The Sen Times

KATHMANDU, Nepal, March 27, 2026 (AP) Nepals youngest prime minister took the oath of office Friday after his party won a landslide victory in elections earlier this month, and following a youth-led uprising that toppled the government in September. Balendra Shah was appointed prime minister by President Ram Chandra Paudel Friday after his Rastriya Swatantra Party won nearly two-thirds of the seats in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, in the March 5 polls. Shah, the

New Delhi, Mar 27 (PTI) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said there is no proposal to impose a lockdown in the country in the wake of the West Asia war, and asked politicians to refrain from rumour mongering and creating fear psychosis among the people. The minister also said the government will remain on its toes to keep fiscal deficit under check while ensuring the burden of rising global crude oil prices does not fall on the common man. Replying to a discussion on the Finance Bil

New Delhi [India], March 27 (ANI):Congress leaderPawan Khera on Friday questioned the claims made by the Narendra Modi government that the announced excise duty cuts on petrol and diesel provide relief for the common public, arguing that it benefits oil marketing companies instead of consumers. He said that the consumers will continue to pay unchanged retail prices at fuel stations. Speaking to ANI, Khera asked for whom this favour was being bestowed. He further pointed out that it pertained to

New Delhi, Mar 27 (PTI): The government has slashed excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 per litre each, a move aimed at shielding domestic consumers from a surge in global oil prices triggered by the Middle East conflict, at an estimated revenue cost of Rs 1.75 lakh crore. Alongside, the government brought back duties on export of diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF). Special additional excise duty on petrol has been cut from Rs 13 a litre to Rs 3 and the same on diesel from Rs 10 per li

Since the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran in late February, Iran hasretaliatedby targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, effectively shutting down the narrow channel of water. Its caused a global fuel crisis, even though some ships are managing to get through the strait. US President Donald Trump hasgiven Iran an ultimatumto fully reopen the waterway to oil and gas shipments andcalled on NATO alliesto help in the effort. We asked naval expert Jennifer Parker,

Mumbai, Mar 27 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled in early trade on Friday after a two-day rally, tracking a weak trend in global peers, as the US-Iran conflict continues to be a key overhang for the markets. Crude oil prices staying above the USD 100 per barrel mark and unabated foreign fund outflows have also made investors risk-averse. The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 926.92 points to 74,346.53 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty dropped 280.95 points to 23,025.50. From the 30-

Mumbai, Mar 27 (PTI) The rupee crashed 33 paise to a fresh all-time low of 94.24 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday, weighed down by elevated oil prices and a stronger greenback amid no breakthrough in the West Asia conflict. Heavy sell-off in domestic equity markets and sustained FII outflows put further pressure on the local unit, according to forex traders. At the interbank foreign exchange, the local unit opened at 94.18 and slipped further to 94.29 against the greenback, down 33

WASHINGTON, March 27, 2026 (AP) Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in France to meet his Group of Seven counterparts Friday after President Donald Trump attacked NATO countries over a reluctance or refusal to take part in the Iran war, a conflict that some of Americas closest allies have met with deep skepticism. Rubio will have a hard time trying to sell the other top diplomats from G7 countries on the U.S. strategy for the Iran conflict, to which almost all nations have raised objections. Trum

DUBAI/TEL AVIV/WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump said he will extend a pause on attacks against Irans energy plants into April and that talks with Iran were going very well, but an Iranian official said a U.S. proposal for ending the war as one-sided and unfair. The four-week war has spread across the Middle East killing thousands of people and hit the global economy with soaring energy prices, fuelling global inflation fears. The United States and Israel launched strik

HANOI, Vietnam, March 27, 2026 (AP) Farmers around the world are feeling the squeeze of the Iran war. Gas prices have shot up and fertilizer supplies are waning due to Tehrans near shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli bombing. The fertilizer shortage is putting the livelihood of farmers in developing countries already troubled by rising temperatures and erratic weather systems further at risk, and could lead to people everywhere paying more for food. The poores

