The Sen Times

August 21, 2026 (Conversation) Online spaces, and social media in particular, are forums for vigorous political debate. They provide a space for members of the public to express political opinions, organise, and sometimes even interact directly with politicians. While they clearly have democratising potential, these platforms have also become fertile ground for hate speech, toxic interactions and online violence. By analysing over 3.2 million responses on X (formerly Twitter) to 88 candidates fo

Mumbai, Aug 21 (PTI) Market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended flat on Friday, a day after registering a rebound, as elevated crude oil prices due to geopolitical uncertainties and a sharp fall in the US markets made investors cautious. A rebound in US Treasury yields and persistently elevated crude oil prices discouraged investors from taking aggressive directional positions, an expert said. In a largely range-bound trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex ended almost unchanged from the previous c

Mumbai, Aug 21 (PTI) The rupee pared initial gains and settled on a flat note, higher by just 3 paise at 95.71 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday, as the support from a weak dollar was negated by continued geopolitical tensions. Forex traders said the Indian rupee traded flat to positive on a weak dollar and a positive tone in the domestic markets. However, the rupee pared initial gains as geopolitical tensions continue to simmer. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at

NEW DELHI, Aug 21 (Reuters) Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is likely to visit India from August 23 to 25, the Indian Express newspaper reported on Friday, his first trip to the country since taking office in February. The visit comes amid efforts by the South Asian neighbours to repair ties strained by the 2024 ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whom Dhaka has asked New Delhi to extradite. The Bangladeshi and Indian foreign ministries did not immediately respond to request

New Delhi, Aug 21 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday sat on a dharna at the Parliament Street police station here seeking the registration of an FIR over pellet injuries suffered by a youth during the CJP-led July 20 protest and said brutality against a peaceful protest is a serious crime. The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said neither Union Home Minister Amit Shah has offered an explanation on the use of pellet guns at the protest, nor has Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologis

TORONTO (AP) The premier of a Canadian province launched a blistering attack on U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, calling him a bad person and not to be trusted and urging Canada to keep fighting rather than rush to make concessions in trade talks with Washington. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said Canada has leverage in the talks even as his province weighs restoring U.S. alcohol sales at Prime Minister Mark Carneys urging to help secure a deal that would avert threatened 50% U.S. tariffs.

LOS ANGELES, August 20, 2026 (AP) U.S. immigration officials worked with Iran to deport Iranians in 2025, newly released emails show, revealing a working relationship between the U.S. and Iranian governments despite tensions mounting between the countries. Hundreds of emails exchanged between U.S. immigration officials, which were obtained by the National Iranian American Council and made public Tuesday, offer the most transparent play by play yet of how the two countries worked together to arr

New Delhi, Aug 20 (PTI) Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday said that given the youth ferment across the country, it is important to recall that it was Rajiv Gandhi who, as the prime minister, gave the 18-year-olds the right to vote by reducing the minimum voting age and led India decisively into the IT era. Ramesh also recalled that Gandhi declared January 12 as the National Youth Day, produced the New Education Policy of 1988 and set up the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan covering all distri

The growing assertion of a majority Hindu identity is fueling debates about religious pluralism in India. A 2025 Washington-based research group report documented a steady, incremental increase in hate speech since 2023 targeting religious minorities in India, while Human Rights Watch reported a rise in religious and communal violence in 2024. Much of this rhetoric and violence has been justified as defending religious identity. When India became independent in 1947, its constitution affirmed a

SAN FRANCISCO, August 19, 2026 (AP) OpenAI on Tuesday introduced a version of ChatGPT designed for teenagers the first generation to grow up with artificial intelligence who are already using it for schoolwork, questions about daily life and even companionship. The San Francisco-based company says ChatGPT for Teens is tailored for kids ages 13 to 17 with stronger protections including content restrictions around things like suicide, self-harm and romantic or sexual chats. It also provides hom

