geopolitical risks, the domestic agricultural outlook faces unexpected pressure. In its Second Long Range Forecast, the IMD downgraded the Southwest Monsoon 2026 forecast to 90 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) from 92 per cent estimated in April.This development represents the weakest monsoon outlook since 2015, which raises immediate concerns over overall agricultural output and rural demand.In the global perspective, the IMF has lowered its 2026 global growth forecast by 20 bps, citing risks from the Middle East conflict through higher commodity prices, inflation, and tighter financial conditions.The report stated that under the IMF's reference scenario, "global growth is projected at 3.1% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027, below both the recent 3.4% pace and the historical average of 3.7%. In adverse scenarios, growth could slow to 2.5% or even 2.0%, accompanied by significantly higher inflation, with emerging markets expected to be disproportionately affected."
In the last two IPL seasons, Bhuvi has taken a combined 45 wickets, including 28 wickets this season. It is his best IPL performance, going close to his IPL 2016 (23 wickets) and IPL 2017 (26 wickets) tallies. In the last two seasons, no one has been as lethal as Bhuvi with Prasidh Krishna (41 wickets) coming closest. Among the bowlers who've bowled at least 100 overs, his economy (8.55) is only marginally behind Noor Ahmed (8.27). This season he finished just one short of eventual Purple Cap winner Kagiso Rabada.
India will host the second BRICS Culture Working Group meeting in Varanasi on June 4-5, featuring discussions on cultural economy and heritage protection.
BEIJING: Oil prices rose more than 2% in early trading on Monday after Israel ordered troops to move further into Lebanon in the battle with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, despite a ceasefire announced more than six weeks ago. U.S. crude futures rose $2.17 or 2.48% to $89.53 a barrel as of 2312 GMT (Sunday). Brent futures rose $1.93 or 2.12% to $93.05 a โbarrel. The stepped-up โ fighting, coming โ just after the U.S. hosted Israeli-Lebanon peace talks in Washington on Friday, dimmed expectations that the U.S. and Iran could soon announce an extension to their ceasefire agreement, which had driven Brent and WTI to settle up 1.8% and 1.7%, respectively, on Friday. The Israel-Lebanon conflict has been the broadest spillover of the Iran war. It started on March 2 when Hezbollah began firing rockets and drones across the border into Israel to back its ally Iran. The two sides reached a ceasefire โ in mid-April โbut have continued to trade fire. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would soon decide on a proposed deal to extend a ceasefire with Iran announced โ in early April, giving negotiators more time to seek a permanent end to the conflict and find a solution to the underlying dispute over Iran's nuclear program. Israel would be key to any such deal, and Iran has also said repeatedly that Hezbollah must be included. Meanwhile, concerns are rising about mines in key oil and gas shipping lane the Strait of Hormuz, IG analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note. That could slow the process of reopening the strait and mean that relief comes more slowly โfor the oil market even after it is reopened. "Even if an agreement is reached, it won't deliver a flood of supply," Sycamore said. An Axios reporter said on X on Friday that Iran had โ dropped more mines in the strait earlier in the week, shortly after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that attempts to lay more mines would be a violation of the ceasefire. Hormuz is a conduit for about a fifth of global oil and gas flows and Iran has effectively closed it since the conflict began with U.S. and Israeli strikes in February. Concerns over supply outweighed lacklustre economic data from China over the weekend, which showed stalling factory activity. This added to concerns the world's second-largest economy is losing momentum, weighed down by a contraction in exports and cost pressures.
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The 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) came to an end on Sunday, with Rajasthan Royals' teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi claiming the Orange Cap and Gujarat Titans pacer Kagiso Rabada winning the Purple Cap. Beyond those marquee awards, several players delivered record-breaking performances throughout the tournament.Here's a look at the standout batting and bowling achievements from IPL 2026:IPL 2026 Batting RecordsOrange Cap: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi โ 776 runsRuPay On-The-Go 4s of the Season: Sai Sudharsan โ 75 foursMost Fours in an Innings: KL Rahul โ 16 fours against PBKS on April 25 during his 152-run knockAngel One Super Sixes of the Season: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi โ 72 sixesMost Sixes in an Innings: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi โ 12 sixes against SRH at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on April 25 while scoring 103 runsMost Fifties: Sai Sudharsan โ 8Most Centuries: Sanju Samson โ 2Fastest Fifty: Urvil Patel (CSK) โ 13 balls against LSGFastest Century: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR) โ 36 balls against SRHHighest Individual Score: KL Rahul (DC) โ 152Sierra Super Striker of the Season: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi โ Strike rate of 237.30Best Batting Average: Ravindra Jadeja โ 66.50IPL 2026 Bowling RecordsPurple Cap: Kagiso Rabada โ 29 wicketsMost Maiden Overs: Mohsin Khan (LSG) โ 3TATA IPL Green Dot Balls: Mohammed Siraj โ 172 dot ballsMost Dot Balls in an Innings: Suyash Sharma โ 20Best Bowling Average: Travis Head โ 7.00Best Bowling Economy Rate: Sunil Narine (KKR) โ 6.64Best Bowling Economy in an Innings: Suyash Sharma โ 1.75Best Bowling Strike Rate: Travis Head โ 6.00Best Bowling Figures: Mohsin Khan โ 5/23 (4 overs)Most Runs Conceded in an Innings: Xavier Bartlett โ 69
The prime minister also highlighted local efforts to clean polluted rivers, the growing interest in astronomy clubs, the rescue of a Gangetic dolphin using a special ambulance, and the progress made by Indian athletes in track and field.
