'India adopts balanced approach to W Asia clash'

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said India's approach to the conflict that has been going on in West Asia since last year is balanced as it looks at the issues in all their complexities and also has a fundamental commitment to justice and equity. 

Online beauty services platform YesMadam drew flak on Monday after a purported internal email leaked on social media suggesting the termination of those staff who had indicated workplace stress, although many dubbed it a marketing gimmick for a possible campaign. 

Three persons died and 17 others were injured after a bus of the Mumbai's civic transport body BEST dashed into pedestrians as well as some vehicles on Monday night, a municipal corporation official said. 

Eminent filmmaker Shaji N Karun has been selected for the JC Daniel Award for 2023, recognising his lifetime contribution to Malayalam cinema, an official release stated on Monday. 

Maharashtra BJP MLC Yogesh Tilekar's uncle was allegedly abducted and murdered by unidentified persons in Pune district on Monday, a police official said. 

Mumbai recorded its coldest day on Monday since December 24, 2015, with the temperature dipping to 13.7 degrees Celsius, an India meteorological department official said. 

Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light on Monday secured two nominations at the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture Non-English Language and the Best Direction - Motion Picture. 

A 34-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh died by hanging himself from the ceiling at his residence on Monday, the police said.

An anonymous person made calls threatening to "kill" Andhra Pradesh deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and his office received those calls, officials said. 

The Mumbai police seeking the remand of 13 accused in the Baba Siddique murder case told the MCOCA court on Monday that jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's role in the killing has not been found as yet, while his brother Anmol Bishnoi is running a separate gang. 

The Tamil Nadu assembly on Monday passed a resolution urging the Centre to immediately cancel tungsten mining rights granted to Hindustan Zinc Limited in the state, following an intense debate in the Assembly House. 

Film director Ali Abbas Zafar and two others were booked for allegedly duping producer Vashu Bhagnani of Rs 9 crore, a police official said on Monday. 

A resident of Sanjay Nagar, Bengaluru, was awarded Rs 5,000 by the city's consumer disputes redressal commission after he complained that OnePlus India Technology Pvt Ltd failed to provide a user manual along with his smartphone. 

A doctor was beaten up by four unidentified persons in Mumbra in Thane district, a police official said on Monday. 

Allu Arjun-starrer blockbuster Pushpa 2 has led to a poster war between the ruling AAP in Delhi and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the assembly polls scheduled early next year. 

The Agra airport received a bomb threat through an email on Monday, prompting a thorough search by security agencies but "nothing suspicious was found", the police said. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reply to the two-day debate on the Constitution in the Lok Sabha on Saturday, parliament sources said. 

Seven persons, including four college students, headed to a village to appear for an exam, were killed when two cars collided in Gujarat's Junagadh district on Monday, the police said. 

The first validation test flight for the upcoming Noida International Airport was conducted successfully on Monday, with an Airbus 320 of IndiGo receiving a ceremonial water cannon salute upon the maiden landing at the greenfield facility, officials said. 

Just In: The government has appointed Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra as the next Reserve Bank governor, according to sources. 

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Monday, dragged down by selling in blue-chip stocks Reliance Industries, Hindustan Unilever, Axis Bank and mixed global trend. 

India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday raised the issue of attacks on minorities, including Hindus, with Bangladesh leaders and officials in Dhaka. "...I emphasised that India desires a positive, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh. I have underlined today India's desire to work closely with the interim government of Bangladesh Authority..." Misri told reporters here. "We also discussed recent developments and I conveyed our concerns including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities.. We also discussed regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural and religious properties," he added. Misri said the discussions have given both India and Bangladesh the opportunity to take stock of bilateral ties. "I appreciate the opportunity today to have had a frank, candid and constructive exchange of views with all my interlocutors..." he said.

INDIA bloc to move no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar due to the partisan functioning of the House. INDIA bloc parties --- including Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party and Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party have signed the motion. The parties will be moving the motion under Article 67(B) of the Constitution.

A fire broke out in a building in west Delhi's Rajouri Garden market on Monday, authorities said. "We received a fire call near Rajouri Garden Metro Station at 2.01 pm. 10 fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the site to control the blaze," Delhi Fire Services chief Atul Garg said.

Taking a dig at a section of Bangladeshi politicians, who said the country has legitimate claims over Bengal, Bihar and Odisha, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday wondered whether Indians "would have lollipop" when external forces would try to occupy Indian lands.

The Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for a third time till 3 pm on Monday as the treasury benches accused top Congress leaders of collusion with billionaire investor George Soros to destabilise the country.