Aug 19 (Reuters) At least nine people were killed, including a child, in a fire at a hotel in Indias eastern city of Kolkata on Wednesday, local police said. The fire broke out at around 2:50 a.m. local time on the second floor of the hotel building and was brought under control within an hour, a senior police officer told Reuters. Around 30 people were evacuated safely in the incident, which may have been triggered by electrical short circuiting, the officer said. The exact cause of the blaze

August 13, 2026 (Conversation) Widespread denial accompanied the public exposure of Jeffrey Epsteins decades-long sexual abuse and trafficking of girls and women. After the U.S. Justice Department released millions of case documents on Epstein in January 2026, billionaires, politicians, heads of state and academics proclaimed their ignorance of Epsteins global network of sexual exploitation. Why would so many intelligent and powerful people repeatedly trumpet their lack of awareness, especially

New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) Amid the ongoing logjam in Parliament, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday stated that the current deadlock between the government and the Opposition would continue until the Union Home Minister addresses the House. Speaking to reporters here in the national capital, the Congress leader highlighted that a statement from the Union Home Minister is necessary to resolve the issue stalling parliamentary proceedings. I think the deadlock will continue until the Union H

Datia/Bankipur/Manjalpur (Madhya Pradesh/Bihar/Gujarat) [India], August 3 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party suffered a blow on Monday, losing the saffron citadel in Bihars Bankipur, capitalising on widespread voter disillusionment and nationwide student unrest. In Bihars urban bastion of Bankipura saffron stronghold since 1995 vacated by BJP National President Nitin NabinJan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor secured his maiden electoral victory by a resounding 19,324 votes. Simultaneously, in

Patna, Aug 3 (PTI) Voters in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll found Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar on the EVM, but they were not Bihars veteran leaders. Their namesakes, contesting as independents, failed to cross the 150-vote mark and lost their deposits. While the spotlight was on Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor breaching the BJP bastion with 64,151 votes, Independent candidate Lalu Prasad Yadav could garner just 81, a vote share of 0.06 per cent. Another Independent candidate, Nitish Kumar

Patna, Aug 3 (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary congratulated Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on his victory in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll on Monday. Kishor wrested the Bankipur assembly constituency of Bihar, a BJP bastion which the party had never lost since 1995, in a bypoll that was necessitated after its national president Nitin Nabin vacated the seat. He defeated his nearest BJP rival Neeraj Kumar by a margin of 19,324 votes. Commending Kishor, the chief minister said,

New Delhi, Aug 3 (PTI) The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday welcomed the Supreme Courts clarification on the withdrawal of FIRs against protesters, saying it expected the Centre and BJP/NDA-ruled states to immediately implement the assurances given to agitating students under the July 25 agreement. The Supreme Court clarified that the expression criminal antecedents in its earlier order referred only to persons involved in grave and heinous offences and said states were at liberty to close

New Delhi, Aug 3 (PTI) Gold prices fell by Rs 900 to Rs 1.47 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Monday due to appreciation of the rupee and subdued movement in international markets. According to the All India Sarafa Association, the yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity declined Rs 900 to Rs 1,47,400 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes). It had closed at Rs 1,48,300 per 10 grams in the previous session. Gold prices traded in a narrow range on Monday due to subdued movement in the inte

MUMBAI, Aug 3 (Reuters) The Indian rupees recent recovery is set to continue on Monday, with a drop in crude oil prices reinforcing the positive momentum created by repeated RBI intervention. The currency is expected to open in the 95.25 to 95.30 range, traders said, after settling at 95.38 per U.S. dollar on Friday. The rupee rallied 1.2% last week, aided largely by the Reserve Bank of Indias near-daily intervention through dollar sales across multiple levels, per bankers. The combination of R

Mumbai, Aug 1 (Reuters) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he wanted to forgive students who hurled expletives at him during protests last month, saying that punishing them and forcing them to appear repeatedly in court would not help resolve the situation. The biggest political crisis of Modis third term peaked in July after the leak of national exam papers forced a retest for 2 million students, fuelling anger over the lack of opportunities for young Indians. Authorities filed cases aga