India's primary market is set for an active week in the mainboard segment, with two public issues scheduled to open for subscription even as investor sentiment remains selective amid volatile equity markets and heightened global uncertainty. The spotlight will be on the IPOs of CMR Green Technologies and Hexagon Nutrition, which together aim to raise nearly Rs 770 crore.The offerings come at a time when the IPO market has seen a lull for a few weeks in a tepid 2026. While several companies have secured regulatory approvals in recent weeks, many have put off their IPO plans due to market volatility.The first issue to hit the market next week will be CMR Green Technologies. The company's IPO will open on June 3 and close on June 5. The issue is priced in the range of Rs 182-192 per share and aims to raise Rs 630.9 crore. Equirus Capital is managing the offering.CMR Green Technologies operates in the metal recycling and circular economy segment, manufacturing recycled aluminium and zinc products for automotive and industrial applications. The company counts several leading automotive manufacturers among its customers and is positioned to benefit from increasing adoption of recycled metals and sustainability-focused manufacturing practices.The company is expected to attract investor interest given the growing focus on resource efficiency, electric vehicles and environmental regulations that are encouraging the use of recycled materials.The second mainboard issue scheduled for next week is Hexagon Nutrition.The IPO will open on June 5 and close on June 9. The company has fixed a price band of Rs 42-45 per share and plans to raise Rs 138.9 crore through an offer for sale of 3.09 crore shares. Since the issue is entirely an OFS, the company will not receive any proceeds from the public offering.Hexagon Nutrition is a research-driven nutrition company engaged in manufacturing micronutrient premixes, wellness and clinical nutrition products, therapeutic formulations and ready-to-use nutritional foods.Founded in 1993, the company operates manufacturing facilities in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uzbekistan and exports products to more than 75 countries. Its products are sold through both business-to-consumer and business-to-business channels and include brands such as Pentasure, Obesigo, Pediagold and Nutrone.The company has reported steady financial growth in recent years. Profit after tax rose to Rs 24.4 crore in FY25 from Rs 12.2 crore in FY24 and Rs 5.8 crore in FY23, while total income increased to Rs 331 crore.At the upper end of the price band, Hexagon Nutrition is valued at around 15 times post-issue earnings.Market participants will closely watch subscription trends in both issues as they could provide a signal on investor appetite for new listings after months of fluctuating market sentiment.The broader market environment remains mixed. Indian equities have faced pressure this year from elevated crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions in West Asia and foreign institutional investor outflows. However, strong domestic liquidity and continued retail participation have helped support primary market activity.SME segmentApart from the mainboard issues, the SME segment is also expected to remain active next week.Genxai Analytics plans to raise about Rs 55 crore through its NSE SME IPO, which opens on June 5 and closes on June 9. The issue is priced at Rs 110-116 per share. Vahh Chemicals will launch a fixed-price SME issue worth Rs 13.5 crore between June 4 and June 8 on the BSE SME platform.Merritronix will also tap the SME market with a Rs 70 crore issue opening on June 1 and closing on June 3.While SME offerings continue to attract investor interest, listing performance has remained mixed in recent months, making subscription quality and valuation discipline increasingly important factors for investors.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)
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NEW YORK: Businesses big and small have started receiving tariff refunds after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump lacked the constitutional authority to impose higher import taxes on goods from nearly every other country.The process could grind to a halt, however, after the Trump administration said Friday that it intended to appeal a federal judge's order to allow all companies that paid the invalidated duties to seek refunds, not just the ones that filed lawsuits.Until the Department of Justice informed the judge of its planned appeal, the refund system overseen by U.S. Customs and Border Protection had been working fairly smoothly. Refunds reached the bank accounts of the first successful applicants on May 12, about three weeks after importers and their customs brokers could start submitting claims through an online system, according to CBP.Applications for refunds totaling $85 billion - more than half of the $166 billion the agency estimated the government owes to companies that paid the tariffs on imported goods - were accepted for processing as of May 22, CBP reported in a legal filing earlier in the week. It said it had so far directed the Treasury Department to issue $20.6 billion in refunds.Also read | US probes Reid Hoffman group over funding lawsuits against Trump, source saysThe administration revealed its appeal preparations while objecting to a demand by Judge Richard K. Eaton for CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott to appear in the U.S. Court of International Trade to answer questions about how long it would take to repay all 330,000 importers that might be eligible for refunds. The judge scheduled a June 9 hearing on why he shouldn't require the government do whatever it takes to speed