The Sen Times

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

Miami, August 2, 2026 (The Conversation) Every year, millions of pilgrims walk from the deserts of southern Iraq to the holy city of Karbala for Arbaeen, one of the largest annual pilgrimages in the world. In 2026, pilgrims will converge on Karbala on Aug. 5. Arbaeen falls 40 days after Ashura, which commemorates the killing of Husayn ibn Ali, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, in 680 C.E. It marks the end of the mourning period that begins during the Islamic month of Muharram. As a scholar of

New Delhi, Jul 31 (PTI) Gold prices rose by Rs 300 to Rs 1,48,300 per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday due to buying from retailers and jewellers, local traders said. The yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity had closed at Rs 1,48,000 per 10 grams in the preceding session. Silver remained flat at Rs 2,24,700 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes). Traders said continuous purchases by retailers and jewellers supported domestic gold prices despite weak global prices, while silver traded in

BRUSSELS, July 31, 2026 (AP) The European Union rolled out a new team on Friday to rein in AI companies across the world, in one of the most aggressive regulations the high-tech sector has so far faced as fears rise over the risks the rapidly advancing technology poses to people, politics and prosperity. Brussels aims to track the use of AI models for violations of its new regulations, like the publishing of sexually explicit material, fake photos and videos, and cyber threats to public infrast

July 31 (Reuters) Walmart-owned Flipkart said on Friday it has partnered with Netflix to offer members of its loyalty programme a monthly mobile subscription after four qualifying orders, as it looks to encourage repeat purchases by customers. Indias e-commerce companies are increasingly using loyalty programmes to drive repeat purchases as competition intensifies across online retail and quick commerce. Flipkart, which WalMart bought a controlling stake in 2018, has expanded into grocery and r

Mumbai, Jul 31 (PTI) Stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended higher for the third day on Friday, tracking a sharp rally in Bajaj Finance, foreign fund inflows and a decline in crude oil prices. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 166.49 points, or 0.21 per cent, to settle at 78,094.64. During the day, it jumped 344.1 points, or 0.44 per cent, to 78,272.25. The 50-share NSE Nifty gained 66.45 points, or 0.27 per cent, to end at 24,383.60. From the Sensex pack, Bajaj Finance jumped 8.11

Mumbai, Jul 31 (PTI) The rupee remained in positive territory on Friday, gaining 15 paise to settle at 95.35 (provisional) against the US dollar, tracking foreign capital inflows and support from the Reserve Bank. However, higher global crude oil prices and a stronger greenback capped sharper gains in the local unit, while elevated tensions in West Asia kept markets on edge, forex traders said. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 95.40 and traded in the range of 95.25-95.46 du

New Delhi [India], July 31 (ANI): The Lok Sabha, which resumed proceedings at 12 noon on Friday, was adjourned for the day following heavy sloganeering by Opposition members who demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Amid the continuous protests and din, the House passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill. The Bill seeks to further amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. Meanwhile, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju hit out at

Agra is known as the home of the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world and a bucket-list destination. Visitors marvel at its beauty, but few realise that another Agra exists in its shadow: the Agra of its artisans. These communities hold the essence of the citys cultural legacy yet remain invisible to many of the people who seek beauty here. Agras story is usually told through the gleaming marble of the Taj Mahal, not through the eyes of those who live and work nearby. The artisans, m

July 31, 2026 (Associated Press) Nichole Sims started using a tanning bed at 15 because she said everyone around her was doing it, especially before events like homecoming dances and prom. Eight years later, she was diagnosed with melanoma a potentially life-threatening skin cancer. During that time, Sims has seen tanning become even more popular among young people online. She tries to counter the misinformation on social media that touts tanning as a mood booster and beauty requirement by shar

July 30, 2026 (Conversation) Money worries can keep us up at night, but could decades of financial stress leave a lasting mark on the brain itself? Thats the question my colleagues and I set out to answer in a new study and the answer, it turns out, is yes. Most research on money and brain health looks at peoples financial circumstances at just one point in time. This makes it hard to know whether a few difficult years have the same effect as decades of enduring struggle. For our study, publish

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jul 30 (PTI) Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday claimed orders to use force against students during the July 20 Sansad Chalo march must have come from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sought his resignation over the police crackdown. Talking to reporters at his residence in hometown Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in central Maharashtra, he said democracy was in danger in the country and questions were being raised even on judiciary, while centra

NEW DELHI, July 30 (Reuters) Indias CBI( Central Bureau of Investigation) has filed charges against 13 people in connection with leaked question papers for the national medical college entrance test, days after youth-led protests over the scandal forced the education minister to quit. About 2 million students had taken the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in May before it was cancelled following allegations of test paper questions being leaked. A re-test was held on June 21. Those

New Delhi, Jul 30 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said students deserve justice and asserted that an independent Supreme Court-monitored high-powered committee must be constituted to probe the brutalities against them. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha also shared on X a video clip of police lathi-charging students. Students deserve justice. An independent SC monitored high powered committee must be constituted to probe brutalities against our students. pic.twitter.com/pZA

