The Times of India

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken action against 27 restaurants nationwide for mandatorily levying service charges, deeming it a violation of consumer law. Fines up to Rs 50,000 were imposed, with directions to refund collected charges and modify billing systems to prevent default additions.

This collapse is central to the scepticism voiced by oil companies. Restoring production on a meaningful scale is not a matter of restarting wells. It would require rebuilding pipelines, upgraders, refineries, power supply and skilled manpower, all of which demand long-term capital commitments.

Andhra Pradesh's Cabinet has greenlit the Dagadarthi greenfield airport in Nellore, boosting the state's aviation and industrial infrastructure. This eighth airport will enhance connectivity to major ports and highways, fostering growth in manufacturing, exports, and agri-logistics.

PhonePe Payment Gateway has launched 'PhonePe PG Bolt' for Visa and Mastercard transactions, enabling a faster and more secure in-app checkout experience. The solution utilizes device tokenization to allow users to save cards once and use them across integrated merchants.

India and the European Union are pushing to finalize their free trade agreement. Officials met in Brussels to review progress and resolve outstanding issues. Both sides have expressed strong political will to conclude the negotiations soon.

India and the European Union advanced their Free Trade Agreement discussions during Minister Piyush Goyal's Brussels visit. Both sides committed to resolving outstanding issues to expedite a balanced agreement protecting farmers and MSMEs while integrating Indian industries into global supply chains. Goyal also visited Liechtenstein to discuss the India-EFTA TEPA, encouraging investment and collaboration.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted that the government's long-term energy planning is translating into tangible benefits for citizens, stating that the real test of policy lies in how seamlessly it supports daily life rather than in announcements alone.

Amidst Trump's 500% tariff threat, it's important to note that despite heavy import dependence, Indias energy security has strengthened through diversified crude sourcing and greater refining flexibility, improving resilience to external supply shocks.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the department has ample funds for tariff refunds if the Supreme Court rules against President Trump's emergency tariffs, though payments could take over a year. He expressed doubt about such a ruling, calling potential refunds a corporate boondoggle if companies passed costs to consumers.

Indian garment makers face a potential 500% US tariff threat, jeopardizing export prospects for the fall-winter cycle. Buyers are hesitant, and the industry is still recovering from previous 50% duties. Manufacturers are proceeding with production despite uncertainty, fearing a 500% tariff would effectively halt exports to the US.

President Trump met with oil executives to discuss investments in Venezuela's oil sector following President Maduro's capture, presenting the country as secure for business. Industry leaders expressed caution, with one stating Venezuela is currently uninvestable without significant reforms. The US administration plans to manage company access to Venezuela's oil resources, sidelining Caracas from negotiations.

Reliance Industries is considering resuming Venezuelan crude oil purchases if non-US buyers are permitted, awaiting regulatory clarity. Other Indian refiners like Indian Oil Corp and Hindustan Petroleum Corp are also open to Venezuelan oil under similar conditions. This potential shift comes as India faces pressure to reduce Russian oil imports.

A prediction market is allowing traders to bet on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ by the end of 2026, with current odds at roughly 3% for a Yes outcome. This follows a similar wager in 2025, where the No side ultimately prevailed. The market treats the event as a tradable probability, attracting capital seeking predictable, albeit unlikely, returns.

Indian tax authorities have highlighted significant risks associated with virtual digital assets like crypto, echoing the Reserve Bank of India's concerns. The anonymous and borderless nature of these assets, coupled with offshore platforms, makes tracking taxable income and beneficial owners extremely difficult. Jurisdictional challenges further complicate tax recovery, prompting authorities to implement safeguards like TDS and mandatory registration.

As Indian airlines face a dwindling pool of pilots due to updated flight duty regulations, IndiGo and Air India are ramping up their recruitment efforts. IndiGo, in particular, is set to hire 100 new pilots this January, with captains receiving enticing signing bonuses that could soar to 50 lakh.