The market closed near its one-month high. The domestic market rallied for the fourth consecutive day on Monday, taking positive cues from other Asian and European markets. The mood across Dalal Street was buoyant throughout the day, as weak US jobs data raised expectations that the US Federal Reserve may further delay the much-awaited rate hike well into the first quarter of 2016. The S&P BSE Sensex rallied 564 points, or 2.15 per cent, during the day to close at 26,785 while the 50-stock NSE Nifty50 ended 168.4 points, or 2.12 per cent, higher at 8,119.30.

4 jawans, 1 militant killed in encounters in Kashmir
Four jawans were today killed in a fierce gunbattle with militants in a forest area in Kupwara in Kashmir Valley, while a militant was shot dead in a separate encounter in the district. Four jawans lost their lives in a gunbattle with the militants during an operation launched in Haphruda forest in Handwara following information about presence of militants there, an Army spokesperson said. One militant was killed in a separate encounter that broke out during an operation in Lolab area.

Trio win Nobel Medicine Prize for parasite therapies
Irish-born William Campbell, Satoshi Omura of Japan and China's Youyou Tu won the Nobel Medicine Prize on Monday for their discoveries of treatments against parasites, the jury said. Campbell and Omura shared one-half of the prize for "their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites", while Tu won the other half "for discoveries concerning a novel therapy against malaria."

Apple and Google take top spots on best global brands list
Avenue may be the center of the advertising industry, but Silicon Valley is home to the most valuable brands. For the third consecutive year, Apple and Google top the annual Interbrand Best Global Brands report. The report, which is to be released Monday, estimates the value of the Apple brand at $170.3 billion, up 43 per cent from last year. The Google brand, at $120.3 billion, increased in value by 12 per cent. (The value of Facebook's brand, ranked No. 23, increased 54 per cent to $22 billion, the highest per centage increase from last year's report.)

CREDAI moves CCI against cement firms over price manipulation
Realtors' apex body CREDAI today said it has filed complaint with fair trade regulator CCI against cement manufacturers alleging manipulation in prices of construction material that have risen by up to 40 per cent in last two months. Last month, CREDAI's NCR chapter decided to stop buying cement from companies like Ultratech and Lafarge for unilaterally increasing cement prices in last one month.

Somnath Bharti's wife says no to mediation
Somnath Bharti will have to face criminal proceedings in a domestic violence case filed by his wife as she turned down his offer to settle the dispute through mediation. Lipika Mitra, Somnath Bharti's wife, on Monday personally appeared before the Supreme Court and told a bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu that she did not want to settle dispute with her husband through mediation. Taking note of Lipika "positive no" to Somnath's offer, the bench disposed of the petition filed by the former law minister of Delhi. The bench asked Somnath to approach the trial judge for regular bail.

SC stays HC order banning sale of beef in Jammu and Kashmir for 2 months
The Supreme Court on Monday kept in abeyance for two months the order of Jammu bench of J&K HC banning sale of beef in pursuance to penal provisions in the state.

The SC also asked the chief justice of the Jammu and Kashmir high court to form a three-judge bench to examine the validity of penal provisions that bans slaughtering of cattle and sale of beef in the state. The SC passed the order after noting the conflicting orders passed by the Jammu and Srinagar bench of the high court.

Rahul, Sonia unlikely to share dais with Lalu
Congress president Sonia Gandhi or party vice-president Rahul Gandhi is unlikely to share the stage with RJD chief Lalu Prasad during Bihar election campaign. Congress and RJD sources said no joint election campaign of Lalu, Sonia or Rahul has been planned yet.

Truckers stir may raise essential food items' prices by 15%: Assocham
As transporters' nationwide strike entered the fifth day today, industry chamber Assocham said prices of essential commodities such as fruits, vegetables and milk may increase by up to 15 per cent if the stir continues. Besides, the strike has adversely impacted the government's revenue to the tune of Rs 36 crore. The industry body said the nationwide indefinite strike has already affected about 20 billion tonnes-km of freight traffic movement.