New Delhi, Jul 29 (PTI) In a blistering attack on the government over alleged police excesses against students, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Home Minister Amit Shah and demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the brutalities. The Leader of Opposition alleged that he was not allowed to speak in Lok Sabha and everytime he tries to speak there, he is silenced. Either Shah ordered that students be shot with pellet guns and beaten with lat

New Delhi [India], July 29 (ANI): Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday criticised the police action against students protesting in the national capital, saying the entire country had witnessed the developments and raising concerns over the reported injuries suffered by demonstrators. Speaking to reporters after the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day, Priyanka Gandhi condemned the alleged use of force against students and highlighted the reported injuries during the protests. The e

Mumbai, Jul 29 (PTI) The rupee rose 16 paise to 95.66 (provisional) against the US dollar on Wednesday, extending its gaining streak for the fourth straight session, amid hectic buying in domestic equity markets and lower global crude prices. Foreign capital inflows and a weak American currency ahead of the US Federal Reserves interest rate decisions also supported the local unit, forex traders said. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 95.70 and touched the intraday low of 95.

New Delhi [India], July 28 (ANI): Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) chief spokesperson Saurav Das has said that government representatives shared copies of Bihar and Assam notifications guaranteeing withdrawal of FIRs, no future action and release of all detainees and arrested individuals. Taking to X, the CJP chief spokesperson said, Hours after our press conference, Governments representatives met us. The meeting lasted for 2-3 hours. They shared copies of the Bihar and Assam notifications guarantee

July 28, 2026 (Conversation) Rice is the most popular food in the world, providing sustenance to more than 3.5 billion people each day. Rice is deeply embedded in food, daily rituals, language and spirituality. It is easy to take it for granted. But where did rice come from? And how did it spread to become the foundation of global food security? Early origins in China and India In the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China, Oryza sativa rice grew 100,000 years ago. It was first gathered by hu

July 28, 2026 (Conversation) Youre probably familiar with the idea that in the world of big tech, we are the product. Our data is the currency being traded every time we navigate our social media feeds. Tech giants such as Apple, Google and Microsoft offer valuable services, but it comes at a price. They host our email, photos, backups, files, calendars, reminders and contacts. If you also include all the smaller startups and niche solutions, youll quickly see your security cameras, electronic l

July 28, 2026 (Conversation) It might seem easier than ever to start and run a business using AI (artificial intelligence). At the extreme end, some AI tools offer to run key business functions while you sleep, or even build entire apps from a single prompt. But this technology carries new risks and is reshaping some old ones. And we arent just talking about how vibe coding creating something like an app from scratch, without needing any coding skills might result in glitches for customers. No

NEW DELHI, July 27 (Reuters) Indian activists are challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modis government over the use of AI-powered surveillance at the largest youth protest in decades, with one court case set to become a test of federal powers even after agitation ended. The surveillance controversy erupted during last weeks student protests over exam paper leaks, when demonstrators posted pictures on social media of a mobile police surveillance van equipped with cameras on a telescopic mast pro

NEW DELHI, July 27 (Reuters) Indian authorities have suspended a policeman for firing rounds in the air from an assault rifle to disperse student protesters in an eastern state over the weekend, the latest flashpoint in a wave of youth protests that forced the federal education minister to resign. Police have been accused of using excessive force at the protests, including beating students with canes and firing tear gas to push back tens of thousands marching to parliament in the capital New De

July 27 (Reuters) Dollar-inflow schemes announced by the RBI (Reserve Bank Of India) in June have brought in close to $32 billion, the RBI governor, Sanjay Malhotra, told The Hindu Businessline newspaper in an interview published on Monday. The inflows are likely to boost Indias balance of payments, he said. Here are some key comments: Most of the $32 billion raised so far has come from the foreign currency non-resident deposit scheme, Malhotra said. In addition, about $7 billion has come in as

Dehradun, Jul 27 (PTI) Uttarakhand BJP chief Mahendra Bhatt has apologised after facing backlash from the Congress and other organisations for making allegedly objectionable remarks against students after Dharmendra Pradhans resigned as Union education minister over the NEET paper leak issue. In a social media post on Sunday, Bhatt said, If any word or the way I phrased my statement yesterday inadvertently hurt anyones sentiments, I regret it and offer my apologies. He clarified that it was not

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

New Delhi [India], July 21 (ANI): Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday evening reached the Mandir Marg Police Station after Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with several other Opposition leaders, were detained by the Delhi Police during a protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modis residence over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and demands of students. Some of the detained Opposition leaders were brought to th

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

New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) Gold prices rallied Rs 800 to Rs 1.47 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Tuesday on strong physical demand and firm global trends. The yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity rose by Rs 800 to Rs 1,47,700 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes), according to local traders. It had closed at Rs 1,46,900 per 10 grams on Monday. However, silver remained unchanged at Rs 2,21,500 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes). Traders said the domestic bullion market witnessed stea

Mumbai, Jul 21 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Tuesday as HDFC Bank dragged the markets for a second day after the lenders quarterly earnings disappointed on the margin front. Besides, escalating US-Iran conflict, uptick in crude oil prices and persistent foreign fund outflows also reinforced a risk-off sentiment in the markets. The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 238.41 points, or 0.31 per cent, to settle at 77,470.11. During the day, it dropped 371.19 points, or 0.47 per c

