India has signed a $3 billion deal to lease a third Russian nuclear-powered submarine for 10 years, giving Delhi a boost in the Indian Ocean against arch-rivals Pakistan and China, media reports said. The deal — which according to the…
Trevor Noah sorry for India-Pakistan comments (BBC)
Comedian Trevor Noah has said he is sorry for making jokes about the sharp rise in tensions between India and Pakistan over disputed Kashmir. He said a war between the two would be “the most entertaining”, adding “it would also…
Crowds gather for Indian pilot’s release (BBC)
Crowds of Indians are gathering near a border crossing with Pakistan ahead of the release of an Indian fighter pilot captured by Pakistan. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan said the pilot would be released as a “peace gesture” on Friday.…
Eleven-year-old’s C-section sparks debate (BBC)
News that doctors performed a caesarean section on an 11-year-old rape victim has reignited a debate on Argentina’s abortion rules. The girl became pregnant after being raped by her grandmother’s 65-year-old partner and had requested an abortion. However, her request…
India Pakistan: Kashmir fighting sees Indian aircraft downed (BBC)
Pakistan says it has shot down two Indian military jets and captured a pilot in a major escalation between the nuclear powers over Kashmir. India said it lost one MiG21 fighter and a pilot was missing in action. Pakistani PM…
Pakistan warns India against attack (BBC)
Pakistan PM Imran Khan says his country will retaliate if India takes military action against it in the aftermath of last week’s suicide attack on Indian forces in Indian-administered Kashmir. In a televised address, he also called on India to…
New ‘mysterious’ frog species discovered in India’s Western Ghats (BBC)
Indian researchers have discovered a new species of frog – in a roadside puddle. Sonali Garg, a PhD student at Delhi University, and her supervisor SD Biju found the new species in the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot in southern…
Hindu right-winger arrested for re-enacting Gandhi assassination (BBC)
A leader of a fringe Hindu right-wing group in India has been arrested after a video of her shooting an effigy of Mahatma Gandhi went viral. The Hindu Mahasabha had organised an event to “celebrate” the 71st anniversary of Gandhi’s…
49 injured on day one of Indian bull-wrestling festival (Punch)
Dozens of young men were injured on the first day of a traditional bull-wrestling festival in southern India that has attracted the ire of animal activists, officials said on Wednesday. During the Jallikattu festival in Tamil Nadu bulls festooned with…
India scientists dismiss Einstein theories (BBC)
Scientists in India have hit out at speakers at a major conference for making irrational claims, including that ancient Hindus invented stem cell research. Some academics at the annual Indian Science Congress dismissed the findings of Isaac Newton and Albert…