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2026 (AP) The U.S. military said Tuesday that it knocked down an Iranian missile barrage and worked with Saudi Arabias forces to strike sites in Iraq that Tehran-backed militias have used to launch attacks in recent days, shattering a brief pause in fighting. All Iranian missiles launched against American forces in the Middle East were intercepted, U.S. Central Command said, adding that they remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness. In announcing the strikes in Iraq

July 24, 2026 (Conversation) Many of us have grown up with the mantra that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But whether its snatching an extra half hour of sleep, or focusing on getting the kids out of the house, there are various reasons why assembling a healthy breakfast might slip down your list of priorities especially on a weekday. So, is it worse to eat unhealthy foods first thing, compared to later in the day? And what about skipping breakfast altogether? Its not just abo

MUMBAI, Jul 24 (PTI) Market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled in early trade on Friday as crude oil prices crossed USD 100 per barrel mark amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the West Asia. The 30-share BSE Sensex tumbled 512.07 points to 75,869.38 during initial deals. The 50-share NSE Nifty declined 153 points to 23,713.60. From the Sensex pack, InterGlobe Aviation, Eternal, Bharti Airtel, Infosys, Bajaj Finance and Trent were among the major laggards. InterGlobe Aviation slipped

New Delhi, Jul 23 (PTI) Gold prices fell Rs 400 to Rs 1,49,200 per 10 grams in the national capital on Thursday, tracking weak trends in global markets amid surging crude oil rates. The yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity had closed at Rs 1,49,600 per 10 grams in the preceding session. Silver also pared gains, falling Rs 300 to Rs 2,29,700 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes) from Wednesdays closing level of Rs 2,30,000 per kg, according to the All India Sarafa Association. Traders said bullio

NEW YORK, July 23, 2026 (AP) When 72-year-old Michael Roper rides his bicycle to and from the pub he owns in Chicago, he cant imagine a better way to commute. Hes getting exercise, drifting through fresh air and catching glimpses of neighborhood life a recently opened coffee shop or a diving owl at night that hes convinced hed miss if he were driving. If youve considered bike commuting but assumed you needed expensive gear and to be in excellent physical shape, or worried about arriving at wor

MUMBAI, India, July 23, 2026 (AP) The blue police van dominates the frame. A young woman, Rhiya Ahir, stands in front of it in a rain-soaked hoodie, one hand pressed against the metal. Behind the windshield sit police officers. Inside the van are young protesters detained after demonstrations in Indias financial capital Mumbai on Wednesday. Indias Cockroach protests began more than a month ago over alleged leaks in some of the countrys most competitive entrance exams for medical schools and gov

NEW DELHI, July 23 (Reuters) The Indian government has ordered telecom companies to disable mobile data services in central parts of the capital Delhi, in and around the site of youth protests seeking the resignation of the education minister, two sources told Reuters on Thursday. The companies have complied with the order, the sources said. Spokespersons for the government and the telecom department did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters. Top Indian telecom firms, bil

NEW DELHI, July 23 (Reuters) Traders have stopped offering discounts on Russian crude sold to India as disruptions to Middle Eastern supplies have boosted demand for alternative grades, the head of finance at Indian state refiner Bharat Petroleum Corp said on Thursday. Refiners in India, the worlds third-biggest oil importer and consumer, have raised purchases of Russian oil as supplies from traditional producers in the Middle East have been disrupted. BPCL has secured crude supplies for August

NEW DELHI, July 23, 2026 (AP) Thousands of young protesters were camped on the streets of Indias capital New Delhi on Thursday, defying new restrictions in the latest show of strength for a movement that has become one of the biggest challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modis government. Indias Cockroach protests began more than a month ago over alleged leaks in some of the countrys most competitive entrance exams for medical colleges and government jobs. The movement has since expanded beyond

Mumbai, Jul 23 (PTI) Market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Thursday, extending losses for the fourth straight session, as a sharp jump in crude oil prices due to escalating tensions in West Asia weighed on investor sentiment. The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 363.66 points, or 0.47 per cent, to settle at 76,391.39. During the day, it tanked 603.07 points, or 0.78 per cent, to 76,151.98. The 50-share NSE Nifty dipped 126.65 points, or 0.53 per cent, to end at 23,869.60. From the