Debates about generative AI in higher education have been informed by studies of completed student papers, or self-reported survey data. Research shows that artificial intelligence tools can support learning, but also has raised concerns, including students overreliance, cheating, and the potential degradation of critical thinking and engagement. While these types of studies provide interesting snapshots of reported practices, their methodologies may hide something important: how writing actuall

I was standing with a waste management supervisor lets call him David at the back of a major fruit and vegetable market in Dar es Salaam, the biggest city in Tanzania. David and I watched as his team raked the markets waste from a holding bay into the back of a big, yellow tipper truck. Were not taking this to Pugu, David said. Were taking this to an illegal site. Pugu is Dar es Salaams only official landfill site. All of the rotten produce, peel, leaves, water bottles, soft plastic and cardbo

Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, Mar 26, 2026 For many job seekers, it might seem like theres never been a harder time to find a job. Hiring for white-collar jobs has been especially weak, part of what economists call a low-hire, low-fire job market in which businesses are largely holding onto their workers while hiring remains sluggish, making it difficult for younger workers to land permanent work. Technology is also shaking up the hiring process. Automated systems enable job seekers to easily apply to

New Delhi [India], March 26 (ANI): Domestic equity markets will remain closed on Thursday on the occassion of Ram Navami, marking a scheduled pause in trading activity following a period of strong gains. According to the stock market holiday calendar shared by the National Stock Exchange (NSE), todays closure is one of several upcoming breaks in the mid-year schedule, with the next holiday slated for Mahavir Jayanti on March 31. Following todays break, the markets will again close on Good Friday

DHAKA, Bangladesh, March 26, 2026 (AP) A bus carrying about 50 people plunged into a major river in central Bangladesh as it was driving onto a ferry, leaving at least 18 people dead, authorities said Thursday. The bus plunged into the River Padma Wednesday afternoon in Rajbari district, about 84 kilometers (52 miles) from the capital, Dhaka, said fire official Dewan Sohel Rana. The bus was traveling to the capital from the southwestern district of Kushtia as people return to work after the Isl

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 26, 2026 (AP) Iran on Wednesday dismissed an American plan to pause the war in the Middle East and launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries, including strikes that hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, sparking a fire. Irans defiance came as Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran and as the United States deployed paratroopers and more Marines to the region. Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview on state TV that his

Washington, (Mar 26 (PTI) US First Lady Melania Trump was escorted at a global summit at the White House by a black and white humanoid AI robot that spoke in 11 different languages, including Bengali. Created by robotics company Figure, the humanoid robot was introduced as the first American-made humanoid guest in the White House by Trump to a gathering of First Spouses from 45 countries for the inaugural meeting of the Fostering the Future Together global coalition. The robot, named Figure 3 we

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2026 (AP) President Donald Trump predicted Wednesday that his party will have larger congressional majorities after Novembers midterm elections, even as political warning signs that have privately worried some Republicans for months are starting to flash red. While Trump said the U.S. is winning so big in the war in Iran, it is keeping gas prices high, travelers are facing unprecedented airport security wait times and Americans remain concerned about steep costs of living.

March 25 (Reuters) The United States is negotiating with itself, an Iranian military spokesman said according to state media on Wednesday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran wants to make a deal to end the war in the Middle East. A 15-point plan aimed at putting an end to the conflict was drafted by Washington and sent to Tehran, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday. Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you negotiating with yourself? Eb

Sydney, Mar 25 (The Conversation) Every Australian shopper knows the pull of cheap junk foods lining supermarket shelves. Meanwhile, the cost of fresh fruit and vegetables continues to climb. So its little wonder conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes are so common, and Australias health-care system struggles to cope. But what if policies could help level the playing field? And what would that mean for our health, and health-care expenditure? Our new research, published today in The Lanc

Queensland, Mar 25 (The Conversation) Israels avowed goal in the Middle East war is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Yet, the double standard associated with this is hardly sustainable in the long run. The worst-kept secret in the world of nuclear politics is that Israel possesses a formidable arsenal of nuclear weapons. It began developing these in the 1950s and reached a fully operational capability by the late 1960s. Although Israel refuses to confirm or deny this fact, arms co

