The Sen Times

New Delhi, Jan 20 (PTI) Gold extended its record-breaking run to breach the Rs 1.5 lakh per 10-gram mark in futures trade on Tuesday, while silver surged to a lifetime high of Rs 3.27 lakh per kg as investors rushed to safe-haven assets amid mounting global tensions. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold futures for February delivery climbed Rs 6,861, or 4.7 per cent, to record Rs 1,52,500 per 10 grams after settling at Rs 1,45,639 per 10 grams in the previous session. Analysts said the ye

New Delhi, Jan 20 (PTI) With a notice issued to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati in Uttar Pradesh seeking an explanation how he was using the title of Shankaracharya, the Congress on Tuesday slammed the BJP and asked whether any government, chief minister or prime minister have any right to question the status of the Shankaracharya. The opposition party also said those BJP people who used to ask Muslims kaagaz dikhao are now telling the same to the top Hindu seer. Congress media and publicit

DAVOS, Switzerland, January 20, 2026 (AP) The European Unions top official on Tuesday called into question U.S. President Donald Trumps trustworthiness, saying that he had agreed last year not to impose more tariffs on members of the bloc. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called Trumps planned new tariffs over Greenland a mistake especially between long-standing allies. She was responding to Trumps announcement that starting February, a 10% import tax will be imposed goods fro

Mumbai, Jan 20 (PTI) Stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tanked over 1 per cent on Tuesday due to heavy selling pressure in market heavyweights Reliance, Bajaj Finance and M&M amid escalating geopolitical tensions. Besides, ongoing weakness in the rupee and persistent foreign fund outflows dented investors sentiment. Extending its previous days decline, the 30-share BSE Sensex tumbled 1,065.71 points, or 1.28 per cent, to settle at 82,180.47. During the day, it dropped 1,235.6 points

LONDON, Jan 20 (Reuters) Britain will consider tightening rules on childrens use of social media with no option off the table, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday, warning that they risked being pulled into a world of endless scrolling, anxiety and comparison. Starmer said his Labour government was prepared to take robust action, a day after it said it would examine whether features such as infinite scrolling and the age at which children can access platforms should be restricted. The g

MUMBAI, Jan 20 (Reuters) The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) was likely selling dollars to limit the rupees weakness on Tuesday, four traders told Reuters, as the currency remains within touching distance of a fresh record low. The rupee was last at 90.99 per dollar as of 11:00 a.m. IST, down 0.1% on the day. The currency declined to 91.0525 earlier in the day, threatening to breach its all-time low of 91.0750 hit last month. Some state-run banks were spotted offering dollars, but the quantity was

Positive thinking might help the brain support the immune system in a non-invasive way, according to a study published in Nature Medicine. Israeli researchers of of Tel Aviv University set out to investigate how thoughts and feelings can directly affect our physical well-being. Although clinical benefits of positive expectations from medical treatment (as in the case of placebo responses) have been extensively documented, the underlying neural mechanism of such a mind-body link has only begun to

Mumbai, Jan 20 (PTI) The rupee depreciated 8 paise to 90.98 against the American currency in early trade on Tuesday, as strong dollar demand from metal importers and persistent foreign fund outflows dented investor sentiment. Forex traders said rising geopolitical uncertainty, including renewed US expansionary signals, has increased risk aversion and kept emerging market currencies under pressure. Moreover, a sluggish domestic stock market triggered by an exodus of foreign capital, they said. At

KARACHI, Pakistan, January 19, 2026 (AP) The death toll from a massive fire at a shopping plaza in Karachi rose to 23 on Monday as rescuers recovered more bodies from the badly damaged building, police said. Dozens remain missing. Firefighters extinguished the blaze at the multistory plaza late Sunday, nearly 24 hours after it erupted, allowing rescue teams to enter the building. Authorities fear the death toll will rise as they look for 46 more people, according to city police chief Asad Raza.