Sydney, Jul 17 (Conversation) artners do not simply grow old together, they often grow more alike. Decades of shared routines, environments and experiences leave couples with increasingly similar health profiles, a pattern long recognised for obesity, diabetes and heart disease and stroke. Could dementia now belong on that list? A new nationwide study from Taiwan suggests the answer is yes but not for the reason many headlines might imply. The shadow of shared lives In this study involving almo

New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi along with some opposition MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday and urged him to allow a discussion in the House on the brutality unleashed on students and the governments complete lack of accountability for the examination crisis. Besides Gandhi, SPs Dharmendra Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBTs) Arvind Savant, RSPs N K Premchandran, among others, met the Speaker in his office before the House proceedings began. In a post on X, Gandhi said,

Mumbai, Jul 21 (PTI) Market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty drifted lower in early trade on Tuesday dragged by blue-chip HDFC Bank and persistent foreign fund outflows. Escalating US-Iran conflict also reinforced a risk-off sentiment, limiting investors appetite for equities, according to a market expert. The 30-share BSE Sensex dipped 58.89 points to 77,649.63 in opening trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty slipped 22.45 points to 24,216.05. From the Sensex pack, Eternal, HDFC Bank, Reliance Indust

LONDON, July 20 (Reuters) Andy Burnham became Britains seventh prime minister in a decade on Monday, pledging to break with the politics of the past to deliver a new economic model to benefit a nation fed up with a revolving door of leaders. In front of dozens of supporters outside his new office and residence at 10 Downing Street, Burnham said politicians had failed to bring the stability needed to raise living standards, something he said he would change with immediate policies and a longer-t

New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) The CJP (Cockroach Janta Party) on Monday said the government has reached out to them for talks and that two of its spokespersons will be meeting Union minister J P Nadda to put forth the activist outfits demands. There was no official word from the government on the talks. This comes as thousands gathered near Parliament Street here and tried to march towards Parliament to demand accountability over alleged examination irregularities and the resignation of Union Educatio

Washington, July 18, (PTI) Activists from the US-based advocacy groups gathered to express solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike in New Delhi over alleged irregularities in the examination system, including the NEET. Activists from the Hindus for Human Rights and the Azadi Project gathered at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi near the Indian Embassy in Washington on Friday evening with placards carrying slogans in support of Wangchuk. The activists also raised slogans agains

New Delhi [India], July 18 (ANI): Delhi police on Saturday began removing protestors at Jantar Mantar after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken to a hospital on the 21st day of his hunger strike. He has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after the NEET paper leak fiasco. A heavy deployment of Delhi Police personnel was seen at the protest site as the protesters were asked to vacate the area. In a post shared on X, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DC

NEW DELHI, July 14 (Reuters) India said on Tuesday that it is committed to working with its partners to combat transnational organised crime, a week after the U.S. charged the imprisoned head of an Indian criminal gang with directing the 2023 murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada. Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Canadas Surrey, and then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had alleged Indian involvement in his killing, badly damaging ties between the countries. India

New Delhi, Jul 14 (PTI) Gold prices fell by Rs 700 to Rs 1.46 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Tuesday, and silver slumped by Rs 8,900, as subdued demand weighed on the domestic bullion market. The yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity dropped by Rs 700 to Rs 1,46,300 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) from Mondays closing level of Rs 1,47,000 per 10 grams. Silver also witnessed a sharper correction, tumbling Rs 8,900 to Rs 2,26,100 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes), according

New Delhi, Jul 14 (PTI) People with both excess body fat and poor muscle health could be more than three-and-a-half times likely to develop diabetes, compared to those with a healthy body composition, according to a new study. People with sarcopenic obesity the coexistence of excess body fat (obesity) and a loss of skeletal muscle mass and function (sarcopenia) were 19 per cent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people with obesity alone and 91 per cent more likely to develop the cond

July 14, 2026 (Conversation) Last week, the US software company Turnitin revealed 53.6% of Australian tertiary education submissions run through its system used some form of AI in the period from October 2025-April 2026. The company, whose plagiarism-detection technology is widely used in universities, also reported 10% of these submissions contained more than 80% AI-written content. Meanwhile, separate data from AI safety company Anthropic showed Australia now leads in per capita use of its Cla

Mumbai, Jul 13 (PTI) The rupee fell 39 paise to 95.77 against the American currency in early trade on Monday, weighed down by elevated crude oil prices. Forex traders said with Brent oil prices rising over USD 79 to the barrel the Indian rupee is expected to open weaker at 95.53 levels after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz as closed. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 95.72, then touched 95.77 against the US dollar, registering a loss of 39 paise from its previous c

July 13, 2026 (Conversation) Phones and devices have become inextricably linked with everyday life. They store our credit cards, provide critical bus updates, and allow us to communicate whenever we need to. But when our device use starts to affect our mood, replace real-life experiences, or interfere with face-to-face relationships, its a sign our habits have crossed the line from healthy to unhealthy. How are teens more affected? Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to excessive device use, a