up the process.Justice Department lawyers asked Eaton to allow one or two of Scott's deputies to appear in his place, arguing that as a high-ranking presidential appointee, the CBP chief could not be compelled to testify. They also argued that Eaton exceeded his authority when he determined in March that the Supreme Court's ruling entitled "all importers of record'' to refunds."For that reason, defendants intend to appeal the court's universal injunction," the lawyers wrote, adding that CBP would continue to move "as quicky as it can to process refunds in a phased approach" for businesses that filed legal complaints asserting their rights to refunds.In a written reply, Eaton said he needed to hear directly from Scott whether the government would return all of the money it collected between when Trump put what he called "reciprocal" tariffs on most countries in April 2025 and when the Supreme Court struck them down in late February."It is undisputed that the remedy for this unlawful collection is for the United States government to refund the unlawfully collected duties," the judge wrote.Refunds coming in phasesMore than 1,000 companies, including large ones like Costco, Goodyear Tire, banana and pineapple distributor Dole Fresh Fruit, and department store chain Kohl's, filed lawsuits to recoup their tariff costs. The judge said Wednesday he intended to allow cases he put on hold while CBP figured out how to handle refund claims - they numbered 485 in mid-March - to proceed.Also read | Minority union at Samsung Electronics to challenge pay deal in courtCustoms and Border Protection is handling refund claims in phases, focusing first on payments that weren't finalized before the Supreme Court handed down its 6-3 decision. CBP officials have said those later payments were more straightforward to process.Importers are required to make estimated tariff payments when goods enter the U.S. The declared items then enter a process called "liquidation," in which CBP determines how much in import taxes was owed. The decision becomes final after 180 days unless the payer contests the bill.In Friday's filing, the Justice Department said the agency did not have the technological ability or the legal authority to recalculate liquidated accounts without "importer-specific orders" in each lawsuit.Price cuts promisedSome national retail chains said they planned to use their tariff refunds refunds to lower customer prices on some items. Walmart Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey told analysts last week that the company would implement price cuts even though the maximum refund it might be eligible for represented less than half of 1% of Walmart's $483 billion in annual U.S. sales.Costco intends to return the tariff costs that it passed on to members, CEO Ron Vachris said. How much of its refund the big-box retail chain redistributes, when and in what form, depends on factors such as the size of the refund, when it arrives, and developments in a lawsuit seeking tariff compensation for Costco customers, Vachris told investors Thursday.Consumers could first see refunds from shipping companies such as FedEx, UPS and DHL, which acted as customs brokers when they delivered products ordered from overseas. The companies charged either the sellers that shipped the packages or the buyers who received them and turned the tariffs they collected over to CBP.All three promised to return any refunds they get to the customers that paid the import taxes. Last week, FedEx said it was "working to swiftly process refunds and return them to the shippers and consumers who originally bore those charges."Putting refunds back into the businessThe Supreme Court invalidated only the country-by-country tariff rates Trump set by citing the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Others he imposed under different rationales remain in effect. Trump also has moved to introduce new tariffs since the court's Feb. 20 ruling.Some smaller companies told The Associated Press that the tariff refunds they've received so far would go toward paying remaining or future tariffs or getting back on solid financial footing after more than a year of uncertainty and additional costs.Jay Foreman, CEO of toy company Basic Fun, said he received about $450,000, or 7% of his total claim, over two consecutive days. He took the repayment as a positive sign but said that after having less than $10,000 refunded since then, the process seemed like a "total slow roll.""It's time to release the funds back into the economy, especially given how much we and others need these funds to support our businesses and fund our operations," Foreman said.Men's grooming brand Manscaped has received about 30% of the $12 million in refunds it applied for, President Kevin Datoo said. He said the San Diego company deferred investments and took on debt to pay tariffs on imports from Indonesia, China and elsewhere in Asia last year."We need to shore up the balance sheet because there's still a whole second chapter here," Datoo said.Melkon Khosrovian, who owns Greenbar Distillery in Los Angeles, said he applied for a tariff refund of about $90,000 for 17 different shipments and has received $18,000 covering four of them. Certain types of herbs, spices and packaging are hard to find domestically, so Khosrovian said he imports them.The tariffs were "painful," he said. He invested money to automate his bottling process last year so he wouldn't have to pay as many workers. The move allowed him to reduce his 13-person staff by three, but Khosrovian noted that the White House had argued the tariffs would create more U.S. manufacturing jobs."Our choices were bad and worse: raise prices and lose customers, or keep prices the same and not make any money," he said.