DAVOS, Switzerland, January 19, 2026 (AP) Corporate chiefs and government leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump swarm into Davos, Switzerland, this week, joining an elite annual meeting that promotes dialogue and economic progress even as a domineering tone from Washington has upended the global order and billionaires have reaped trillions in new wealth as the poor lag behind. The World Economic Forum, the think tank whose four-day annual meeting opens Tuesday, has a stated motto of im

New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) Silver prices surged Rs 10,000 on Monday to breach the record Rs 3 lakh-per-kilogram mark in the national capital, driven by strong demand in domestic and global markets, according to marketmen. The white metal traded at Rs 3,02,600 per kilogram on Monday against the previous closing level of Rs 2,92,600 per kg. Gold prices also witnessed robust gains in the local bullion market and scaled a fresh record. The yellow metal climbed Rs 1,900 to Rs 1,48,100 per 10 grams (incl

Mumbai, Jan 19 (PTI) The rupee breached the 91-a-dollar mark for the second time in a month before ending 14 paise down at 90.92 (provisional) against the greenback on Monday, as renewed concerns over global trade uncertainties accelerated foreign fund withdrawal. Despite weak American currency and lower crude oil prices, selling pressure in domestic equities pushed the Indian currency downward, forex analysts said. Investors were also concerned after US President Donald Trump announced tariffs

Mumbai, Jan 19 (PTI) Stock market benchmarks Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Monday, tracking deep losses in heavyweights Reliance Industries, Eternal, and ICICI Bank amid rising geopolitical tensions and renewed global tariff concerns. Besides, subdued quarterly results, ongoing weakness in the rupee and unabated flight of foreign capital from Indian equities also made investors jittery, traders said. Amid cautious investor sentiment, the 30-share BSE Sensex declined 324.17 points, or 0.39 per

BERLIN, January 19, 2026 (AP) The eight European countries targeted by U.S. President Donald Trump for a 10% tariff for opposing American control of Greenland blasted the move Sunday, warning that his threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. The joint statement by some of Americas closest allies signaled a possible turning point in the recent tensions over sovereignty and security nearly 24 hours after Trumps threat. It was also the most forceful rebuke of

Bengaluru, Jan 16 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday flagged media reports claiming that indelible ink used to mark voters during the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls could be wiped off easily, calling it another troubling chapter in what he described as Vote Chori (vote theft). Stressing that democracy survives only when every vote is sacred, Siddaramaiah said the credibility of its eletoral safeguards should not be compromised. Elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal

NEW DELHI, Jan 16 (Reuters) Air India and Singapore Airlines on Friday announced an agreement to improve cooperation between the two flag carriers, a step towards offering more routes, coordinating schedules and broadening the scope of their collaboration outside their home markets. The pact, described by the two airlines as a commercial cooperation framework agreement, comes as Air India faces a financial hit from an airspace ban imposed by Pakistan, which has forced the airline to discontinue

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, January 16, 2026 (AP) Myanmar insisted Friday that its deadly military campaign against the Rohingya ethnic minority was a legitimate counter-terrorism operation and did not amount to genocide, as it defended itself at the top United Nations court against an allegation of breaching the genocide convention. Myanmar launched the campaign in Rakhine state in 2017 after an attack by a Rohingya insurgent group. Security forces were accused of mass rapes, killings and torching

Mumbai, Jan 16 (PTI) Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended higher on Friday, driven by a sharp jump in Infosys after the company raised its revenue growth guidance for FY26. After two days of losses, the 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 187.64 points, or 0.23 per cent, to settle at 83,570.35. During the day, it jumped 752.26 points, or 0.90 per cent, to 84,134.97. The 50-share NSE Nifty rose 28.75 points, or 0.11 per cent, to 25,694.35. From the 30-Sensex firms, Infosys jumped 5.67 per cent

New Delhi, Jan 15 (PTI) Indias merchandise exports to the US declined 1.83 per cent to USD 6.88 billion in December 2025 due to high tariffs imposed by America, according to Commerce Ministry data. Exports also contracted in September and October last year. However, it rose 22.61 per cent in November. Exports to the US stood at USD 7.01 billion in December 2024. Imports grew 7.57 per cent to USD 4.03 billion in December 2025, data showed. During the April-December period of this fiscal year, the

