India

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Ruling Congress Party Wins Indian Election

Governing Congress-led coalition headed for major victory

(Newser) - India's main opposition party has conceded defeat to the ruling Congress-led alliance, CNN reports. The governing coalition—defying predictions the elections would end without a clear winner—was heading for a decisive victory as counting continued today. "We respect this mandate and accept it," said the leader of...

Slumdog Star's 'Illegal' Home Demolished

Family had lived there 15 years

(Newser) - Mumbai officials tore down the home of Slumdog Millionaire child star Azharuddin Ismail, calling the slum dwelling illegal construction. Ismail’s mother says the family lived there 15 years before police arrived unannounced. “We didn’t even get a chance to remove our belongings,” she tells the Telegraph....

Indian Ruling Parties Hold Slim Lead

Neither coalition emerges a majority

(Newser) - India's ruling coalition has edged slightly ahead of the Hindu-nationalist opposition, but both alliances are short of a parliamentary majority, Reuters reports. Exit polls following today's conclusion of the month-long general election indicate both political blocs will need new partners, but the surveys have proved inaccurate in the past. Official...

Megacities Stagger India
 Megacities Stagger India 
May 13, 2009 8:02 AM CDT

Megacities Stagger India

Out-of-control urbanization threatens to drag down Indian economy for years

(Newser) - The explosive growth of India's cities is threatening to drag down the country's economy for decades to come, economists tell the Wall Street Journal. The global trend toward urbanization has gone into overdrive in India, but most cities aren't prepared to deal with the influx of migrants from the countryside,...

Bollywood Stars Duel Over Seat in Parliament

Stars go head to head in fight for office

(Newser) - Imagine a congressional election pitting Jay Leno against Simon Cowell. The rough equivalent is happening now in India, where talk-show host Shekhar "Shaker" Suman is running for Parliament against Shatrughan "Shotgun" Sinha, a Bollywood star and judge on a hugely popular talent show. But fame may not help...

Mumbai Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

Says he's 21 years old; co-defendants also plead not guilty

(Newser) - The only surviving suspected gunman in last year's terrorist attacks in Mumbai pleaded not guilty today to all charges against him, including waging war against India and murder. The presiding judge read out all the charges against Mohammed Ajmal Kasab in a Mumbai courtroom; Kasab responded with a plea of...

Gandhi Heir Stumps for Poor
 Gandhi Heir Stumps for Poor 
May 6, 2009 4:24 AM CDT

Gandhi Heir Stumps for Poor

Rahul Gandhi sheds aristocratic image to reach out to India's 700m rural poor

(Newser) - The heir to India's foremost political dynasty is reaching out to the country's dispossessed as the nation's election enters its final phase, the Guardian reports. Rahul Gandhi—widely seen as the successor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh if their Congress party emerges triumphant—has been greeted by enthusiastic crowds in...

Sri Lankan Refugees Describe Deadly Escape

10 of 21 make it to safety in India; refugees tell their story

(Newser) - As fighting raged between the Sri Lankan army and the rebel Tamil Tigers last month, 21 people managed to escape on a boat. But by the time they arrived in India, nine days later, only 10 remained. “One by one. Dead babies, children. No food. No drink,” one...

Porn Comes to India —as a Cartoon

(Newser) - An online cartoon detailing the sexscapades of a subcontinental MILF is driving India wild, the GlobalPost reports. Millions are drawn to the exploits of Savita Bhabhi, or “sister-in-law Savita,” even though pornography is illegal in India—or maybe because it is, analysts say. "People fantasize about a...

With 203K Orders, Nano Grabs 17% of Indian Market

(Newser) - Indian automaker Tata has 203,000 domestic orders for the Nano—the world’s cheapest car—which will start delivery in July, Bloomberg reports. The first editions of the $2,500 vehicle will go out to just 100,000 eager buyers, who will be chosen by lottery and must put...

Pakistan Retakes Key Town From Taliban: Military

Will redeploy 6K troops from Indian to Afghan border

(Newser) - After deploying jets and helicopters yesterday in response to a Taliban incursion into the Buner district, Pakistan has taken back a key town, the military says. The country will also shift 6,000 troops from the Indian border to face militants along the Afghan border, said an official, a move...

Maoist Train Hijackers End Siege in India

300 passengers freed

(Newser) - Suspected Maoist rebels who hijacked an India train ended a four-hour standoff with authorities and released 300 passengers, reports CNN. No one was injured. Hundreds of men surrounded and disabled the train as it traveled through a forest in the state of Jharkhand early today. Rebel attacks in the area...

Slumdog Star's Mom, Stepmom Lock Horns

Stepmom says biological mom had no interest in Rubina Ali until the Oscars

(Newser) - The mother and stepmother of Slumdog Millionaire star Rubina Ali slapped and tore at each other in a Mumbai slum today, the Daily Mail reports. The mother started the catfight after Ali's dad, Rafiq Qureshi, was arrested for allegedly trying to sell the 9-year-old for £200,000. “You...

Slumdog Dad: I'm Not Selling My Kid

Rumors part of a 'dirty' media scheme, he says

(Newser) - The father of Slumdog Millionaire child star Rubina Ali tells the BBC he’s not selling his daughter, contrary to a News of the World report he called a “dirty” scheme. The media “made fun of our poverty,” Rafiq Qureshi said. “They tricked us into this...

India Election Sees Shoes Fly, Politicos Duck

(Newser) - Inspired by the Iraqi reporter who hurled his shoes at President Bush, the world’s largest democracy has picked up the habit, the Los Angeles Times reports. In recent weeks, three people have enlivened India's national election by flinging footwear at politicians—always missing, but sparking much publicity. "Flying...

Dad Wants to Sell Slumdog Child Star

Rubina Ali's dad asks for $300k to adopt 9-year-old

(Newser) - The family of Slumdog Millionaire child star Rubina Ali really is stuck in the slums of Mumbai, and her father may be trying to trade her in for his ticket out, the News of the World reports. The tab contacted Rafiq Qureshi, posing as a rich Dubai couple interested in...

India's Medical Innovators Have Much to Teach US

Experts search for better, cheaper methods

(Newser) - Sure, US hospitals lead the world in the latest technology—but they could learn a thing or two from India’s improving health care system, where pioneers are demonstrating how to give superior care without unnecessary costs, the Economist reports. “In our country’s patient-centric health system, you must...

Mumbai Gunman Retracts 'Coerced' Confession

Kasab gets new lawyer; trail begins after delays

(Newser) - The sole surviving gunman and top suspect in the Mumbai massacre has retracted his confession, which his new lawyer says was coerced, the BBC reports. Now, the judge must decide whether the confession will count in the case, in which Pakistani Mohammed Ajmal Kasab is accused of killing 166 people...

18 Dead in Indian Election Violence

Maoist guerrillas kill, kidnap electoral officials

(Newser) - Eighteen people have died as a result of attacks by Maoist guerrillas during the first day of voting in India's national elections, the Guardian reports. The guerrillas, called Naxalites, staged violent attacks today on polling stations, killing security guards and kidnapping at least four electoral officials.

World's Biggest Democracy Goes to the Polls

Attacks from Maoist rebels mar start of India's month-long election

(Newser) - The first of 714 million eligible voters cast their ballots in the opening round of India's election today, reports the BBC. The month-long voting process pits the Congress party-led ruling coalition against the opposition Hindu nationalist BJP party and a coalition of Communist and regional third parties. Turnout has been...

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