The Sen Times

BILZEN-HOESELT, Belgium February 12, 2026 (AP) Leaders from across the European Union are meeting Thursday in a Belgian castle as the 27-nation bloc faces antagonism from U.S. President Donald Trump, strong-arm economic tactics from China and hybrid threats from Russia challenges that have prompted a rethink of Europes approach to diplomacy and trade. We all know we must change course, and we all know the direction, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever told a meeting of some European leaders o

WASHINGTON, February 12, 2026 (AP) Scientists are testing an entirely new way to fight heart disease: a gene-editing treatment that might offer a one-time fix for high cholesterol. Its very early stage research, tried in only a few dozen people so far. But gene-editing approaches being developed by two companies show hints that switching off certain genes could dramatically lower artery-clogging cholesterol, raising hopes of one day being able to prevent heart attacks without having to take pil

NEW DELHI, Feb 12 (Reuters) Key inflation rate accelerated to 2.75% in January on higher food and precious metal prices, the maiden print under a revised data series showed on Thursday, returning to the RBIs target band for the first time since August. The new series changes the weighting of key components such as food and housing, while moving the base year to 2024 from 2012 to better capture changes in consumption patterns over the years. Annual retail inflation was at 1.33% in December under

Mumbai, Feb 12 (PTI) The rupee appreciated 17 paise to settle for the day at 90.61 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday, as foreign fund investments lifted investor sentiments. Forex traders said foreign fund inflows, while not massive, provided a psychological anchor. Moreover, the RBI has been quietly ensuring that liquidity remains abundant in the banking system, they said. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.55 against the US dollar, and touched an int

New Delhi, Feb 12 (PTI) The opposition on Thursday accused the government of favouring industrialists over workers while drafting the industrial relations code, even snatching away their right to protest for demands. Initiating a discussion on the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, Congress member Kodikunnil Suresh said that instead of dialogue, the government has chosen to dominate labourers. Suresh, a former Union Minister of State for Labour, said the strike call given by workers on

New Delhi, Feb 12 (PTI) Over 13 per cent of heart failure cases among people living with diabetes in India could be linked to physical inactivity, a global study has estimated. The findings, published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science, also show that 9.6 per cent of coronary heart disease and 9.4 per cent of cardiovascular complication cases among people living with diabetes in India could be attributed to lack of physical activity. Globally, one in ten cases of macrovascular (large blo

NEW DELHI, Feb 12 (Reuters) A group representing Indias top airlines IndiGo and Air India has asked the government to dilute proposed fatigue management rules for cabin crew, warning they could disrupt flight schedules and limit growth prospects, a letter shows. The pushback from the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) on a key Indian government proposal comes after IndiGo, the countrys largest airline, cancelled about 4,500 flights in December due to poor planning for new fatigue management ru

New Delhi, Feb 12 (PTI) BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday said he has given a notice to initiate a substantive motion against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and demanded that his Lok Sabha membership be cancelled and he be debarred from contesting elections for life. Speaking to PTI videos in Parliament House complex, Dubey said that in his notice he has stated how the Leader of the Opposition visits foreign countries joining hands with the Soros Foundation, USAID, Ford Foundation and colludes w

DELHI/MUMBAI/SOUTHAMPTON, England, Feb 12 (Reuters) In an office block on the outskirts of Delhi, a first cohort of students gathers for a class in a Business Management degree at the University of Southampton an institution headquartered nearly 7,000 kilometres (4,350 miles) away. Far from its sprawling green campuses in southern England, Southampton is the first of several British universities setting up in India to tap one of the worlds fastest growing student markets. Britain and India agr

DHAKA, Bangladesh, February 12, 2026 (AP) Polls opened across Bangladesh on Thursday for voters to cast ballots in a parliamentary election seen as a critical test of the countrys democracy after years of political turmoil. After a slow start, crowds came to polling stations in the capital, Dhaka, and elsewhere by midmorning. Balloting will continue through Thursday with results expected Friday. More than 127 million people are eligible to vote in Bangladeshs first election since former Prime M

