The Sen Times

BEIJING, July 8, 2026 (AP) China allocated millions of dollars in additional relief funding for disaster-hit areas Wednesday after severe storms destroyed homes and displaced thousands of people and a landslide killed 21 forestry workers. The central government allocated 50 million yuan ($7.4 million) to restore roads, schools and other facilities in central Chinas Hubei province and another 20 million yuan to help rebuild homes and resettle residents there, state media said. Eleven people died

Mumbai, Jul 8 (PTI) The rupee tanked 59 paise to settle at 95.55 (provisional) against the US dollar on Wednesday as the US launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran struck three ships in the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up crude oil prices and strengthening the dollar. The US 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

MUMBAI, Jul 8 (PTI) Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty fell sharply by over 2 per cent during the fag-end of the trade on Wednesday amid reports that the US President Donald Trump said the interim agreement with Iran is over, leading to a sharp rally in crude oil prices. The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 1,722.99 points, or 2.20 per cent, to 76,457.73 in intraday trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty tumbled 530.05 points, or 2.17 per cent, to 23,868.65. All the 30-Sensex firms were trading in the r

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

Mumbai, Jul 8 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled in early trade on Wednesday amid renewed US-Iran tensions and a fresh spike in crude oil prices. The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 537.83 points to 77,642.89 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty was down 163.55 points to 24,235.15. From the Sensex pack, Asian Paints, InterGlobe Aviation, Reliance Industries, ITC, Bajaj Finance and Mahindra & Mahindra were among the major laggards. Sun Pharma, HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, Power Grid and IC

Mumbai, Jul 8 (PTI) The rupee slipped 20 paise to 95.16 against the greenback in early trade on Wednesday as the US launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran struck three ships in the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up crude oil prices and strengthening the dollar. A weaker opening in the domestic equity markets further pressured the local unit, according to forex traders. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 95.15 against the US dollar before slipping further to 95.16, down

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

BOSTON July 7, 2026 (AP) When it comes to losing weight, it turns out the simple math of counting calories doesnt always add up. Fad diets come and go, but the underlying message almost always follows a simple equation. If you consume fewer calories than you burn, the weight will melt away. In principle, its true. And counting calories can be a useful tool for managing weight. But it only works if you know what numbers youre counting. And whats been billed as basic math can sometimes look more

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 7, 2026 (Conversation) Consider the following scenario. Suzy is 63, recently retired, and trying to decide when to start receiving Social Security and how to manage her retirement savings to minimize the tax hit. She opens an AI chatbot, types in the details and gets a calm, well-organized and confident answer: Claim now, convert this much, here is the reasoning. The chatbot sounds authoritative and even shows its work. So Suzy follows its guidance and never calls a financial planner. Maybe

Mumbai, Jul 7 (PTI) Market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Tuesday amid profit-taking after a four-day rally, in line with weakness in Asian equities. Buying in IT stocks, however, cushioned the markets fall. Fag-end selling dragged the 30-share BSE Sensex lower, leading the benchmark to settle 104.35 points, or 0.13 per cent, down at 78,180.72. During the day, it climbed 379.85 points, or 0.48 per cent, to 78,664.92. From the Sensex pack, Trent emerged as the top loser by tumb

Mumbai, Jul 7 (PTI) The rupee appreciated 48 paise to close at 94.95 (provisional) against the US dollar on Tuesday, on improved global risk sentiments as higher traffic flows through the Strait of Hormuz reduced supply uncertainties. Forex traders said market sentiment was also buoyed after Saudi Arabia slashed August crude oil prices for Asia by USD 11 per barrel. Moreover, softness in Brent oil prices will ease inflationary pressures for India, the worlds third-largest oil importer, market an

BEIJING, July 7, 2026 (AP) A landslide at a village in northwestern China buried 33 people on Tuesday, state media reported. About half of them have been rescued. Local authorities said the landslide occurred in the Nanhe township of Longnan city in Gansu province shortly before 7 a.m., according to Chinas official Xinhua News Agency. State broadcaster CCTV said 17 people were already rescued, but it did not elaborate on their condition. While rescue operations were underway, authorities reloca

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

Mumbai, Jul 7 (PTI) Market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty climbed in early deals on Tuesday helped by foreign fund inflows and crude oil prices coming back to the pre-war levels amid easing tensions in the West Asia. The 30-share BSE Sensex advanced 176 points to 78,461.16 in opening trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty went up by 34.1 points to 24,464.45. From the Sensex pack, Titan, Infosys, Eternal, Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech and Tata Consultancy Services were among the major winners. From the lagg

Mumbai, Jul 7 (PTI) The rupee appreciated 15 paise to 95.28 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday on improved market sentiment after reports that Saudi Arabia has slashed August crude oil prices for Asia amid easing of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Forex traders said lower Middle East risk premium and higher traffic from the Strait of Hormuz kept the oil prices lower. At the interbank foreign exchange market the rupee opened at 95.33 and later touched 95.28 against the Amer

July 7, 2026 (Conversation) An outing to the cinema isnt just about seeing a movie, it is a full sensory experience, with a big screen and big snacks. An epic film demands the panoramic widescreen, thunderous surround sound, embarrassingly large boxes of lollies and giant buckets of popcorn that never taste the same at home. Throughout the history of cinema, however, popcorn has been both scorned as a messy lowbrow distraction and hailed as a profit-making saviour for a floundering film industry