New Delhi, Jul 23 (PTI) Calling paper leak a serious issue, superstar Salman Khan has come out in support of protesting students and said his heart goes out to those who were hurt while demonstrating peacefully. The Bollywood star appreciated the stand taken by the students who, he said, have shown dedication, sincerity, and keenness to study hard for their own futures, and for a greater, educated India. It was such a peaceful movement, feel so sad that it had to take a violent turn. My heart go

July 23, 2026 (Conversation) Seeing a psychiatrist via telehealth became easier from January 2022. Thats when Medicare-reimbursed telepsychiatry arrangements became permanent. The idea was for these video and phone consultations to provide more flexible and sooner appointment times, without needing to travel. But our new analysis shows what happened next. We show how telepsychiatry became dominated by consultations for stimulant prescriptions since 2022. These were mostly for people with attenti

NEW DELHI, July 23 (Reuters) Youth protesters demanding the education ministers resignation clashed briefly with police on the streets of New Delhi late on Wednesday, with officers firing tear gas and wielding canes to push them back, police and witnesses said. More than 10,000 people were estimated to have gathered at the Jantar Mantar protest site in central New Delhi, local media said, as leaders of the cockroach movement vowed to continue their month-old protest until the minister resigned

Mumbai, Jul 23 (PTI) Market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty edged lower in early deals on Thursday due to surging crude oil prices amid escalating tensions in the West Asia. The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 230.95 points to 76,521.02 during initial trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty dipped 57.15 points to 23,937. From the Sensex pack, Infosys, Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank, State Bank of India, NTPC and Reliance Industries were among the laggards. Trent and Eternal were the only winners from the pack.

NEW DELHI, July 22, 2026 (AP) What began as an online joke has evolved into one of the most significant protest movements in India being led by young people hoping to change the established political structure and the damage they believe the government has caused. Calling themselves the Cockroaches, young Indians are channeling anger over failings in the education system into a broader campaign for government accountability. In doing so, they also have mounted one of the most visible public cha

Mumbai, Jul 22 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled nearly 1 per cent on Wednesday, taking the losses to the third consecutive day, following a sharp spike in crude oil prices and selling in bank stocks. The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 715.06 points, or 0.92 per cent, to settle at 76,755.05. During the day, it slumped 828.92 points, or 1 per cent, to 76,641.19. The 50-share NSE Nifty declined 191.45 points, or 0.79 per cent, to end at 23,996.25. From the Sensex pack, InterGlobe Aviati

Mumbai, Jul 22 (PTI) The rupee depreciated by 34 paise to close at 96.59 (provisional) against the US dollar on Wednesday, weighed down by surging crude oil prices and heightened geopolitical uncertainty. Forex traders said risk aversion in global markets and a negative trend in domestic equities further dented investor sentiments. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 96.36 against the US dollar and traded in the range of 96.25 to 96.57 during the day. The domestic unit finally

New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) Wearing black clothes, leaders of several Opposition parties on Wednesday staged a protest outside Parliament to express solidarity with students protesting against the NEET paper leak issue. The opposition MPs raised slogans against the government and demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for the police action against protesting students. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra w

NEW DELHI, July 22 (Reuters) Indias education minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration was committed to addressing the concerns of protesting youth and exam reforms, in the latest sign that the government was beginning to respond to growing protests. The comments by Dharmendra Pradhan are his first since the youth-led cockroach movement launched a protest in New Delhi last month seeking his resignation over the leak of medical school test papers that affected some 2 milli

New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) Gold and silver prices are expected to remain under pressure in the short term as central banks maintain a hawkish posture and delay interest rate cuts in response to heightened crude oil prices, analysts said. While crude oil-driven inflation traditionally boosts precious metals, analysts warn that hawkish monetary policy responses could cap near-term gains for bullion. According to experts, the bullion markets reaction to oil price shocks now depends less on inflation f

