The Sen Times

BANGKOK, July 8, 2026 (AP) Asian shares were mixed on Wednesday and oil prices surged more than 2% after the U.S. launched strikes on Iran after it said Tehran struck three ships in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. futures were little changed. Brent crude, the international standard, jumped 2.6% to $76.09 a barrel early Wednesday, while U.S. benchmark crude also gained 2.6% to $72.25 a barrel. Both had declined recently to the levels they were at before the war with Iran began in late February. Share

ANKARA, Turkey, July 8, 2026 (AP) President Donald Trump surprised NATO leaders he is meeting with in Turkey by launching a series of strikes on Iran late Tuesday and revoking a license that allowed Tehran to sell its oil on the world market, a major twist for a summit that had been aimed at showcasing how alliance members were stepping up spending on defense and focusing on support for Ukraines war with Russia. The strikes were retaliation after three merchant ships were struck in the Strait o

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July 8, 2026 (AP) The U.S. military attacked Iran early Wednesday after it said Tehran struck three ships in the Strait of Hormuz, part of an American effort that also revoked the Islamic Republics ability to openly sell crude oil in the world market. Iran retaliated with strikes targeting Bahrain and Kuwait. The regional crossfire raised the risks that an interim agreement to halt fighting in the war could break down, putting the Middle East again at risk of a wide

July 8, 2026 (Conversation) Porn is a topic we tend to avoid talking about whether it be at school, work or around the dinner table. But in Australia, roughly three-quarters of men (76%) and more than one-third of women (41%) report to have looked at pornographic material in the past year. And among Australians aged 15-20, more than half (54%) of young men and nearly one-fifth (14%) of young women report accessing porn weekly. You may have heard the term porn addiction used to describe the exce

July 7, 2026 (Associated Press) Conventional wisdom says vegetable gardens need full sun, but a productive garden doesnt always require the recommended six to eight hours of direct sunlight. If fences, trees or your house cast shade on your soil, growing vegetables wont be out of reach if you stick to plants that are grown for their leaves, stems or roots, rather than those grown for their fruit, like tomatoes, cucumbers, squash or peppers. To be clear, by hours of sunlight, Im referring to the

NEW DELHI, July 7 (Reuters) An Indian court directed the federal government to unblock the X account of the youth Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Tuesday, more than a month since it went offline after amassing some 200,000 followers within days of being created, its founder and a lawyer involved in the case said. The government had justified the move in court by citing concerns that posts from the account could cause chaos during a national medical college entrance examination that had to be rec

New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI) Gold prices fell sharply by Rs 1,400 to Rs 1.49 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Tuesday, and silver slipped Rs 200, as a stronger rupee and weak global trends weighed on the precious metals. The yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity depreciated by Rs 1,400 to Rs 1,49,250 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) from Mondays closing level of Rs 1,50,650 per 10 grams. Silver prices also eased by Rs 200 to Rs 2,39,800 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes), after sett

July 3, 2026 (Conversation) Pain is one of the few things all of us experience, from stubbing a toe to waking up with an aching back; we can all relate to the feeling of being in pain. Although pain is a universal experience, the way we understand it has changed dramatically over time. Ancient societies might have blamed pain on demons entering the body through the nose or ears, but we now know pain to be more about nerve endings and biology. Cures have also moved on a lot. While our ancestors m

July 7 (Reuters) Indias fuel consumption in June fell about 3.7% from a month earlier to 19.42 million metric tons, data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the oil ministry showed. Fuel consumption eased from 20.18 million tons in May and was down 3.1% from a year earlier. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption fell more than 14% from a year earlier to 2.19 million tons. Indias imports of LPG from the U.S. were set to top 1 million tons in June, a record high, industry s

July 7, 2026 (Conversation) Peptide may not yet be the 2026 Oxford Word of the Year, but it must surely be in the running. From your friendly neighbourhood influencer, to the gym bros, injectable peptides have been all over social media and are now making mainstream news when things go horribly wrong. People are taking them, and promoting them, for a seemingly endless list of reasons. Depending on who you ask, theyll either put a pep in your step, give you a tan, make your skin glow, or even bui