Mumbai, Mar 25 (PTI) The rupee fell 18 paise to 93.94 against the US dollar in early trade on Wednesday as sustained foreign fund outflows kept investors on the edge. However, a drop in global crude oil prices, a weaker greenback, and a strong opening at the domestic equity markets prevented sharper losses in the local unit, forex traders said. Foreign fund outflows amid uncertainties over the West Asia crisis further weighed on the local unit, forex traders said. At the interbank foreign exchan

Mumbai, Mar 25 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty extended their previous sessions rally in early trade on Wednesday, tracking a sharp decline in crude oil prices and a positive trend in Asian markets, amid hopes of de-escalation in the West Asia war. The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 885.32 points to 74,953.77 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty surged 307.65 points to 23,220.05. From the 30-Sensex firms, Mahindra & Mahindra, UltraTech Cement, Adani Ports, HDFC Bank, Trent and Eternal wer

New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) A new study suggests that consuming higher amounts of ultra-processed foods may be linked to reduced fertility in men, slower growth in early embryos, and smaller yolk sacs essential for early embryonic development. Even though ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are so common in our diets, very little is known about their potential relationship with fertility outcomes, and early human development, said lead researcher Dr Romy Gaillard, a paediatrician and associate professor o

New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) Gold prices snapped a four-day losing streak and climbed Rs 1,200 to Rs 1.44 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Tuesday, while silver remained flat at Rs 2.30 lakh per kilogram, according to the All India Sarafa Association. The precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity had closed at Rs 1,43,600 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) on Monday. Traders attributed the rebound in domestic gold prices to a recovery in global commodity markets and some buying at lower l

CHICAGO, March 24 (Reuters) United Airlines on Tuesday unveiled a broad aircraft and cabin overhaul centered on higher-end seating, pressing ahead with its long-term growth plan days after warning that oil could stay above $100 a barrel through 2027 and outlining plans to trim some flights in response. The Chicago-based carrier said it expects to receive more than 250 aircraft by April 2028, including 68 Airbus, A321neo Coastliner and A321XLR jets with lie-flat Polaris business-class seats and

Mumbai, Mar 24 (PTI) The rupee dropped 35 paise to 93.88 (provisional) against the US dollar on Tuesday as a strengthening greenback against major crosses and elevated global crude prices spooked investors. Foreign fund outflows amid uncertainties over the West Asia crisis further weighed on the local unit, forex traders said. At the interbank foreign exchange, the local unit opened at 93.66 against the greenback and remained volatile throughout the session. It eventually settled at 93.88 (provi

New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) Investors wealth has eroded by a whopping Rs 48.29 lakh crore since the start of the West Asia war on February 28, sending shock waves across global markets and driving the BSE Sensex lower by 10.56 per cent. Since the conflict began, the BSE benchmark Sensex has tumbled 8,590.8 points or 10.56 per cent, and the NSE Nifty lost 2,666 points or 10.58 per cent. The market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies eroded by Rs 48.29 lakh crore (Rs 48,29,041.45 crore) to Rs 415 l

WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM/TEL AVIV, March 24 (Reuters) Iran launched waves of missiles at Israel on Tuesday, the Israeli military said, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said there had been very good and productive talks aiming at halting the conflict raging across the Middle East. Three senior Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump appeared determined to reach a deal, but that they thought it highly unlikely that Iran would agree to U.S. demands in any new round of

New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) Gold prices declined Rs 2,260 to Rs 1.37 lakh per 10 grams in futures trade on Tuesday, marking their decline for the fifth straight session amid uncertainty over geopolitical developments in West Asia. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), the yellow metal for April delivery decreased by Rs 2,260, or 1.62 per cent, to Rs 1,37,000 per 10 grams. Analysts said the precious metal prices remained under pressure due to conflicting statements surrounding tensions in West Asia.

