The Sen Times

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

TEL AVIV/DUBAI/WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) Iran attacked an oil refinery in Kuwait on Friday and Israel killed a spokesman of Irans Revolutionary Guards as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran showed no sign of ending. Israel promised to avoid further attacks on Irans South Pars gasfield the day after an Iranian retaliatory strike on Qatar caused damage that will leave the world short of natural gas for years to come. As Muslims around the region tried to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which ends the fastin

NEW DELHI, March 20 (Reuters) Transparency activists and journalists are taking the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Indias top court over its new privacy law, arguing the legislation will have a chilling effect on journalism and enable officials to withhold information of public interest. Four lawsuits are due to be heard in the Supreme Court on March 23, following criticism from media and activists that Modis government is diluting a 20-year-old Right to Information (RTI) law tha

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 20, 2026 (AP) Iran defiantly insisted Friday that it would deny its enemies their security and that it was still building missiles 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. With little information coming out of Iran, it

Mumbai, Mar 20 (PTI) Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty gave up most of their intra-day gains to end nearly 0.5 per cent higher on Friday, following intense buying in PSU bank, IT and metal stocks amid concerns over a further spike in fuel-driven inflation. In another volatile session, the 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 325.72 points or 0.44 per cent to settle at 74,532.96. During the day, it jumped 1,079.15 points, or 1.45 per cent, to 75,286.39. The 50-share NSE Nifty edged higher by 112.3

Melbourne, Mar 20 (The Conversation) As a urological surgeon, I meet many patients with chronic (long-term) kidney disease. Sometimes, I see patients that have progressed to the point where their kidneys do not work at all. This leads to the toxic build-up of waste products, meaning they need regular dialysis or a kidney transplant. While these treatments are lifesaving, access to them is becoming increasingly challenging. As more people are newly diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, the large

Mumbai, Mar 20 (PTI) The rupee fell 19 paise to its record intra-day low of 93.08 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday as the greenback strengthened further and FII outflows continued unabated amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. Elevated global crude oil prices put further pressure on the local unit, while a positive opening at the domestic equity markets cushioned against a sharper fall, according to forex traders. At the interbank foreign exchange, the local unit opened at 92.92 aga

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2026 (AP) President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu s diverging language on Israels decision to attack a critical Iranian gas field marks the most notable difference of opinion between the two leaders since the start of the 20-day war against Iran. The attack by Israel on the South Pars gas field prompted Iran to retaliate against energy infrastructure in other Middle East countries. The Iranian strikes led to already elevated global energy price

DOHA/WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM, March 20 (Reuters) Israel launched a fresh wave of attacks on Iran on Friday, a day after President Donald Trump told it not to repeat its strikes on Iranian natural gas infrastructure, which sharply escalated the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The conflict has killed thousands of people, spread to neighbouring nations and hit the global economy since the United States and Israel launched strikes on February 28, after talks about Tehrans nuclear program failed to yield a d

NEW YORK March 20, 2026 (AP) Before the house is humming and her teenagers ask her to whip up breakfast or chauffeur them to school, Jen Meegan reads her company emails and revisits ideas she drafted the night before. She works for an hour or so, then after the school run shops for groceries or gets gas before returning to focus deeply on her job as head writer and cofounder of Sheer Havoc, a creative services agency. And so goes the rhythm of her day: working in targeted chunks for a few hours

NEW DELHI, March 19 (Reuters) Indias government privately proposed in January that firms like Apple, Samsung and Google consider pre-installing its biometric identification app Aadhaar on phones, a move opposed by a group representing the smartphone giants, industry letters show. The tussle over preloading state-run apps has become a recurring flashpoint between Prime Minister Narendra Modis government and tech firms, with the Aadhaar request one of six that Indian IT industry body MAIT has pus

NEW DELHI, March 19, 2026 (AP) Countries in Asia are scrambling to conserve energy and protect consumers as the war on Iran and attacks on gas fields and oil refineries disrupt critical supplies, rattling markets and driving up prices. The crisis is hitting Asia hardest because of its heavy reliance on imported energy, much of which is shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, a key choke point now under strain. Only about 90 vessels mostly Indian, Pakistani and Chinese-flagged have made it throu

WASHINGTON, March 19, 2026 (AP) The meeting that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will have at the White House on Thursday originally seemed like a prime opportunity to have President Donald Trumps ear before he embarked on a trip to China. But now, the war in Iran and Trumps unsuccessful call for Japan and other nations to help protect the Strait of Hormuz means the China trip has been delayed and Takaichi may be likely to get an earful. Trump has repeatedly complained on camera and onli

NEW DELHI, March 19 (Reuters) Indias automakers and parts suppliers are bracing for production slowdowns and assembly-line disruptions as the Iran conflict chokes gas availability, threatening growth in the worlds third-largest car market. Some parts suppliers to Indias leading carmakers like Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Mahindra are already reporting a shortage of gas to power operations, an early sign that supply chain issues are developing, according to two dozen executives at car companie

DUBAI, March 19 (Reuters) Iran seeks compensation from the United Arab Emirates, accusing it of enabling U.S. attacks against Iranian territory, Irans U.N. Ambassador told the UN Secretary General in a letter according to a Nournews report published on Thursday. In the letter, Amir Saeid Iravani said the UAEs decision to allow its territory to be used for the strikes constituted an internationally wrongful act that entailed state responsibility. Tehran said the UAE had an international responsi

New Delhi, Mar 19 (PTI) Silver futures tumbled by Rs 9,031 to Rs 2.39 lakh per kilogram on Thursday, marking the seventh straight session of losses, as rising crude oil prices and a hawkish US Federal Reserve outlook dampened investors sentiment. On the Multi Commodity Exchange, the white metal for the May delivery slumped by Rs 9,031, or 3.64 per cent, to Rs 2,39,163 per kilogram in a business turnover of 6,372 lots. Analysts said persistent inflation concerns, driven by elevated crude oil pric

Kensington (Australia), Mar 19 (The Conversation) The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow body of water adjacent to Iran and Oman, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. While it is a shared body of water between Iran and Oman, Iran functionally exercises a greater amount of control over it. The strait is a vital conduit for the shipment of oil, gas and other exports (notably fertiliser) from the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world. At its narrowest point, it is just 21 nautical miles (

Melbourne, Mar 19 (The Conversation) Louis Therouxs recent documentary Inside the Manosphere, alongside Netflixs 2025 hit drama Adolescence, has driven a spike in public discussion about the manosphere. The term refers to a loose ecosystem of anti-feminist online communities and influencers that promote male dominance and hostility toward women. Much of the public conversation about the manosphere focuses on how boys and young men fall into these spaces. A new study by the Australian Institute o

DOHA/RIYADH, March 19 (Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump said an angry Israel violently lashed out and attacked Irans major gas field, a significant escalation in the U.S.-Israeli war, but ruled out further such attacks by Israel unless Iran retaliated. Wednesdays attack on the huge South Pars gas field drove oil prices higher and prompted a threat by Iran to attack oil and gas targets across the Gulf, while it fired missiles at Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The escalation heightens the unpreceden