India

Mumbai pulls out all the stops for Justin Bieber's first India concert

Four million dollars were invested for the Canadian pop star's first show in India on Wednesday, according to the promoter.

"We haven't cut corners on this show," said Arjun Jain, Managing Director of White Fox India. "In terms of ticketed events, this is the biggest show not only for my company, but in the history of India."

Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the Mumbai event. Jain said that, as of Monday, more than 80% of tickets for the 60,000-capacity venue, the DY Patil stadium, had been sold. Tickets cost from $60 to $1,000.

Vogue India cover lands Kendall Jenner in more trouble

Vogue India has been blasted online for its decision to feature Jenner, a white American, instead of an Indian model on the cover of its 10th anniversary issue.

Many people have said it's yet another example of a missed opportunity to celebrate women of color.

Vogue India released a statement Friday offering a "few clarifications" about the cover.

"In the last 10 years, Vogue India has had only 12 international covers, including Kendall Jenner, in 2017," the statement said. "Therefore, statistically, 90 percent of our covers are Indian! And we are proud of that."

India to launch satellite ... without Pakistan

The South Asia satellite, funded entirely by India, was announced several years ago with the intention of serving all eight members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

According to Uday Bhaskar, director of Delhi-based think tank the Society for Policy Studies, the satellite represents a "new form of regional cooperation," and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called it a "gift to the SAARC region."

North Korea cut off by 3rd biggest trading partner

The Indian government announced last week it is halting all trade, except for food and medicine, as tension mounts on the Korean peninsula and the U.S. administration urges more global action to isolate Pyongyang.

The ban came into force in April. It brings India into line with United Nations sanctions on North Korea.

Indian brides given bats to keep abusive husbands in check

Messages such as "for use against drunkards" are written on the paddles, which measure about 40cm (15in) and are more traditionally used for laundry.

Gopal Bhargava a state minister in Madhya Pradesh, said he wanted to highlight the issue of domestic abuse.

He told the women to try to reason with their husbands before using them.

But if their spouses refuse to listen, they should let the paddles - known as mogri and usually used to beat dirt out of clothes - "do the talking", he said.

 

Savings 'spent on liquor'

India bans social media in Kashmir amid violent unrest

The state government said the services were being misused by "anti-government elements" to incite violence.

Graphic videos claiming to show abuses on both sides have been shared extensively.

At least nine people have died in widespread violent clashes with the security forces in the disputed region.

Other social media services, communications tools and websites to have been banned under the order include YouTube, Skype, Telegram, Snapchat and Reddit.

India bans use of red beacon lights on cars

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said "no vehicle will have a red light" from 1 May, and "there will no exceptions".

Under the new rule, only emergency vehicles, ambulances, fire engines and police cars can use flashing blue lights.

Critics say VIPs often use red beacons as a status symbol, leading to traffic chaos for commuters.

Status-conscious politicians and government officials are also accused of using the beacons to bypass the gridlocked city traffic on official business and show off their importance.

India police search for parents of girl 'living with monkeys'

The little girl, aged between eight and 10, was found a few weeks ago in a forest in Uttar Pradesh.

Doctors said she could not communicate and displayed "monkey-like" traits.

A senior police official told BBC Hindi she had been playing with a pack of monkeys and imitating their behaviour when police went to rescue her.

The little girl was spotted by villagers in the Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary, on the Indian border with Nepal.

The police official, Suresh Yadav, said the monkeys attacked his squad when they arrived to take her away.

Attacks on Nigerian students shock India

The attacks were prompted by the death of a local teenager due to a drug overdose. His parents blame Nigerian students for giving him the drugs.

Five Nigerian students were attacked on Monday by crowds, while another was beaten by a mob inside a shopping mall.

Police say five people have been arrested over the attacks.

Ms Swaraj said she had spoken to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and he had assured her of a "fair and impartial investigation into this unfortunate incident".

Why these Indian state elections matter to the whole world

As vote counts trickled in from five state elections on Saturday, one result loomed large: that of central India's Uttar Pradesh, home to more than 200 million people. The staggered five-week vote in that state alone marks the biggest election in the world in 2017.

Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, or the BJP, looks poised to take about 75% of the 403 seats on offer in Uttar Pradesh.