Mumbai, Feb 12 (PTI) Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty declined in early trade on Thursday dragged down by heavy losses in IT stocks such as Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services amid weak cues from US markets. Extending the previous days decline, the 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 421.66 points, or 0.50 per cent, to 83,811.98 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty fell 121.10 points, or 0.47 per cent, to 25,832.75. Analysts said rising crude oil prices also added to the cautious sentiment

New Delhi, Feb 12 (PTI) Employees and workers associated with a joint forum of central trade unions observed a day-long strike on Thursday to show their resistance to anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the central government. The forum has claimed that 30 crore workers are being mobilised for a general strike to protest against the new labour codes, among other issues. All India Trade Union Congress General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur told PTI that the general strik

Guwahati, Feb 11 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that the police have registered a case based on a complaint by Congress leaders over a controversial video featuring him, which was uploaded and later deleted by the state BJP. Sarma said that a BJP worker has also filed a separate police complaint over the same issue. The now-deleted video showed Sarma purportedly taking aim with a rifle and firing a shot at two people, one wearing a skull cap and the other with a

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI, Feb 11 (Reuters) Indian corn and soybean prices fell on Wednesday after New Delhi agreed to duty-free imports of U.S. soyoil and a protein-rich animal feed under a new trade deal with Washington, stoking fears of cheaper supplies among farmers. Farm unions and opposition parties, concerned about cheap U.S. supplies, have called nationwide protests for Thursday. A joint statement from India and the U.S. last week said New Delhi had agreed to allow duty-free imports of soyoil an

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that the government has sold Bharat Mata through the India-US interim trade deal and that it was a wholesale surrender with Indias energy security handed over to America and farmers interests compromised. Participating in the debate on the Union Budget, he said that had an INDIA Bloc government negotiated the trade agreement with the US, it would have told US President Donald Trump that he should treat India as an equ

The standard diabetes test, HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin), which is commonly used to diagnose and monitor type-2 diabetes (T2D), may not always give accurate results for people in South Asia, especially in India. This is because many people in the region have anaemia, blood disorders like sickle cell disease or thalassaemia, and G6PD deficiency, which can affect HbA1c readings. A recent article published in Lancet Regional Health: Southeast Asia highlighted these concerns. The study suggests that

MUMBAI, Feb 11 (Reuters) The Indian rupee traded in a tight range on Wednesday, wedged between a broadly weaker dollar and steady corporate hedging appetite, while expectations of volatility in the currency receded after jumping last week. The rupee was at 90.53 per dollar as of 11:15 a.m. IST, slightly firmer than its previous close of 90.5775. The currency has settled into a broad 90-91 trading range after a relief rally last week, sparked by the announcement of the U.S.-India trade deal. Whi

BENGALURU, Feb 11 (Reuters) Indian equity benchmarks were little changed on Wednesday, as broad-based losses after a recent market rally pressured the earnings-driven surge in hospital chain Apollo Hospitals and Royal Enfield parent Eicher Motors. The Nifty 50 fell 0.04% to 25,925.8, while the BSE Sensex shed 0.09% to 84,197.76, as of 10:16 a.m. IST. Eleven of the 16 major sectors logged losses. The broader small-caps and mid-caps fell about 0.4% each. Heavyweight banks and financials fell 0.2%

Brisbane (Australia), Feb 11 (The Conversation) You may have noticed an unexpected wellness trend gaining traction online. People are claiming a daily cup of hot water (with nothing else in it) can deliver everything from weight loss and clearer skin to relief from menstrual cramps and sore throats. The practice is often presented as simple and natural. But are these benefits real, or is drinking hot water just another viral wellness fad? The short answer Drinking hot (not boiling) water is gene

Dibrugarh (Assam), Feb 9 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday expressed ignorance of the state BJPs video, which created a controversy and was deleted. The video showed Sarma purportedly taking aim with a rifle and firing a shot at two people, one wearing a skull cap and the other with a beard, with point-blank shot as the caption. It was deleted later. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an official function here, the CM also said he is not aware of any police case fil