Mumbai, Mar 24 (PTI) NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar hosted a dinner for Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders in Mumbai, his first interaction with them after a spell of illness that had kept him away from public engagements recently. The dinner meet, held at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre on Monday night, was attended by key alliance leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT) head and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, his son and MLA Aaditya Thackeray, Congress Legislature Party lead

New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) To ensure ethical pharmaceutical practices in the supply chain of weight-loss drugs of the GLP-1 class, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has intensified its regulatory surveillance against the unauthorised sale and promotion of the medications. To this end, inspections and audits have been carried out at many online pharmacy warehouses, drug wholesalers and retailers to check for unauthorised sale and improper prescription. With the recent introduction of mult

Mumbai, Mar 24 (PTI) The rupee fell 20 paise to 93.73 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday as the greenback strengthened and global crude oil prices kept rising even after US President Donald Trump signalled that negotiations were underway with Iran. Trump on Monday said the US was talking with a respected Iranian leader and claimed the Islamic Republic was eager for a deal to end the war. He also extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on i

Mumbai, Mar 24 (PTI) Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded in early trade on Tuesday, in-line with a rally in global markets, after US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt on strikes targeting Iranian energy infrastructure. The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 1,516 points to 74,212.47 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty surged 386.95 points to 22,899.60. From the 30-Sensex firms, InterGlobe Aviation, Asian Paints, Eternal, Adani Ports, Trent and Larsen & Toubro were the

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 24, 2026 (AP) U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday the U.S. was talking with an Iranian leader and claimed the Islamic Republic was eager for a deal to end the war. He also extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants, saying it has an additional five days. Trumps turnaround, which held out the possibility of resolving the war now in its fourth week, served to drive down oil prices and jolt stocks. It offer

March 22 (Reuters) British Prime Minister Keir Starmer summoned a national emergency meeting on Monday to deal with the economic fallout from the escalating war in Iran, as Britains government borrowing costs surged to their highest level since the global crisis of 2008. The storm in financial markets intensified in early trade this week after Iran said it would strike the energy and water systems of Gulf neighbours if U.S. President Donald Trump follows through with a threat to hit Irans elect

New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) Gold prices slumped by Rs 9,050 to Rs 1.43 lakh per 10 grams while silver tumbled Rs 10,500 to Rs 2.30 lakh per kg in the national capital on Monday amid subdued domestic demand and weak global trends. According to the All India Sarafa Association, gold of 99.9 per cent purity plunged by Rs 9,050, or nearly 6 per cent, to Rs 1,43,600 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) from Fridays closing level of Rs 1,52,650 per 10 grams. Silver also declined sharply by Rs 10,500, or

TEL AVIV/JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he had given orders to postpone any military strikes against Iranian power plants for five days, hours ahead of a deadline that threatened further escalation in the conflict now in its fourth week. Trump added in a post on his Truth Social platform that the U.S. and Iran had had VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE conversations over the past two days about a COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDD

New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) Two more Indian-flagged LPG tankers, carrying roughly a days supply of the countrys cooking gas, have safely navigated through the war-hit Strait of Hormuz and are expected to reach Indian shores over the next two days. LPG tankers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, sailing close to each other, started from the Persian Gulf on Monday morning before crossing the strait, ship tracking data showed. The two ships are carrying about 92,000 tonnes of LPG, said Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special

Mumbai, Mar 23 (PTI) The rupee breached the 94/dollar barrier for the first time, slumping 50 paise to a new record closing low of 94.03 (provisional) against the greenback on Monday, as spiralling global crude prices and unabated foreign fund outflows unnerved investors. A strengthening US dollar and a steep decline in the domestic equity markets further weakened the local unit, forex traders said. At the interbank foreign exchange, the local unit opened at 93.84 and kept losing ground througho

WASHINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) President Donald Trump backed down on targeting Irans power network on Monday, saying the U.S. and Iran have held constructive talks and that he would postpone any strikes on power plants and energy infrastructure. Trumps statement came after Iran threatened to attack Israels power plants and those supplying U.S. bases across the Gulf region if the U.S. targets Irans power network. Conversations with Iran will continue throughout the week, Trump said in a social m