July 7, 2026 (Conversation) In late June, Victorias Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny committed to reviewing the operation of the states Open Courts Act. This follows a period of immense public scrutiny of the state of open justice in Victoria following two high-profile events. The first was the public consternation that followed the revelation that convicted rapist Tom Silvagni, son of football legend Stephen Silvagni and media personality Jo Silvagni, had obtained a suppression order over his id

July 6, 2026 (Associated Press) Heres a whimsical take on a classic deli sandwich, made with hot dogs rather than the more standard corned beef, from our cookbook The Instant Air Fryer Bible. Any hot dog will do beef, pork, turkey even vegan hot dogs although the best results are had with more standard, backyard-barbecue dogs, rather than fancier varieties. You probably never thought youd be making sandwiches in an air fryer when you bought the machine. You thought youd be making French fries,

Mumbai, Jul 6 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended higher, taking their winning run to the fourth day Monday, helped by buying in blue-chip bank stocks and lower crude oil prices. Fresh foreign fund inflows also added to the optimistic trend in domestic equity market. The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 521.16 points, or 0.67 per cent, to settle at 78,285.07. During the day, it surged 634.15 points, or 0.81 per cent, to 78,398.06. The 50-share NSE Nifty climbed 159.50 points, or 0.66 per ce

July 6 (Reuters) South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix on Monday launched a U.S. share sale to raise 43 trillion won ($28.07 billion), the company said, as it capitalises on the global AI boom with one of the worlds largest new share sales. The company will sell 17.79 million new shares in the depository receipt listing on the Nasdaq. Ten ADRs will represent one common share and the stock will be sold in a price range that is due to be revealed on Monday, based on SK Hynixs Seoul trading price. The d

Mumbai, Jul 6 (PTI) Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty rallied in early trade on Monday driven by buying in blue-chip bank stocks and lower crude oil prices. Fresh foreign fund inflows also added to the optimistic trend in the domestic equity market. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 281.40 points to 78,051.03 in early deals. The 50-share NSE Nifty rallied 74.60 points to 24,347.05. From the Sensex pack, Bharat Electronics, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel and HCL Tech were a

MUMBAI, July 6 (Reuters) At least six people including five children were killed when a group of buildings collapsed in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai on Sunday, the latest casualties of heavy rains that have disrupted travel and shut down schools in the city. Here are some details: Two to three multi-storey houses in a slum collapsed in the Mankhurd area of Mumbai, which left five young children and one woman dead, civic authorities said. Rains also triggered landslides on the expressway connec

July 6, 2026 (Conversation) From corporate breakfasts to office morning teas, this week workplaces across Australia will mark NAIDOC Week. Held in early July every year, its a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples history, culture and achievements. But even as work colleagues get together to celebrate NAIDOC Week, our recent research shows racism against Indigenous workers is still common. More than half (58%) Indigenous people we surveyed reported experiencing racism some

July 6, 2026 (Conversation) Most people can do this easily. They imagine the apples shape, colour and shine. But for others, the image is vague and blurry or they see nothing at all. This is known as aphantasia a blind minds eye. What we are dealing with here are individual differences in mental imagery. Research suggests mental imagery exists on a continuum, and this can impact how we learn. Every day in class, students are encouraged to visualise, imagine, or picture concepts. For example, in

New Delhi, Jul 5 (PTI) The Congress on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the BJP-RSS over the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, saying it is a scam perpetrated by their ecosystem on which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are totally silent. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that the BJP has a three-pronged strategy vote chori, seat chori, chanda chori. He also lashed out at the RSS, saying its statement on the issue was d

NEW DELHI, July 3 (Reuters) Indias government on Friday sought to contain a growing backlash against its mandatory use of 20% ethanol-blended petrol, as consumers unhappy about lower fuel efficiency and vehicle performance planned a protest against the policy. The mandate to use the blend, called E20, came into force last year but is now one of the biggest political flashpoints for Prime Minister Narendra Modis government and motorists in the worlds third-biggest car market. The controversy int