WASHINGTON, January 15, 2026 (AP) More than half of U.S. adults believe President Donald Trump has gone too far in using the U.S. military to intervene in other countries, according to a new AP-NORC poll. The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research was conducted Jan. 8-11, after Venezuelan President Nicols Maduros capture. It found that 56% of U.S. adults think Trump has overstepped on military interventions abroad, while majorities disapprove of how the Republica

New Delhi, Jan 15 (PTI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the redevelopment of the Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi and alleged that he wants to erase every historical heritage to simply affix his own nameplate. You have committed the crime of demolishing the rare ancient heritage of Manikarnika Ghat, which was described in the Gupta period and later restored by Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar, under the pretext of renovation, Kharge said in a

Nail biting and skin picking are not just mindless reflexes, they are survival mechanisms, according to psychological analysis of our daily habits. There is no clear reason why people bite their nails, but there are a few theories. These include starting the habit to cope with challenging emotions, boredom and the need to keep your hands busy, as well as inheriting the habit from parents. These behaviours may seem counterintuitive, unhygienic, and in some cases, painful. But clinical psychologis

MANILA, Philippines, January 15, 2026 (AP) Japan and the Philippines signed a defense pact on Thursday that would allow the tax-free provision of ammunition, fuel, food and other necessities when their forces stage joint training to boost deterrence against Chinas growing aggression in the region and to bolster their preparation for natural disasters. Japan has faced increasing political, trade and security tensions with China, which was angered by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi s remark that po

New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) Opposing Lalu Prasad Yadavs petition to quash its FIR in the land-for-jobs scam case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday said the RJD supremo had no role or public duty in the matter of appointment as a railway minister. Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the CBI, argued before Justice Ravinder Dudeja that the power to take such a decision or make a recommendation was with the general managers and therefore there was no need to obtain prior sancti

New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) Silver prices surged by Rs 6,000 to hit a fresh lifetime high of Rs 2,71,000 per kg in the national capital on Tuesday, and gold climbed to yet another record of Rs 1,45,000 per 10 grams amid sustained buying by the stockists. According to the All India Sarafa Association, the white precious metal extended its gains for the third consecutive day by jumping Rs 6,000, or 2.3 per cent, to Rs 2,71,000 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes). On Monday, the metal had surged by R

New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) A new study into why women experience more severe gut pain suggests that oestrogen, the female sexual hormone, increases the release of a gut hormone that promotes satiety, boosting serotonin production, and sensitising nerves in the gut that trigger pain response. A comparative study of male and female mouse models conducted by researchers from South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and University of California, San Francisco, revealed an oestrogen-depend

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI, Jan 13 (Reuters) Indias basmati rice exports to Iran have slowed to a near standstill amid the protests gripping the Gulf country, with suppliers wary of new deals due to the risk of non-payment and potential additional U.S. tariffs, trade officials said. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that any country trading with Iran would face a 25% tariff on its commerce with the U.S., a move exporters say has made Indian suppliers even more reluctant to sign new contracts wit

Mumbai, Jan 13 (PTI) The rupee declined 4 paise to close at 90.21 (provisional) against the US dollar on Tuesday, weighed down by higher crude oil prices, a firm American currency and incessant outflow of foreign funds. Analysts said geopolitical tensions and weak equity markets also put pressure on the Indian currency. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 90.24 and touched the intra-day low of 90.30 against the greenback. The currency ended the session at 90.21 (provisional) a

Mumbai, Jan 13 (PTI) Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Tuesday after a days breather, tracking unabated foreign fund outflows and selling in blue-chip stocks amid global tariff-related concerns. Market sentiment was also sluggish due to a weak start to the earnings season, according to traders. In a volatile trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 250.48 points, or 0.30 per cent, to settle at 83,627.69. During the day, it declined 615.38 points, or 0.73 per cent, to 83,262.

