HPCL commissions residue upgradation facility at Visakhapatnam, boosting distillate output, refining margins and reducing fuel imports.
HPCL has commissioned a 3.55 million tonnes-per-year residue upgradation facility at Visakhapatnam featuring India's first residue hydrocracking unit and the world's first LC-Max unit, converting about 93% of bottom-of-the-barrel oils into distillates, raising Nelson Complexity Index to 11.6, increasing distillate yields by up to 10% and improving gross refining margins through processing heavier crudes and higher value realisation.

IRCTC scam trial stay deferred pending CBI reply and trial court records in case involving alleged tender manipulation and corruption.
High Court deferred ruling on a stay of trial pending the CBI's reply and production of trial court records in proceedings where charges were framed against multiple accused, including for criminal conspiracy under Section 120B IPC, cheating under Section 420 IPC, and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, arising from alleged manipulation of tenders and transfer and lease of railway hotel properties.

Bribery-linked money laundering alleged in CLU approvals led to suspension of the implicated IAS officer after arrest and custody.
Investigations allege a scheme in which fixed bribe rates were demanded and collected to expedite change of land use approvals, routed through intermediaries and documented in accounts transmitted to the district collector's office; tracing of over 800 CLU applications reportedly generated proceeds of crime exceeding ten crore rupees. The implicated collector was suspended after custodial detention exceeded the service-rule threshold, with allegations that his statutory authority over CLU approvals enabled control of outcomes and made him the key beneficiary in the laundering arrangement.

Crypto exchanges registered with FIU must file STRs and follow AML/CFT compliance including beneficial ownership and CDD/EDD.
Forty nine Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers were registered with the Financial Intelligence Unit as reporting entities under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act; they must file suspicious transaction reports, determine and report beneficial ownership of wallets, monitor token offerings, track hosted to unhosted wallet transfers, disclose banking and financial accounts, appoint designated officers, and implement internal audits, risk based customer due diligence, enhanced due diligence, sanctions screening and periodic risk assessments for submission to the federal agency.

Tariff threats on India for buying Russian oil may rise under a proposed bill seeking extremely high import levies.
Tariff threats and proposed high-levy legislation were invoked to pressure countries buying Russian oil: a US political figure warned tariffs on Indian imports could be raised quickly, while a senator described a bill to impose very large duties on goods from buyers of Russian oil as a means to increase economic pressure on Russia by penalising its customers.

Pocket HRMS launches HRMS Copilot, an AI assistant providing real-time HR insights and 24/7 employee self-service.
HRMS CopilotTM is an AI enhancement that integrates with HRMS modules and enterprise databases to provide context-aware, real-time, personalized responses to employee queries via mobile and ESS, automating routine HR interactions to reclaim HR time for strategic activities while maintaining a security-first approach to data access.

Battery energy storage project awarded under BESPA requires regulatory approvals and an 18-month execution timeline.
Rajesh Power Services will develop a standalone Battery Energy Storage System (65 MW/130 MW) at Virpore under a BESPA; the contract is conditional on regulatory approvals and must be executed within an 18-month timeframe from signing and approvals.

Renaissance Goa Hotel opens with 133 rooms, local Navigator experiences, dynamic dining, event spaces, and loyalty program access.
Announcement of the commercial opening of a 133-key lifestyle hotel in North Goa positioned as a neighbourhood-led retreat with design elements grounded in local textures. The property offers contemporary rooms and family accommodations, an on-site Navigator service delivering curated local experiences, extensive food-and-beverage programming including signature restaurants and a rooftop bar, and nearly 8,000 square feet of configurable event space. The hotel participates in a global loyalty program allowing members to earn and redeem points and use an app with contactless features.

World Class India 2026 expands to include Nepal and Sri Lanka, focusing on flavour-led education and regional bartender development.
World Class India 2026 expands to include Nepal and Sri Lanka, forming a South Asia cohort that shares education, mentorship, and global pathways. The programme prioritises education and flavour-led mixology through science- and memory-based modules, uses roadshows and workshops across eleven cities to embed standards and hands-on practice, and leverages alumni as mentors and judges to translate competition exposure into local bar ecosystem development.

IRCTC scam: Lalu Prasad Yadav challenges framing of charges; trial not stayed pending probe agency response.
The petitioner challenges the trial court's framing of charges in the IRCTC matter, which included a common charge of criminal conspiracy read with cheating against fourteen accused and allegations of criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption framework; the High Court refused to stay the trial, issued notice to the investigative agency, and sought the agency's reply before considering any interruption of proceedings.

UFC GYM Malad opens a 5,000 sq ft MMA-inspired fitness club offering classes, specialized equipment, and youth programs.
UFC GYM opened a 5,000 sq. ft. premium MMA-inspired club in Malad West, Mumbai, featuring a UFC-style Octagon, dedicated striking and functional training areas, branded cardio and strength equipment, chilled showers and steam, valet parking and youth programming; instruction combines internationally developed UFC GYM programming with a Master Coach in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and a wide range of group classes designed to deliver structured, results-oriented training within a community environment.