ISLAMABAD, February 9, 2026 (AP) Pakistans president has warned that the Talibans government in Afghanistan has created conditions similar to or worse than those before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, a sign of rising tensions with Kabul after last weeks mosque attack in Islamabad, which analysts said Monday highlights militants reach to the capital. Asif Ali Zardari made the remarks while thanking the international community for condemning Fridays suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque that killed 31

New Delhi, Feb 9 (PTI) A joint platform of 10 central trade unions on Monday said that the call for a nationwide general strike on February 12 is on, and not less than 30 crore workers across the country are expected to join the protest. The group of unions had given a call for a nationwide strike on January 9, 2025, to show their resistance to anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the central government. All India Trade Union Congress General Secretary Amarjeet Ka

NEW DELHI, Feb 9 (Reuters) The United States and India have released an interim framework for a trade deal, paving the way for an agreement that would lower tariffs, reconfigure energy ties and deepen economic cooperation as both seek to realign global supply chains. The IndiaU.S. joint statement suggested that New Delhi pushed back against Washingtons efforts to broadly open its agricultural market. However, India has agreed to lower trade barriers on some farm goods, drawing criticism from fa

New Delhi, Feb 9 (PTI) The opposition is considering moving a resolution to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from office for disallowing Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders from speaking in the House on the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address, as well as for the suspension of eight MPs. At the same time, Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, and some others met Birla on Monday afternoon to work out a solution to end the stalemate, as the House has not been function

Mumbai, Feb 9 (PTI) Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty extended their gains for the second straight session on Monday, driven by optimism over the India-US trade deal and robust buying in public sector banks, consumer durables, and realty stocks. The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 485.35 points, or 0.58 per cent, to close at 84,065.75. During the day, the benchmark surged 734.28 points, or 0.87 per cent, to hit an intraday high of 84,314.68. The 50-share NSE Nifty appreciated by 173.60 points

NEW DELHI, Feb 9 (Reuters) Indian farm unions and opposition parties have called for nationwide protests against the new India-U.S. trade framework, saying it risks hurting the farm sector by allowing more U.S. imports, although the government says key staples are protected. The agreement has become a political flashpoint, reviving memories of the 202021 farm law protests, when the government was forced to repeal three laws aimed at deregulating agricultural markets. The government has defended

NEW DELHI, Feb 9 (Reuters) Indias state-owned refiners Indian Oil Corp and Hindustan Petroleum Corp have together bought 2 million barrels of Merey crude from Venezuela for delivery in the second half of April, two trade sources aware of the deal said. The crude will be carried on a single very large crude carrier with IOC taking about 1.5 million barrels and HPCL about 500,000 barrels and is set to arrive on Indias east coast, the sources said, adding the seller was Trafigura. The purchase hig

New Delhi, Feb 6 (PTI) Precious metal prices declined sharply in the national capital on Friday, with silver dropping nearly 5 per cent to Rs 2.55 lakh per kg, while gold slipped to Rs 1.57 lakh per 10 grams as investors kept booking profits for the second straight day. According to the All India Sarafa Association, the white metal plunged Rs 13,000, or 4.85 per cent, to Rs 2,55,000 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes) from Thursdays closing level of Rs 2,68,000 per kg. Similarly, gold of 99.9

ISLAMABAD, February 6, 2026 (AP) The death toll from a massive bombing that tore through a Shiite mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad during Friday prayers has risen to 24, a Pakistani official said. Nearly a hundred people were injured, government officials and rescue workers said. Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon and police confirmed that the blast was an attack and said an investigation is underway. Memon wrote on X that the death toll had risen to 24, while hospital officials said

Mumbai, Feb 6 (PTI) RBI (Reserve Bank Governor) Sanjay Malhotra on Friday announced a new framework to compensate customers up to an amount of Rs 25,000 for loss incurred in small-value fraudulent transactions. Announcing the last bi-monthly policy for the current financial year, Malhotra said, we will also publish a discussion paper on possible measures to enhance the safety of digital payments. Such measures may include lagged credits and additional authentication for specific class of users l