New Delhi, Jul 3 (PTI) RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Friday said the alleged embezzlement of Ram temple donations has deeply hurt the faith of Ram devotees and all of society, and the SIT must ensure the guilty face severe punishment. We are all extremely pained and angered by this event, the RSS second-in-command said in a statement on X. It is the organisations first response to the alleged theft of funds that has led to the arrest of eight people as well as the resignations of

CHALAKUDY, India July 3, 2026 (AP) The life-size robotic elephants in Prasanth Prakashans backyard workshop have ears that flap, tails that swish and trunks that squirt water. But thats about all they have in common with their real-life counterparts revered across India as manifestations of the divine. The animatrons, crafted from fiberglass, iron and rubber, are intended to take the place of live elephants in Hindu temples. The change pleases animal welfare activists but upsets those who passi

July 3, 2026 (Associated Press) Few foods feel more American than the hot dog, a mainstay at ballparks, street carts and Fourth of July barbecues. But to simply call hot dogs American is to miss a whole lot of nuance, and potentially offend local connoisseurs across the country. How to prepare and eat a hot dog is a matter of regional pride. Which is the best? The answer is probably the one you grew up with. Here are just some of the forms a hot dog can take across the U.S.: New York City and Ch

New Delhi, Jul 2 (PTI)Meta-owned WhatsApp has released a detailed set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on its upcoming username feature, outlining how it plans to address concerns around impersonation, scams and unwanted contact as users begin reserving usernames. The FAQs come after the Centre issued a notice to Meta, flagging concerns over potential fraud and impersonation risks and warning the company against rolling out the feature until consultations on the issue are completed to the sa

New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) Global oil prices fell on Thursday to their lowest levels since before the outbreak of the Iran conflict, offering a significant economic tailwind for India, the worlds third-largest crude importer, by easing inflation risks, reducing the import bill and improving the governments fiscal position. Brent crude, the international benchmark, dropped to about USD 72-73 a barrel, while US crude fell below USD 70 a barrel, erasing the geopolitical risk premium that had driven pr

New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) Gold prices declined by Rs 2,800 to Rs 1.45 lakh per 10 grams and silver by Rs 5,000 in the national capital on Thursday amid subdued demand in the market and weak global trends. According to the All India Sarafa Association, gold of 99.9 per cent purity fell by Rs 2,800 to Rs 1,45,300 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) from the previous level of Rs 1,48,100 per 10 grams. Silver also weakened, falling by Rs 5,000 to Rs 2,26,000 per kg (inclusive of all taxes). The whit

MUMBAI, June 25 (Reuters) Three Indian development finance institutions are planning to raise at least $1.5 billion through foreign-currency bank loans under the central banks discounted overseas borrowing facility, three people familiar with the plans said. The institutions are favouring loans over bonds because none has issued dollar debt before and the process is simpler, the sources added. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the Small Industries Development Ban

CARACAS, Venezuela, June 25, 2026 (AP) Powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings and sending panicked residents into the streets as communities across the South American country sustained damage. Acting President Delcy Rodrguez declared a state of emergency in an address to the nation late Wednesday. She said the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes shortly after 6 p.m. caused damage in several states but she did not provide figures of fatalities

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2026 (AP) Members of the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday pledged firm support for the self-governed island of Taiwan as they welcomed Han Kuo-yu, president of Taiwans Legislative Yuan, to Washington, at a time the Trump administration is reviewing a $14 billion arms sales package to Taiwan, months after it got preliminary congressional approval. More than 30 House representatives, both Democratic and Republican, streamed into the reception at the Longworth House

June 25, 2026 (AP) Astronomers have uncovered a pair of giant planets that are lighter than cotton candy super-puffs the size of Jupiter. The featherweight pair orbiting a star 1,110 light-years away are the biggest exoplanets found to have less density than cotton candy. That makes them the lightest known planets of their size, said the University of Oxfords George Dransfield. These two planets have densities comparable to a nice blob of shaving foam, fresh from the can, Dransfield said in

