Sen

• The Sensex and Nifty remained steady at midday, supported by positive sentiment surrounding ongoing diplomatic talks between Iran and Oman. • Market stability was further bolstered by the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) decision to pause interest rates, despite mixed sectoral trends. • Global performance was varied, with Japan's Nikkei 225 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropping 1.70% and 1.87% respectively, while Pakistan's KSE 100 rose 1.66%.

• Indian stock markets saw a decline, with the Sensex falling over 500 points and the Nifty dropping below the 24,600 mark. • Sectoral performance was mixed; while Nifty IT rose 0.76% and Auto, Defence, and FMCG gained, the Energy sector fell 0.70% and Bajaj twins shares dropped up to 4%. • Global markets mirrored this volatility, with Japan's Nikkei 225 falling 0.76% and Australia's ASX 200 declining 0.31%.

Disruption after power failure at regional signalling centre likely to continue until noon with many crews and trains in wrong locationsBusiness live – latest updatesRail passengers are facing a second day of travel disruption across parts of north-west England, after a power failure hit the signalling centre controlling the railway in the region.The power failure, which occurred shortly before 2pm on Thursday, triggered widespread cancellations and delays to services including CrossCountry and London Northwestern Railway. Continue reading...

• Manchester United scouts have reportedly identified Spanish left-back Salinas as a potential target after being impressed by his performances. • The player gained attention during the Under-19 European Championships, where he was a regular starter for the winning Spanish squad. • This move highlights United's ongoing efforts to strengthen their defensive depth with young, international talent during the summer window.

• Indian equity benchmarks ended largely unchanged on Thursday, with the Nifty 50 edging up slightly by 0.05% during a muted weekly expiry session. • Market stability was influenced by mixed global cues, though optimism persists regarding a potential de-escalation in West Asia and strong Q1FY27 corporate earnings. • Analysts suggest the Nifty is consolidating and preparing for a rally, with an initial target to test the 24,800–25,000 resistance zone.

• A Senate committee voted on Thursday to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked the Fifth Amendment over 100 times during a COVID-19 pandemic hearing. • In a separate diplomatic clash, the Trump administration revoked the visa of Brazilian ambassador Maria Luiza Viotti following Brazil's denial of visas for two U.S. diplomats. • An offshore wind company has reached a $1.2 billion settlement with the Trump administration to abandon development projects off the coasts of New York, California, and Louisiana.

• Global oil prices have dropped below $80 per barrel following talks between Iran and Oman, raising hopes for a potential peace deal between the US and Iran. • US equity markets showed mixed results as investors weighed strong corporate earnings against ongoing uncertainty regarding the broader economic outlook. • Market participants are now focusing on upcoming US macroeconomic data, specifically labor-market indicators, to gauge future risk sentiment.

Jump in imports narrowed Australia’s goods trade surplus to $1.1bn in June quarter. Follow today’s news livePenny Wong says Australia has ‘more work to do’ forging relationships in the PacificThe foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, is in Fiji today amid a meeting with her counterparts from across the Pacific.We’ve got work more work to do. We’ve announced that we do want to engage with and negotiate with both Tonga and Solomon Islands. Obviously, there’ll be a lot of work there that we want to do with them in partnership.It was a test which was destabilising and in a region where leaders have said we want an ocean of peace. It’s really important that partners respect that, and we would continue to encourage that respect. Continue reading...

• Real Madrid has reached a £120m agreement to sign Yan Diomande, while Aston Villa has secured a deal for Matteo Ruggeri. • Liverpool is currently exploring a potential move for Ibrahim Mbaye as part of their squad reinforcements. • Sporting CP submitted an improved £14m bid for Watford's 20-year-old Australian forward Nestory Irankunda, though the offer remains below the club's valuation.

Christopher Wright, 73, shot Richard Dyson in November 2019 and then dismembered his remainsA man who killed his lodger and concealed his dismembered body in a barrel filled with concrete for more than five years has been jailed for a minimum of 35 years.Christopher Wright, a 73-year-old farmer from South Yorkshire, was convicted in July in Sheffield crown court of murdering Richard Dyson, 55, in 2019. Dyson had been living in his car on Wright’s farm in Hoyland and had been doing jobs for the then 67-year-old when the pair had a falling out. Continue reading...

• European stock markets reached record highs driven by strong corporate earnings and investor optimism regarding a potential peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran. • Key contributors to the rally included resilient technology shares and sectoral advances led by companies such as Deutsche Telekom and Glanbia. • The surge in sentiment is significant as it eases global energy supply concerns and reflects improving earnings expectations across the region.

Anthony Fauci invoked fifth amendment dozens of times to parry hostile Republican inquisition over Covid responseUS politics live – latest updatesA Republican-controlled US Senate committee voted to hold Dr Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after the veteran public health official repeatedly pleaded the fifth amendment to parry a hostile inquisition into his stewardship of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.Fauci, the former director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Niaid), who led the agency for 38 years before retiring in 2022, gave the same response to multiple questions while refusing to give clarifying answers during a tense hearing last week, citing his constitutional protections. Continue reading...

Veteran US health official invoked fifth amendment right amid hostile questioning from Republicans last weekUS politics live – latest updatesA US Senate committee says it obtained a backup copy of Anthony Fauci’s iPhone as it weighed whether to hold the veteran government health official in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer Republicans’ questions amid a hostile inquisition last week.The phone was used by Fauci during his time as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, including his time fronting the first Trump administration’s response to the Covid pandemic in 2020. Continue reading...