Emphasising preparing the youth for leadership in every field of nation-building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the youth should lead the country in politics, adding that politics cannot be left to those who consider politics as their "family's property."

The Devendra Fadnavis-led ministry on Monday sailed through a trust vote in the Maharashtra assembly. The trust motion, tabled by Shiv Sena MLA Uday Samant and others, was passed by a voice vote.

Two students died after falling from the fourth floor of their PG (paying guest) accommodation in Delhi's Rohini on Monday, an official said. The police had earlier said the students had jumped from the fourth floor. 

Himachal Pradesh witnessed its first snowfall of the season which led to the closure of at least 87 roads in the state, including Atari-Leh National Highway 3 near Manali's Rohtang Pass, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said. A total of 58 roads were closed in Shimla, followed by 17 in Kinnaur, six in Kangra, two in Lahaul and Spiti, one each in Kullu and Chamba districts. 

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri holds a delegation-level talk with Bangladeshi counterpart Md. Jashim Uddin, in Dhaka.

A day after Islamist rebels captured power in Syria, India on Monday called for a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led political process to bring stability in that country. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it is monitoring the unfolding developments in Syria. 

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking directions to the Centre and other authorities to immediately clear blockades on national and state highways in Punjab where farmers are staging protests. 

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday held talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin, amid strained bilateral ties since August following the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Misri arrived in Dhaka earlier in the day on an Indian Air Force jet for a day-long visit, officials said. 

Amitabh Bachchan on Monday expressed gratitude to Allu Arjun after the "Pushpa 2: The Rule" star described himself as an "ardent fan" of the megastar who is a source of inspiration for actors like him. 

Shares of One97 Communication, which owns the Paytm brand, on Monday jumped over 3 per cent on the bourses after the company approved the sale of stake in Softbank group's fintech firm PayPay Corporation. The shares of the company rose over 3 per cent to hit its 52-week high of Rs 1,007 each on the BSE and NSE. 

BJP's Rahul Narwekar elected Maharashtra assembly Speaker.

US President-elect Donald Trump described Italy's conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a 'real live wire' after meeting her and other world leaders in Paris.

At least three persons were killed and a few others injured in an explosion when they were allegedly manufacturing illegal crude bombs in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, police said on Monday. 

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri arrived in Bangladesh on Monday on a day-long visit, the first high-level trip from India after a massive uprising ended deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule in August. Misri's visit comes amid increasing strain in ties between New Delhi and Dhaka over attacks on minorities, including Hindus, in Bangladesh after Hasina's ouster. 

 Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Monday, criticized PM Modi's visit to Haryana, questioning whether the PM will claim his party's election wins as proof of his development approach being effective.

More than 40 schools in the national capital received bomb threats via e-mail and demanded a ransom of USD 30,000, Delhi Police said on Monday.

Shabana Azmi shares this picture with Javed Akhtar saying, "It's 40 years today since we got married and he still makes me laugh (heart emojis)."

There was a snarl of cars when we arrived. We could hear chanting. Someone was waving a rebel flag. Overnight news that Damascus had fallen and Syria's president had fled spurred Syrians in Lebanon to rush to Masnaa, the border crossing closest to their capital, reports the BBC.

Two private schools in Delhi received bomb threats on Monday morning, an official of Delhi Fire Service (DFS) said. The DFS official said calls of bomb threats were received from DPS RK Puram at 7.06 am and GD Goenka Paschim Vihar at 6.15 am. 

Social media platforms are flooded with advertisements for online stock market tutorials and crash courses. These courses often lure students with low fees but later charge extra for stock tips.

The National Stock Exchange, has announced changes to the 'expiry day' for its index derivatives contracts. Starting January 1, all monthly contracts for Bank Nifty, Nifty Financial Services, Nifty Midcap Select, and Nifty Next 50 will expire on the last Thursday of each month.

Subrata Panda/Business Standard

State Bank of India, Indias largest lender, is looking to sell bad loans worth Rs 2,732.5 crore related to Odisha-based ARSS Infrastructure Projects Ltd through a Swiss challenge auction and has invited expressions of interest (EoIs) from entities interested in submitting counter bids for the asset on a full cash basis.

SBI holds primary securities worth Rs 230.46 crore against the asset; collateral securities worth Rs 31.58 crore; and third-party guarantees of Rs 23.28 crore.

The bank has an offer in hand to sell the asset, which has been set as the anchor bid or the base bid. 

The reserve price for the asset is set at Rs 125 crore. Entities interested in submitting a challenger bid for the asset have to put in a bid with a minimum mark-up between 5 per cent of the base bid.

