India

Facebook Express Wi-fi goes live in India

Express Wi-fi offers software to local entrepreneurs to allow them to work with service providers and share their internet connection with the public for a fee.

Users have access to a variety of services, including news and weather reports.

One critic of Facebook's previous plans was more receptive to this one.

"I think it's a great initiative, we need more companies providing access to the internet in India," said Nikhil Pahwa, editor and publisher of MediaNama, an Indian news site.

India police find babies in biscuit boxes 'for trafficking'

Thirteen arrests were made after police found two three-day-old babies during a raid on the hospital in Baduria, 80km (50 miles) from Kolkata (Calcutta).

A six-day-old baby was found separately in a room.

Police told the BBC's Rahul Tandon the babies were sold to childless couples.

Senior police official BL Meena said that the hospital largely appeared to target single mothers looking to abort their pregnancies by offering to buy their babies off them.

Anger rising over India's bungled cash exchange

Banks are out of cash. ATMs are broken. Frustration has given way to anger.

Five days ago India suddenly banned more than 80% of its rupee notes, launching a currency exchange program that has been dogged by logistics snafus, poor banking infrastructure and intense demand for the new money.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said last week the ban on old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes would strike a blow against corruption and tax evasion. The shock move has been hailed by supporters as a "masterstroke."

Outrage after girl dies from 68-day fast

Police in southern Hyderabad city told BBC Hindi they want to know if Aradhana Samdariya was forced to fast.

Her parents have insisted she voluntarily fasted as prescribed in Jainism, one of the world's most ancient religions.

The case has sparked a debate about the practice of religious fasting in India.

Reports said Aradhana lived for 68 days on boiled water. Two days after she called off her fast last week, she was dead.

This app is saving lives in Rural India

Intelehealth, founded by students at Johns Hopkins University, makes an app that lets health workers in rural communities act as a proxy for doctors who are unable to work in underserved areas themselves.

India relocates 10,000 from around Kashmir as tensions rise

The two nations exchanged gunfire Saturday morning, with each side accusing the other of provocation, as tensions rose yet again between the two nuclear neighbors. 

Simrandeep Singh, magistrate of Jammu District in India, accused Pakistani troops of firing across the Line of Control in two separate incidents. There were no fatalities, according to Singh.

The Line of Control divides Indian and Pakistani-controlled parts of Kashmir.

"We have set up 47 camps to accommodate those migrating from the border areas," he said.

 

Has Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan become India's number one feminist?

If that makes you think of ribbons and dolls, Bachchan latest film may make you change your mind. In Bachchan's view, the color stands for courage.

"Pink" is a gripping courtroom thriller in which Bachchan plays a lawyer representing three young women who are the victims of unwanted sexual advances. In a highly charged scene, Bachchan questions his client about the incident. "What did you say?" he thunders. She replies: "I said no."

Google launches offline YouTube app and Wi-Fi expansion in India

The tech giant laid out its plans on Tuesday at an event in New Dehli to help people save data and get online.

To start, Google is adapting its apps to handle slower mobile connections and is looking to addmore Wi-Fi hotspots across the country.

"While most of today's launches focus on Google users in India... it gives us better ideas that work for everyone," the company said in a blog post.

Indian 'two-headed snake' rescued by police from gang

The red sand boa is a protected species, and looks like it has two heads, because its tail is shaped like its head to help it defend itself.

The snake is prized on the black market because many believe it brings good luck or has medicinal qualities.

Police in Bangalore arrested four people trying to sell the protected creature for $1,500 (£1,100).

Police said plain clothes officers had organised a sting by pretending to be interested buyers.

 

'Good luck charm'

UK teen's mom 'devastated' as men cleared over rape, killing

Placido Carvalho and Samson D'Souza were charged with culpable homicide and grievous sexual assault. They denied any wrongdoing.

The girl's mother, Fiona McKeown, has been fighting to uncover what happened to her daughter since her bruised, partially clothed body was found near the shore on a Goa beach more than eight years ago.

Minister: Teen's death in Goa covered up