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,

July 6, 2026 (Conversation) Earlier today, the ABC flagged a shift in their position on generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) use in their news production. Despite previous caution, a recent deal with US tech company Anthropic has opened the door for ABC staff to bring Claude AI into their broadcasting news work. For now, the scope of this inclusion is limited, with a focus on converting radio programs into articles. However, the ABC has signalled a willingness to expand this scope to include

Mumbai, Jul 6 (PTI) The rupee depreciated 20 paise to close at 95.38 (provisional) against the US dollar on Monday, as a strengthening greenback weighed on emerging market currencies. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 95.25 against the American currency and traded in a range of 95.22-95.48 during the session. The rupee finally closed at 95.38 (provisional), down 20 paise from its previous close. On Friday, the rupee appreciated 17 paise to close at 95.18 against the U

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

New Delhi, Jul 6 (PTI) The Congress on Monday slammed the VHP after it wrote to Ayodhya police over the claims made by several opposition leaders on the alleged donation theft at the Ram temple, saying it is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black and an attempt to divert attention so that the organisations own moral rot is not exposed. The opposition partys attack came after the VHP wrote to the Ayodhya police, urging it to examine the claims made by several opposition leaders, inclu

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, Jul 6 (PTI) The rupee fell 10 paise to 95.28 against the American currency in early trade on Monday, weighed down by the broad strength of the American currency in the overseas market. Forex traders said whenever fresh foreign inflows enter the country, the central bank is likely to use the opportunity to rebuild its reserve position rather than allowing the rupee to strengthen too much. Moreover, uncertainty prevailed over the progress of US-Iran peace talks keeping a geopolitical risk

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 (Reuters) Indias retail car sales rose 28.6% in June, with compressed natural gas and other alternative-fuel-powered vehicles accounting for a record 40.35% of total sales, after fuel prices jumped following the war in Iran, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) said on Monday.

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

A recent study analyzes how heat affects the daily time spent by teenagers doing physical activities. The research, published in the journal Environmental Epidemiolog. In recent years, record-breaking heat temperatures have been recorded, which drives the need to understand their repercussions, including those affecting human health, such as exercise habits. In this regard, the research team highlights that global warming has raised the average temperature of the Earths surface by approximately

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

WASHINGTON, July 5, 2026 (AP) President Donald Trump mixed partisan politics with patriotic appeals on Saturday as he commemorated the 250th anniversary of American independence, a moment he declared one of the most joyous and glorious milestones of all time. Speaking in Washington after storms prompted a roughly two-hour evacuation of the National Mall, Trump honored veterans, including several from World War II and one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat in Vie

Youve forgotten a few appointments lately and you find yourself losing track of conversations. Close friends or family may have also noticed some changes in your memory or thinking. Becoming more forgetful and feeling slower in your thinking is normal in older age. But when these changes are more than youd expect for your age it might be a sign of MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment). So does that mean youll soon develop dementia? The short answer is no, not necessarily. And there are things you can

New Delhi, Jul 3 (PTI) Amid the raging row over the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Congress on Friday pushed for its demands that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust be dissolved, a Supreme Court-monitored probe be conducted, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his silence on the issue. The opposition party also demanded a public accounting of the nearly Rs 1,400 crore collected in donations for the construction of the temple before the formation of the

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

BENGALURU, July 3 Hiring for AI roles within Indias IT sector outpaced overall recruitment within the industry last month, a survey showed on Friday, indicating a push from companies to reorient themselves in the face of evolving technology. The sectors AI hiring rose 16% year-on-year in June, while overall IT jobs declined 3%, according to job portal Naukris monthly JobSpeak report that collated job listings from more than 150,000 firms on its website. Indias $315 billion IT industry has been

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

NEW DELHI, July 3 (Reuters) The worlds biggest internet domain seller, GoDaddy, has warned that Indias crackdown on fake websites impersonating famous brands will make the internet less safe for legitimate businesses and carry global ramifications. Soaring smartphone and internet use has coincided with a worsening problem of online fraud in India, the worlds most populous nation. Its a key challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modis government, which last year received 2.4 million complaints of

Mumbai, Jul 3 (PTI) Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty ended higher on Friday, extending their winning momentum to the third day running, amid a rally in IT stocks and a softer-than-expected US jobs data tempering expectations of near-term monetary tightening by the Federal Reserve. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 261.79 points, or 0.34 per cent, to settle at 77,763.91. During the day, it jumped 655.4 points, or 0.84 per cent, to 78,157.52. The 50-share NSE Nifty went up 95.15 points, or

Mumbai, Jul 3 (PTI) The rupee appreciated 14 paise to close at 95.21 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday as the dollar index retreated from its recent 15-month high levels and mirrored positive domestic equities. Forex traders said despite a weaker dollar index and lower crude oil prices, the rupee is facing pressure from robust dollar demand from importers and corporate hedgers. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 95.20 against the American currency and trade

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

Mumbai, Jul 3 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty surged in early trade on Friday amid a rally in IT stocks and a softer-than-expected US jobs data tempering expectations of near-term monetary tightening by the Federal Reserve. The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 545.89 points to 78,048.01 during initial trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty surged 173.85 points to 24,346.90. From the Sensex pack, HCL Tech, Bajaj Finserv, Tata Steel, Tech Mahindra, Bharat Electronics and Tata Consultancy Services were a

Mumbai, Jul 3 (PTI) The rupee appreciated 19 paise to 95.16 against US dollar in early trade on Friday, as the dollar index retreated from its recent 15-month high levels. Forex traders said despite a weaker dollar index and lower crude oil prices rupee is still facing pressure from robust dollar demand from importers and corporate hedgers. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 95.20, then touched 95.16 against the US dollar, registering a gain of 19 paise from its previo