New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the Centres attempt to block Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan is an attack on Tamil culture, and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people. Gandhis remarks come on a day he is on a visit to poll-bound Tamil Nadu where the row over actor-turned-politician Vijays Tamil film has snowballed into a major issue. The producer of the film approached the Supreme Court, challengin

Jan 13 (Reuters) Indian carmakers sales to dealers jumped 26.8% in December, their biggest monthly rise of 2025, as tax cuts made several models more affordable and spurred demand, industry data showed on Tuesday. Carmakers sold 399,216 units in the final month of 2025, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers said. For the full year, sales grew about 5%, faster than 4.2% growth in 2024. Car sales in the country are on a tear since the government in September implemented tax cuts that low

New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday delivered a split verdict on the constitutional validity of a 2018 provision of the anti-graft law which mandates prior sanction before initiating a probe against a government servant in a corruption case. While Justice BV Nagarathna said Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act is unconstitutional and needs to be struck down, Justice KV Viswanathan held the provision as constitutional while stressing on the need to protect honest offic

Pune (Maharashtra) [India], January 13 (ANI): Nationalist Congress Party chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday condemned the Brihanmumbai Municipal Elections (BMC) being given a communal angle. As he reaffirmed that he has a secular mindset, he said that in such a diverse country like India, everyone is equally a citizen. I do not like this at all, I have a secular mindset. The ideology of Ambedkar does not teach us this. I just have to say that our country is so big,

WASHINGTON, January 13, 2026 (AP) U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its crackdown on protesters that activists said had killed at least 646 people. Iran had no direct reaction to Trumps comments, which came after the foreign minister of Oman long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has s

New York/Washington, Jan 13 (PTI) US President Donald Trump announced that any country doing business with Iran will have to pay a 25 per cent tariff on its trade with Washington, a move that could impact Tehrans major trading partners such as India, China and the UAE. Effective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25 per cent on any and all business being done with the United States of America. This Order is final and conclusive, Trump s

Mumbai, Jan 13 (PTI) The rupee weakened by 5 paise to 90.22 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday, amid a strengthening American currency, higher crude oil prices and incessant outflow of foreign funds. An unprecedented geopolitical concern and global trade uncertainties have accelerated the dollar demand worldwide, adding strength to the greenback and putting pressure on the Indian currency, analysts said. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 90.24 and gained slightl

HONG KONG, January 12, 2026 (AP) China and the European Union said Monday they have agreed on steps toward resolving their dispute over the blocs imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles. A guidance document released by the EU on Monday gives instructions for Chinese EV manufacturers on making price offers for EV exports, including minimum import prices and other details. The EU had imposed tariffs of up to 35.3% on Chinese EV imports in 2024 following an anti-subsidy investigation. The EU sai

NEW DELHI, Jan 12 (Reuters) Indias key inflation rate rose at its fastest pace in three months in December as the decline in food prices slowed, data showed on Monday, amid expectations that prices could continue inching up this year. Annual retail inflation quickened to 1.33% in December from 0.71% in November, government data showed. A Reuters poll had projected retail inflation at 1.5%. The print was below the RBI (Reserve Bank of India)s target range of 2% to 6% for the fourth straight mont

New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) In a first, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the general budget in Parliament on Sunday, February 1, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced on Monday. This will be Sitharamans ninth budget presentation, one short of the record 10 budgets presented by the then finance minister Morarji Desai. The Budget session of Parliament begins on January 28 with President Droupadi Murmu addressing the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha members assembled in the Lok Sabha chambe

New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) Retail inflation rose to a three-month high of 1.33 per cent in December 2025 mainly due to higher prices of kitchen essentials, including vegetables and protein-rich items. The inflation was at 0.71 per cent in November. The previous high was 1.44 per cent in September. The food inflation, based on Consumer Price Index (CPI), remained negative for the seventh consecutive month at (-) 2.71 per cent, though up from (-) 3.91 per cent in November. The increase in headline in