New Delhi, Feb 6 (PTI) After a 25 basis point rate cut in December, the RBI on Friday decided to pause on the policy rate front amid geopolitical uncertainties. This is the first monetary policy review after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the Budget for financial year 2026-27. Announcing the sixth and final bi-monthly monetary policy for the current fiscal, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to retain short-term lending rate or repo r

New Delhi, Feb 5 (PTI) Precious metal prices tumbled sharply in the national capital on Thursday, with silver slumping 10 per cent to Rs 2.68 lakh per kg, and gold falling to Rs 1.6 lakh per 10 grams triggered by a global selloff and a firm US dollar. According to the All India Sarafa Association, silver nosedived by Rs 30,300, or 10.16 per cent, to Rs 2,68,000 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes), compared with Wednesdays closing level of Rs 2,98,300 per kg. Gold of 99.9 per cent purity also d

KYIV, Ukraine, February 5, 2026 (AP) Fighting against Russias 4-year-old invasion has cost the lives of 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers, according to Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as a U.S. envoy described two days of talks between Moscow and Kyiv officials as detailed and productive. Ukraine has also listed a large number of people as missing in the war, Zelenskyy added in an interview broadcast by French TV channel France 2 late Wednesday. The last time the Ukrainian leader gave a figure

WASHINGTON, February 5, 2026 (AP) A new kind of pill sharply reduced artery-clogging cholesterol in people who remain at high risk of heart attacks despite taking statins, researchers reported Wednesday. Its still experimental but the pill helps rid the body of cholesterol in a way that today can be done only with injected medicines. If approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the pill, named enlicitide, could offer an easier-to-use option for millions of people. Statins block some of the

A newborn baby died from a listeria infection likely linked to the childs mother drinking raw milk during pregnancy, health officials said. New Mexico officials this week warned people to avoid consuming unpasteurized dairy products following the death. Interest in and sales of raw milk have been rising in recent years, fueled by social media and growing support from the Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Make America Healthy Again movement. State officials provided few details about the ne

Mumbai, Feb 5 (PTI) The rupee traded in a narrow range and gained 7 paise to 90.40 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday, amid corporate dollar demand and as investors are awaiting for confirmation on the India-US trade deal. Forex traders said market participants are now shifting focus from celebration to verification as no official documents have been released, and neither side has formally published the final terms. Moreover, investors are awaiting cues from Fridays RBI interest ra

Mumbai, Feb 5 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty declined in early trade on Thursday after a three-day rally amid a weak trend in global stock markets. After starting the trade on a bearish note, the 30-share BSE Sensex further dropped 278.72 points to 83,538.97. The 50-share NSE Nifty declined 94.15 points to 25,681.85. From the Sensex firms, InterGlobe Aviation, Bharat Electronics, Axis Bank, Larsen & Toubro, Tata Steel and Bharti Airtel were among the major laggards. Hindustan Unilever,

Indore, Feb 4 (PTI) Congress on Wednesday demanded that the Union government make full details of the Indo-US trade agreement public, claiming that it could hit the Indian farmers hard. Recent announcements by US President Donald Trump and his administration suggested that India would buy more Make in America products under the pact, said party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate here. It is extremely unfortunate that our elected government is not giving even a single clear piece of information about

New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) Precious metals extended their sharp rally for the second straight day in the national capital on Wednesday, with silver prices surging to Rs 2.98 lakh per kg and gold climbing to Rs 1.65 lakh per 10 grams. Firm global trends, a weak US dollar, which revived investor interest in precious metals after last weeks steep sell-off, contributed to the surge, traders said. According to the All India Sarafa Association, silver soared by Rs 14,300, or 5.03 per cent, to Rs 2,98,300

Cortisol, what is known as the stress hormone, is the talk of the internet. Wellness influencers warn about the various symptoms of chronically high cortisol: waking up at 3 a.m., swollen cortisol face and accumulating belly fat. And many offer diet and exercise routines that they claim will help. But do you really need supplements and advice from influencers to control your cortisol? Doctors say its very unlikely. Dont be so quick to label this hormone as a villain, they say. And if you suspect