Param Raksha Life Pro+ offers NRIs market-linked ULIP returns with life, accidental and terminal illness payouts, and tax-linked benefits.
Param Raksha Life Pro+ combines unit linked life insurance with market linked investment funds, providing lump sum death benefits, accidental disability and enhanced accidental death benefits for certain transport accidents, and an advance payout for terminal illness. Investment risk is borne by the policyholder, and linked units are illiquid until the end of the fifth year. The plan offers flexible premium terms, entry ages 18-65, coverage to age 100, wellness services, and potential Indian tax advantages subject to applicable conditions and individual tax advice.

Pan Masala manufacturers must register, declare machine parameters, pay monthly cess by machine speed, and follow abatement rules.
Every taxable person must register in FORM HSNS REG-01; temporary registration allows payment pending issuance of FORM HSNS REG-02. File FORM HSNS DEC-01 within seven days of registration and fresh declarations within 15 days of any change. Proper officers verify declarations within 90 days and may order adjustment; differential cess and interest are payable for past and subsequent periods. Monthly cess is computed by machine count and maximum rated speed per Schedule II, payable by the 7th and returned by the 20th; abatement is available for continuous shutdowns of 15+ days and requires officer-supervised sealing and procedural claims.

AYUSH export promotion: council-led quality certification and trade facilitation boosted exports and FTA market recognition.
AYUSHEXCIL implemented capacity building, export facilitation, regulatory compliance support, and international promotion, coinciding with a 6.11% rise in AYUSH exports to USD 688.89 million in 2024-25. The Council anchors the Ayush Quality Mark programme to strengthen certification and market recognition, is registered as a Section 8 company, and was notified by DGFT as the nodal Export Promotion Council, operating with the Ministry of Ayush and Commerce to leverage trade agreements and enhance international cooperation.

Babycham: a 1950s sparkling pear drink marketed to women with iconic branding, later revived for nostalgic celebrations.
The text outlines Babycham's creation by Showerings in the early 1950s as a 6% ABV sparkling pear perry sold in various bottle sizes to provide an affordable champagne-style celebratory drink; it emphasizes the brand's targeted marketing to women, iconic deer logo, use of branded champagne coupes and pioneering television advertising that drove 1960s sales and led to acquisition by Allied Breweries, followed by market decline in the 1980s and a family-led revival culminating in a 2021 relaunch.

Markets react to US capture of Venezuelan leader: oil dips, precious metals rise, Asian stocks surge amid geopolitical uncertainty.
Markets re-priced after the US capture of Venezuela's leader: crude oil fell to about USD 57.09 (WTI) and USD 60.58 (Brent) amid concern over Venezuela's degraded oil infrastructure; gold rose ~1.9% and silver ~5.7% as safe havens. Asian equities rallied (Nikkei and Kospi ~3%), US futures were flat, currencies moved modestly, and furniture stocks gained after a delay to increased tariffs. Traders flagged concurrent geopolitical risks, US-China trade tensions, monetary policy, and imminent US economic data as key drivers for near-term market direction.

Indian Osteoporosis Guidelines 2025 provide evidence-based screening, diagnosis, and management recommendations for clinicians and allied providers.
The Indian Osteoporosis Guidelines 2025 establish a nationally endorsed, evidence-based framework for prevention, diagnosis, and management of osteoporosis for clinicians and allied providers. Developed via a six-round Delphi consensus by 62 experts and published in the Indian Journal of Orthopaedics, the guidelines provide practical recommendations for screening, diagnostic assessment including Bone Mineral Density considerations, and therapeutic management tailored to the Indian healthcare setting, serving as an authoritative reference for clinical practice and institutional policy.

Foreign news schedule highlights potential tariff action over India's purchases of Russian oil and regional developments.
Foreign news schedule for Jan 5, 2026 highlights a quoted statement that tariffs could be raised quickly over India's purchases of Russian oil and lists coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war, U.S.-Venezuela tensions, and developments in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Stock market early trade falls as IT blue-chips drag benchmarks lower amid geopolitical concerns and mixed global cues.
Equity benchmarks declined in early trading led by blue-chip IT firms, with the Sensex down ~126 points to 85,636.05 and the Nifty down ~31 points to 26,297.60; FIIs and DIIs reported net purchases of Rs 289.80 crore and Rs 677.38 crore respectively, and commentators cited geopolitical developments and mixed global market moves as factors amid Brent crude near USD 60.70 per barrel.

US tariffs on India over Russian oil purchases may be raised quickly, with a bill proposing 500% levies and existing duties cited.
Threats to increase tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil were publicly signalled by the US President, who said tariffs could be raised "very quickly"; a legislative proposal seeking 500 per cent levies on imports from countries buying Russian oil and an asserted existing 25 per cent tariff on India were cited as instruments of economic pressure.