Mumbai, Jan 12 (PTI) Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty found firmer ground on Monday after facing a massive drubbing in the past five trading sessions, propelled by bargain hunting in energy, banking and metal stocks. However, escalating geopolitical tensions and unrelenting foreign fund outflows capped the sharp gains, traders said. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 301.93 points, or 0.36 per cent, to settle at 83,878.17. During the morning trade, it tumbled 715.17 points, or 0.85 per cen

NEW DELHI, Jan 12 (Reuters) India and the U.S. will discuss trade issues in their next call scheduled for Tuesday, Washingtons newly-appointed ambassador to New Delhi, Sergio Gor, said on Monday, at a time when failure to secure a trade deal has roiled their ties and pushed the rupee to a record low. India will also be invited to join Pax Silica next month, Gor said, referring to a U.S.-led initiative to build a silicon supply chain from critical minerals to semiconductors and AI. Trade talks b

Jan 12 (Reuters) President Donald Trump said the U.S. may meet Iranian officials and was in contact with the opposition, as he weighed a range of strong responses including military options to escalating unrest posing one of the biggest challenges to clerical rule since the 1979 Islamic Revolution Trump said Iran called to negotiate its nuclear programme, which Israel and the U.S. bombed in a 12-day war in June. Trump has warned Irans leaders that the United States would attack if security forc

New research from the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), published in the journal Sleep Advances, found that poor sleep may shorten life expectancy more than other lifestyle factors like diet, exercise and loneliness. The study indicates that sleep plays an even greater role in longevity than many people understand. Lifestyle Surveys To draw these conclusions, the researchers examined a large amount of national data from across the United States. They compared life expectancy data with h

Jan 9 (Reuters) Indias markets regulator on Friday eased compliance requirements and exempted smaller brokers from rules for technical glitches at brokerages. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) said the streamlined framework will exclude stock brokers with fewer than 10,000 registered clients from compliance. These brokers will now be exempt from paying penalties or reporting requirements in case of technical glitches. As a result of new eligibility criteria, approximately 60% of

New Delhi [India], January 9 (ANI): Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday said that the BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party) thinks of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax Department (I-T), and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as its personal army. He claimed that the ED only conduct raids in selected states, which are not led by the BJP. The moment we see a news flash about an ED raid, we know it has happened in a select few states only. We have been saying that the BJP thinks of the ED

NEW DELHI, Jan 9 (Reuters) Indias trade pact with the United States stalled last year because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not make a telephone call to President Donald Trump ahead of a deal, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Friday, giving an account of events that New Delhi has denied. Trade talks between India and the U.S. fell apart and Trump then doubled tariffs on Indian goods in August to 50%, the worlds highest rate, including a levy of 25% in retaliation for Indias purchase

New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) Gold and silver prices declined for the second straight day in the futures trade on Thursday, tracking weak global trends as investors booked profits ahead of the key US jobs data. Analysts said the employment numbers will offer fresh cues on the Federal Reserves monetary policy outlook. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold futures for February delivery decreased Rs 896, or 0.65 per cent, to Rs 1,37,113 per 10 grams in a business turnover of 14,957 lots. Silver futu

New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) The Congress on Thursday said the India-US relationship is going through turbulent times and each day is a fresh challenge as US President Donald Trump backed a sanctions bill that could impose 500 per cent tariffs on countries buying Russian oil. Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said the India-US ties are seeing a new abnormal, notwithstanding posts of appeasement from the Indian prime minister. Senator Lindsay Graham, a close ally of P

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, January 8, 2026 (AP) Protests in Iran sparked by economic woes have now gone nationwide in the Islamic Republic, activists said Thursday, signaling both their staying power and intensity as they challenge the countrys theocracy. Wednesday saw the most-intense day of demonstrations, reaching rural towns and major cities in every province though still localized enough for daily life to continue in Tehran, Irans capital, and elsewhere. So far, violence around the demon