New Delhi, Jun 24 (PTI) Gold prices declined by Rs 1,200 to Rs 1.48 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Wednesday, and silver dropped by Rs 4,000, as the US dollar gained strength amid weak global trends. According to the All India Sarafa Association, the yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity decreased by Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,48,100 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) from Tuesdays closing level of Rs 1,49,300. Silver also extended its downward trend for the second straight day, falling Rs

SAN DIEGO, June 24, 2026 (AP) To someone who is getting sucked out to sea by a rip current, Dont panic! may be difficult to heed, even if thats exactly what you should do. But lifeguards say to not only relax but flip over and float out of the danger. Rip currents are one of the coasts greatest dangers and account for the most beach rescues every year. About 100 people drown from rip currents along U.S. beaches each year, according to the United States Lifesaving Association. And more than 80%

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2026 (AP) President Donald Trump sees Americas 250th anniversary as a chance to get the country excited again about Donald Trump. The president is hosting a rally Wednesday on the National Mall in Washington. He has said it will be replete with a military flyover by stealth bombers, military bands, singer Lee Greenwood of God Bless the USA fame and a speech by Trump. It comes as Trump works to convince Americans ahead of critical November midterm elections that hes put the

PARIS, June 24, 2026 (AP) A positive case of Ebola virus has been identified in France in a patient traveling back from Congo, the French Ministry of Health said Wednesday. The individual, who has not been identified, returned from a humanitarian mission in one of the virus transmission zones in Congo and was taken into care at a specialized facility in France. The person is in stable condition, the ministry said. The Congolese health ministry said Wednesday there are 1,094 confirmed cases of E

LONDON, June 24, 2026 (AP) People in large parts of the U.K. are being warned that high temperatures will present a risk to life on Wednesday as a heat-dome over Western Europe brings extreme conditions to the continent. The red heat health alert for much of central and southern England, as well as Wales, is only the second such warning ever issued by U.K. authorities. The first was in July 2022, when temperatures exceeded 40 degrees C (104 F). Authorities in France, Italy and Spain have also i

ARILJE, Serbia, June 24, 2026 (AP) Serbia s town of Arilje is known as the Balkan countrys raspberry capital, with its fame reaching beyond borders. Arilje and its surroundings yield berries that are exported as far as the United States and Japan. Serbia is among the top three exporters of raspberries globally. We are born, we live and we die with raspberries, said Mileta Pilcevic, who heads a local association of raspberry producers. Arilje is unique in the world. You cant find a smaller place

San Francisco, June 24, 2026 (AP) A judge on Tuesday barred the federal government from making arrests at immigration courts, ordering an end to a practice that took hold shortly after President Donald Trump took office last year. The Trump administrations reversal of long-standing policy against arrests at immigration court resulted not from merely unreasoned decision-making but a complete lack of decision-making, wrote U.S. District Judge Casey Pitts of San Francisco. Authorities failed to ad

June 23, 2026 (AP) Drink a fragrant cup of herbal tea, and the intoxicating scent of steeped herbs might calm your mind before you even take a sip. Even better is when they come from your own backyard herb garden. Mine includes several ingredients for my daily cup, and theyre all easy to grow and prepare. Herbal teas are distinct from true teas such as black or green which comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. (You can grow that in your garden, too.) Brew herbal teas with eithe

London, Jun 23 (Conversation) Strength training has long been seen as something you mainly do to build muscle or look good. But a new study adds to a growing body of evidence that shows lifting weights does far more than change how we look. It may help us live longer even if you dont spend hours each day in the gym. The study drew on three long-running US studies that followed nearly 150,000 nurses and other health professionals for up to 30 years. Every couple of years, participants reported h

Mumbai, Jun 22 (PTI) Stock markets rebounded on Monday with the benchmark Sensex gaining 291 points following a decline in crude oil prices and supportive global cues amid hopes of diplomatic progress in US-Iran talks. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 291.17 points, or 0.38 per cent, to settle at 77,094.07. During the day, it jumped 522.66 points, or 0.68 per cent, to 77,325.56. The 50-share NSE Nifty surged 89.80 points, or 0.37 per cent, to end at 24,102.90. Fresh foreign fund inflows and buyin