Mumbai, Feb 4 (PTI) The rupee depreciated 11 paise to 90.43 (provisional) against the US dollar on Wednesday, after a sharp rally in the previous trading session following India-US trade deal announcement, on suspected dollar buying by corporates and importers. Forex traders said despite the positive sentiment after the India-US trade deal, caution still remains as there is no signed or officially released trade agreement yet no framework text or final documentation. At the interbank foreign ex

New Delhi [India], February 4 (ANI): Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday criticised the India-US trade agreement, which reduced the previously imposed tariff of 50 per cent to 18 per cent, saying that with this trade deal, the United States has almost bought India. Raur stated that with this new trade deal between the United States and India. Raising concern over the Indian farmers economic growth and well-being, he underlined that now the US can sell their agriculture products in the Ind

DHAKA, Bangladesh, February 4, 2026 (AP) Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old Hindu garment worker, was accused in December by several Muslim colleagues of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad. The accusations drew a violent mob to his workplace. He was beaten to death, his body hung from a tree and set on fire. Across Bangladesh, Hindus watched the recorded images on their phones with dread. Protests erupted in Dhaka and other cities, with demonstrators demanding justice and greater

Mumbai, Feb 4 (PTI) The rupee depreciated 22 paise to 90.54 against the US dollar in early trade on Wednesday, following a sharp rally after India and the US agreed to a trade deal on suspected dollar buying by corporates and importers. Forex traders said despite the positive sentiment post the India-US trade deal, caution still remains as there is no signed or officially released trade agreement yet no framework text or final documentation. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee o

Mumbai, Feb 4 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty were trading higher in early trade on Wednesday, building on previous days sharp rally, amid fresh foreign fund inflows and positive sentiment following the India-US trade deal. A sharp decline in IT stocks, however, restricted the rally in the markets. The 30-share BSE Sensex advanced 68.49 points to 83,816.96 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty went up by 51.90 points to 25,779.45. From the Sensex firms, Mahindra & Mahindra, Power Grid,

New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) Silver and gold prices ended a three-day steep fall and rebounded sharply in the national capital on Tuesday, with the white metal surging Rs 24,000 to Rs 2.84 lakh per kg, while gold climbed to Rs 1.57 lakh per 10 grams amid firm global cues and weak US dollar. According to the All India Sarafa Association, silver prices soared Rs 24,000, or 9.23 per cent, to Rs 2,84,000 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes). The metal had closed at Rs 2,60,000 per kg on Monday after slum

New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) The Congress on Tuesday demanded that the Modi government should take Parliament into confidence on the details of both the EU and US trade deals, while alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completely surrendered to appease US President Donald Trump at the cost of Indias farmers. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh, pointing to Trumps statement that the India-US trade deal was coming into effect immediately at Modis request, claimed

NEW DELHI, February 3, 2026 (AP) Indian lawmakers from the ruling coalition praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday for striking a deal with the U.S. that seeks to reduce tariffs on Indian goods, while the opposition raised questions on the impact on sensitive sectors such as agriculture. President Donald Trump on Monday announced he plans to reduce import tariff on India, six months after imposing steep taxes to punish New Delhi for its unabated purchase of Russian oil that he claimed

Mumbai, Feb 3 (PTI) The Indian rupee emerged as the best-performing Asian currency on Tuesday, registering a gain of 122 paise or 1.33 per cent in a single trading session to settle at 90.27 (provisional) against the US dollar, after India and the US agreed to a trade deal. Forex traders said the Indian rupee rose to the highest levels in two and a half weeks and rallied by around 1.5 pc on the trade deal between India and the US. Domestic indices also surged by around 2.75 per cent, boosting do

New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday authenticated a copy of an article in the Lok Sabha which cited former army chief M M Naravanes unpublished memoir but it failed to end the impasse over the matter, leading to a brief adjournment. With Gandhi insisting on raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Chair Krishna Prasad Tenneti moved on to other Speakers and asked Harish Balayogi of the TDP, an NDA constituent, to speak on the Presidents address after three oppositio