July 22, 2026 (Conversation) As we age, low back pain becomes more common. Between the ages 20 and 59, persistent low back pain (lasting more than three months) affects nearly one in five. While you may be tempted to reach for heat packs, medication or a massage, new evidence suggests that the common advice to go for a swim is much more effective. Until recently, there was no research to back up this advice. Our new trial shows for the first time that swimming can improve low back pain. What we

NEW YORK (AP) Bill Gates and the staff of his charitable foundation met with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein more than two dozen times even as employees expressed concerns about the reputational risk of working with him, an external review commissioned by the Gates Foundation found. The conversations appeared to focus on a public health fund that never materialized and a grant to the International Peace Institute, which was run by an associate of Epstein. The roughly 30 meetings, which t

July 21, 2026 (Conversation) When the U.S. Commerce Department ordered Anthropic on June 12, 2026, to immediately prevent all foreign nationals from using the artificial intelligence companys two most advanced large language models, it disabled its Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models within hours, making them inaccessible to everyone. Anthropic had little choice. The letter, citing national security concerns, barred access by all foreign nationals, including Anthropics own noncitizen employees. W

Mumbai, Jul 21 (PTI) Rupee pared initial losses and settled for the day higher by 12 paise at 96.24 (provisional) against the US dollar on Tuesday, as traders assessed the strong inflows related to the Reserve Banks initiatives to support foreign exchange liquidity amid global market uncertainties. Forex traders said India attracted USD 20.72 billion in forex inflows under the swap facility since June, providing significant structural support to the countrys balance of payments position. At the

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2026 (AP) The Trump administration has finalized a rule that will prevent international students from staying in the U.S. for more than four years unless they obtain the federal governments approval, the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday, announcing a departure from long-standing practice. The rule, which goes into effect in September, also puts in place restrictions on when and how students may change their major or academic program. Current rules give students

July 17 (Reuters) Gold was on track for its biggest weekly loss in six on Friday, as escalating U.S.-Iran clashes lifted oil prices, adding to inflationary pressures and strengthening the case for higher U.S. interest rates. Spot gold was up 0.5% at $3,988.20 per ounce by 0313 GMT, having touched its lowest since July 1 earlier in the session. U.S. gold futures for August delivery were steady at $3,992. The metal, however, has lost 3.2% so far this week, its largest decline since June 1, with t

NEW DELHI, July 16 (Reuters) India has ordered shipowners, ship managers and recruitment companies not to deploy the countrys seafarers on vessels undertaking trips through the Strait of Hormuz amid renewed fighting in the region. India is the worlds third-largest supplier of seafarers, with more than 300,000 sailors working across global shipping fleets, according to government data. No deployment of Indian seafarers on vessels undertaking voyages involving passage through the Strait of Hormuz

NEW DELHI, July 16 (Reuters) An Indian court directed authorities on Thursday to monitor the health of an activist who is on the 19th day of a hunger strike on a stage in central Delhi to demand the education minister quits, and to intervene if his condition deteriorates. It is the first time that a court has intervened in the protest, as concern over Sonam Wangchuks condition grows among his supporters. The instruction means he could be moved to a hospital if his health worsens. Wangchuk has b

July 16, 2026 (Conversation) The risk of dementia rises as the brain ages. One reason is that connections between brain cells weaken over time. Diseases of the brain, such as Alzheimers and stroke, can speed this up, eventually leading to dementia, a loss of mental abilities and a loss of independence. Scientists can now estimate a persons brain age from brain scans, and compare it with their actual age. This difference, known as the brain-age gap, can predict who is more likely to see faster me

Mumbai, Jul 16 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed almost unchanged on Thursday, as profit-taking in blue-chip stocks such as HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries offset gains in IT shares amid geopolitical tensions. The 30-share BSE Sensex edged up 1.44 points to settle at 77,186.87. During the day, it climbed 394.26 points, or 0.51 per cent, to 77,579.69 but pared gains towards the end of the session. The 50-share NSE Nifty dipped 5.75 points, or 0.02 per cent, to end at 24,072.75. Fl