Dunedin (New Zealand), Jun 22 (Conversation) For many people, the thought of a tasty burger or a cold pint of beer conjures up a vivid mental image and drives behaviour. This link between thinking and doing serves a clear function it motivates us to get the necessities for life. But for some, this process can malfunction. Preoccupation with these rewarding stimuli can lead to disorders of substance overuse, including overeating to the point of obesity and alcohol abuse. Studies going back to th

MUMBAI, June 22 (Reuters) India, once the worlds second-largest sugar exporter, is expected to have little surplus for export for at least three more seasons as El Nino weather conditions threaten cane production and rising ethanol demand squeezes supply. The twin pressures are poised to keep millions of tons of sugar off the world market, tightening supplies for importers across Asia, Africa and the Middle East and supporting benchmark prices in London and New York . A prolonged absence by Ind

Mumbai, Jun 21 (PTI) AI (Artificial intelligence) is becoming central to human resource management, with 60 per cent of professionals surveyed saying it is now a top focus across HR functions, while another 15 per cent reported its growing importance in areas such as recruitment and onboarding, according to a survey-based report. The AI As The New HR Priority Efficiency, Cost and Workforce Impact report is based on a survey among 1,811 HR professional across industries conducted between May 7-3

New Delhi, Jun 19 (PTI) Gold prices extended their slide for the fourth straight session, falling Rs 2,840 to Rs 1.5 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday, while silver slumped to over two-month low of Rs 2.4 lakh per kg as a resurgent US dollar sparked selling in precious metals. According to the All India Sarafa Association, the yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity declined Rs 2,840 to Rs 1,50,600 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) from Thursdays closing level of Rs 1,53,440 p

MUZAFFARABAD, Kashmir, June 19 (Reuters) A territory-wide shutdown in Pakistan-administered Kashmir has brought daily life to a standstill after the regions deadliest unrest in years left at least 24 people dead in nearly two weeks of protests. The confrontation between local authorities and supporters of the recently banned Joint Awami Action Committee, or JAAC, poses a sensitive challenge for Islamabad, which frequently criticises Delhis handling of dissent in Indian-administered Kashmir but

Long gone are the days of the distant dad. According to some estimates, the average time dads spend caring for their kids each day has quadrupled over the past 50 years. Their attitudes about parenting are also changing. Today, men are about as likely as mothers to say parenting is a key source of meaning and a central priority in their lives. Roughly 85% of fathers identify parenthood as one of the most important aspects of their identity. As a parenting researcher who focuses on fathers, Im pl

Kolkata, Jun 18 (PTI) The internecine war within the TMC took a new turn on Thursday with party treasurer Aroop Biswas writing to a bank seeking restrictions on the operation of the partys accounts, citing uncertainty over its legitimate leadership amid rebellions by MLAs and MPs. The move is being seen as a fresh setback for the camp led by former chief minister Mamata Banerjee, coming days after dissident MLAs and MPs challenged the authority of the Trinamool Congresss central leadership follo

NEW DELHI, June 18 (Reuters) Indias oil imports from the United Arab Emirates rose above levels seen before the Iran war to a multi-year high in May, while supply from Russia, Venezuela and Angola also increased, data from industry sources showed. Overall crude imports by the worlds third-largest oil importer and consumer rose to 5.27 million barrels per day, up 15.4% from April, the data showed, with Russia the largest supplier. The UAE became Indias second-largest oil supplier, with imports r

NEW DELHI, June 18 (Reuters) Indias thermal coal imports fell to a 4-year low in January-May due to higher local output and rising renewable energy generation, commodities consultancy BigMint said. Overall, thermal coal imports, at 65 million tons in the year till May, declined by an annual 12%, the consultancy said. India, the worlds second-largest importer of thermal coal, has been seeking to reduce its reliance on imports and aims to cut the use of such coal for power generation by at least

Thrissur (Kerala), Jun 18 (PTI) Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Thursday said that the fuel prices cannot be reduced immediately when the rate of global crude comes down as it involves many factors, including the time taken for the cheaper oil to reach India. Gopi, the Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism, said of the recent hike in fuel prices, only an increase of around Rs 3.94 per litre has made an impact, but it cannot be immediately rolled back just because the cost