TEL AVIV/JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) Iran will attack Israels power plants and plants supplying U.S. bases in the Gulf if President Donald Trump carries out his threat to obliterate Irans power network, the countrys Revolutionary Guards said in a statement on Monday. The statement seemingly retracted earlier threats to desalination plants in the region, which are crucial for providing drinking water in Gulf countries. The lying U.S. President has claimed that the Revolutionary Gua

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, March 23, 2026 (AP) The head of the International Energy Agency said Monday that the global economy faces a major, major threat because of the Iran war. No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction, Fatih Birol told Australias National Press Club in Canberra on Monday. He said the crisis in the Middle East has had a worse combined impact than the two oil shocks of the 1970s and the effect on gas markets of the Russia-Uk

New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) Gold prices plunged sharply by Rs 8,089 to Rs 1.36 lakh per 10 grams in futures trade on Monday, tracking a global selloff amid rising inflation fears and a firm US dollar. On the Multi Commodity Exchange, the yellow metal for April delivery slumped by Rs 8,089, or 5.6 per cent, to Rs 1,36,403 per 10 grams. Last week, gold had dropped Rs 13,974, or 8.82 per cent, to close at around Rs 1.44 lakh per 10 grams on the commodities bourse. Analysts said the precious metal opene

PARIS, March 23, 2026 (AP) Emmanuel Grgoire, a Socialist little known to the French public, was elected mayor of Paris in a runoff vote Sunday, succeeding fellow party member Anne Hidalgo. Soon after claiming victory, Grgoire, 48, took a city bike through the streets of Paris toward City Hall, echoing his promise to make the French capital greener. Grgoire beat out prominent conservative contender Rachida Dati, who acknowledged her defeat after partial results were made public. The race for Par

DUBAI, March 23 (Reuters) Iran will retaliate to an attack on its electricity sector by targeting Israels power plants as well as power plants supplying U.S. bases with electricity in regional countries, a statement by the Revolutionary Guards on Monday said. The statement seemingly retracted earlier threats to desalination plants in the region, which are crucial for providing drinking water in Gulf countries. The lying U.S. President has claimed that the Revolutionary Guards intends to attack

Mumbai, Mar 23 (PTI) The rupee continued its slide in the early trade on Monday, losing 41 paise to slump to a record low of 93.94 against the US dollar as the raging war in West Asia kept global crude oil prices elevated, and the greenback remained strong. Sustained foreign fund outflows and a crash at the domestic equity markets in the morning session further weakened the local unit, forex traders said. At the interbank foreign exchange, the local unit opened at 93.84 against the US dollar bef

Mumbai, Mar 23 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty dropped sharply in early trade on Monday as the Middle East conflict entered its fourth week driving crude oil prices higher. A massive bearish trend in global equity markets and relentless foreign fund outflows also made investors jittery. The 30-share BSE Sensex dived 1,555.62 points, or 2 per cent, to 72,977.34 during initial trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty tanked 479.95 points, or 2 per cent, to 22,634.55. From the 30-Sensex firms, Tata S

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 20, 2026 (AP) Iran threatened to target recreational and tourist sites worldwide and insisted it was still building missiles. Fridays show of defiance came nearly three weeks into U.S.-Israeli strikes that have killed a slew of Tehrans top leaders and hammered its weapons and energy industries. Iran fired on Israel and energy sites in neighboring Gulf Arab states as many in the region marked one of the holiest days on the Muslim calendar. Iranians were also ce

New Delhi, Mar 20 (PTI) Silver prices rebounded by Rs 1,800 to Rs 2.40 lakh per kg while gold prices dropped by Rs 650 to Rs 1.52 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday, according to the All India Sarafa Association. The white metal prices increased by Rs 1,800, or nearly 1 per cent, to Rs 2,40,500 per kg (inclusive of all taxes) from Thursdays closing level of Rs 2,38,700 per kg. However, gold of 99.9 per cent purity extended its losses for the third consecutive day, declining by R