If no counter bids exceed the minimum mark-up, the base bid will be considered the winning bid, subject to final approval by the bank.

However, if counter bids surpass the minimum mark-up, the highest counter bid will become the challenger bid, and the process will continue until one party emerges as the highest bidder. In the event of counter bids, the base bidder will be given the opportunity to either match or exceed the challenger bid.

The winning bidder will then be declared.

ARSS Infrastructure Projects is one of the leading construction companies in Odisha. 

The company is undergoing a corporate insolvency resolution process in terms of the order dated November 30, 2021 of the Cuttack bench of the National Company Law Tribunal.

Separately, SBI is also looking to sell bad loans of Rs 163 crore in Anjanay Rice Mill and has invited EoIs from entities interested in acquiring the asset. 

The reserve price for the asset has been set at Rs 7.10 crore. The e-auction for the asset will be held on December 31. 

Ruchika Chitravanshi/Business Standard

Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday evening, a day after the meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee and just ahead of his term coming to an end on Tuesday.

The meeting took place at the FMs North Block office.

Sources said the meeting lasted around 20 minutes and was considered customary, post the MPC meeting.

The Centre had announced a three-year extension to Das tenure in 2021, a month before his term came to an end, making him one of the longest serving RBI governors in its 90-year history.

The RBIs six-member MPC on Friday had decided to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent -- a status quo for the 11th straight time -- maintaining a 'neutral' stance. It had lowered the 2024-2025 GDP growth projection to 6.6 per cent from 7.2 per cent. 

The December policy review came against the backdrop of the GDP growth rate declining to 5.4 per cent in the July-September quarter.

Also, retail inflation breached the central banks tolerance band of 2-6 per cent to stand at a 14-month high of 6.2 per cent in October.

'The MPC remains committed to restoring a balance between inflation and growth, which got unsettled recently,' Das said, indicating that the near-term inflation and growth outcomes in India had turned somewhat adverse since the October policy. 

There has been a seeming discomfiture within the government over higher interest rates impinging economic growth with a slowdown, particularly in urban demand.

Sitharaman had recently called on banks to make interest rates more affordable, describing the current high cost of borrowing as 'very stressful'. 

Her comments came days after Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal made a case for the RBI to cut interest rates to boost economic growth by looking through the high food inflation while deciding on monetary policy.

Following the political crisis in Syria, Russia has granted asylum to Bashar al-Assad and his family, TASS reported citing a Kremlin source.

The situation in Syria remains a focal point for all the neighbouring nations after Syrian rebels on Sunday entered the capital Damascus, forcing Assad to flee, ending his over two-decade rule in the country.

The source confirmed that Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow and Russia has granted asylum for them, being driven by 'humanitarian considerations'.

"Russia has always spoken in favour of a political settlement of the Syrian crisis. We insist that the UN-mediated talks be resumed," the source said, reported the Russian news agency.

"Russian officials are in touch with representatives of armed Syrian opposition, whose leaders have guaranteed security of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions on the Syrian territory," the source added, TASS reported

Notably, the Russian foreign ministry on Sunday expressed extreme concern over the events unfolding in Syria and appealed to all parties involved in the negotiations with a strong call to renounce violence and resolve all issues by political means.

Further, the ministry had stated that Bashar al-Assad has stepped down and left the country giving instructions to transfer power peacefully.

"We are following the dramatic events in Syria with extreme concern. As a result of negotiations between B Assad and a number of participants in the armed conflict in the SAR, he decided to leave the presidential post and left the country, giving instructions to transfer power peacefully. Russia did not participate in these negotiations. At the same time, we appeal to all parties involved with a strong call to renounce the use of violence and resolve all governance issues by political means," Russian foreign ministry said.

"In this regard, the Russian Federation is in contact with all groups of the Syrian opposition. We call for respect for the opinions of all ethno-confessional forces of Syrian society, and support efforts to establish an inclusive political process based on the unanimously adopted UN Security Council Resolution 2254," the statement added.

Notably, the civil war in the country that had remained dormant for a few years resurfaced and within a span of a few weeks, the Syrian rebel groups took over several key cities like Aleppo, Homs and Daraa, before seizing control of the Damascus unopposed on Sunday, ending the Assad family's nearly six decades of autocratic rule.

The development came hours after rebels claimed to have captured Syria's third-largest city, Homs, to the north of the country.

The head of Syria's main opposition group abroad Hadi al-Bahra Syrian said that Damascus is now 'without Bashar al-Assad', according to Reuters.

This came after Syrian rebels claimed capturing Damascus.