• Indian stock markets trended upward on Thursday, with the Sensex gaining 200 points and the Nifty testing the 24,650 level. • Sectoral performance was mixed, featuring a 3% rise in Reliance Industries (RIL) and gains in Defence and IT, while Power Grid slipped 4% and the Energy sector fell 0.61%. • This domestic growth occurred despite a broader decline in Asian markets, including South Korea's Kospi (-3.64%) and Japan's Nikkei 225 (-1.56%), as investors weighed geopolitical risks in the Strait of Hormuz.

• The BSE Sensex gained 400 points and the Nifty climbed above 24,600 on Wednesday, driven by positive global cues and strong Asian equity performance. • Market growth was supported by the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) decision to keep key interest rates unchanged and an upward revision of the GDP forecast. • Key contributing factors included optimism over technology earnings, increased FII buying, lower crude oil prices, and hopes for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Experts say growing trend on sites such as Polymarket and Kalshi could motivate people to start fires to win moneyA group of US lawmakers is sounding the alarm over prediction market platforms that allow users to bet on wildfires, as experts warn the emerging trend could raise the risk of arson.Democratic senators from six states sent a letter this week to the chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), an independent government agency regulating platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi, urging it to rein in the practice. Continue reading...

Hearing called after the former chief medical advisor invoked the fifth and refused to answer questions at a hearing on Covid-19 Hello and welcome to our live coverage of US politics.The Senate is expected to vote today on whether to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress. Continue reading...

• The Senate Commerce Committee voted unanimously to advance the Kids Online Safety Act, moving the legislation toward a potential full Senate floor vote. • The measure aims to enhance protections for children online after previously stalling in the House during the last Congress. • Parallel to this, Senator Kennedy and other Republicans, including Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, have raised concerns regarding the FCC's scrutiny of Disney and television networks.

• Asian markets are experiencing cautious trading with the NZX opening lower, as investors await critical US initial claims and Friday's jobs data. • Market focus remains on earnings reports from Softbank and Swire, while the Yen's volatility and China's pursuit of taxes on overseas investments pressure insurers and financials. • In regional data, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintained interest rates on Wednesday as expected, while the Philippines prepares to release June unemployment and industrial production figures.

• The Sensex and Nifty indices declined from their daily highs, with the Nifty ending the session below the 24,650 mark. • The market downturn was triggered by Donald Trump's warning of a "very strong strike" if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened promptly. • This geopolitical tension created volatility, erasing early gains as investors reacted to potential instability in a critical global shipping lane.

• The Indian stock market ended higher on August 5, with the Sensex rising 152 points and the Nifty 50 closing above 24,620. • Gains were driven by the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) decision to keep the repo rate unchanged, alongside an improved FY27 growth outlook and lowered inflation projections. • Strong performance in the auto, realty, and metal sectors helped offset market concerns regarding geopolitical tensions and rising crude oil prices.

• Indian equity benchmarks ended Wednesday's trading session in the green, driven by late gains during the Closing Auction Session (CAS). • The Sensex closed at 78,581, up 52 points, while the Nifty ended at 24,625, marking a 10-point increase. • The recovery occurred after the indices were lifted from their 3:15 pm levels, with the Sensex and Nifty gaining 80 and 55 points respectively during the final auction.

Mark Parton defends sending text message but denies he sent it to a sex worker, saying he is a ‘multi-tasker from hell’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn Australian politician has admitted sending a text message that read “fuck, my job is boring” during a parliamentary hearing , but denied an allegation that he sent it to a sex worker.Mark Parton, the leader of the opposition in the Australian Capital Territory, made the admission after an anonymous complaint referred to the Legislative Assembly’s commissioner for standards alleged that last week’s text was sent to a sex worker. Continue reading...

• Nielsen has released its rankings for the most-streamed television shows during the first half of 2026. • The list is dominated by popular titles including Stranger Things, Bluey, and The Pitt. • These rankings provide critical insight into current viewer preferences and the competitive landscape of streaming platforms.

• Indian domestic equities ended marginally higher on Wednesday, with the Nifty 50 closing flat at 24,624 as gains in auto, metal, and realty stocks balanced profit booking in heavyweights. • In a significant corporate move, Indian Bank is raising $400 million via a four-year overseas syndicated loan underwritten by Commerzbank and CTBC Bank. • Market volatility is being driven by the ongoing Q1 earnings season and the Reserve Bank of India's decision to maintain its current policy stance.

• The Sensex rose 152 points and the Nifty closed above 24,600 on Wednesday, following a decision by the RBI MPC to maintain current interest rates. • Market gains were partially trimmed due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia and rising crude oil prices, though the RBI raised its GDP growth outlook for FY27. • Sector performance was mixed, with auto and realty stocks outperforming while IT shares experienced selling pressure.

• The Indian stock market ended the session in the green, with the Sensex closing 150 points higher while the Nifty50 remained flat. • Investors balanced market mechanics against expectations for the Reserve Bank of India's upcoming policy decisions, while monitoring crude oil prices and the rupee. • Analysts noted that recent fluctuations are likely due to adjustments in the revised settlement framework rather than a decline in economic fundamentals.

Schwartz, president’s third pick to lead top US public health agency, confirmed in 51-44 Senate voteDr Erica Schwartz was confirmed by the US Senate as director ‌of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a rare win for the Trump administration after a string of failed attempts to fill senior health posts.Schwartz was confirmed ⁠51-44 by senators. She is Donald Trump’s third pick to run ​the CDC. Continue reading...