50pc Indians disapprove of Modi's Pakistan policies, Pew survey finds

A Pew survey published recently on Indian attitudes shows that nearly half of respondents across the border do not approve of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies concerning Pakistan.

The survey aims to shed light on what Indians think about their country, their government and potential for the future.

Unfavourable view of Pakistan

India weighs Brahamdagh Bugti’s asylum request

NEW DELHI: In an indication that the Indian government is serious about the Baloch cause, the home ministry has said that it had received Baloch separatist leader Brahamdagh Bugti’s request for an Indian identity card and travel papers and was examining it, The Hindu said on Friday.

It said the request was forwarded by the ministry of external affairs on Wednesday.

A home ministry official said that though a time frame could not be given for the request to be processed, it would be done at the earliest. Mr Bugti will have to undergo multiple layers of verification. The final call will be taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.

Poor fear losing ‘a lifetime opportunity’ if industry closes

ANAND, India

At a hostel for dozens of pregnant women, impoverished widow Sharmila Mackwan weighs up her decision to carry twins for another couple - her only ticket out of poverty - as the government moves to close India’s multi-million dollar surrogacy industry.

She has left her own children at an orphanage for the whole nine months of her pregnancy because her contract stipulates she has to stay at the housing facility, which is attached to the hospital she will deliver at in western Gujarat state.

She also knows the Rs400,000

Surrogacy bill stirs womb trade row

New Delhi

On August 24, India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj announced cabinet approval for the new surrogacy bill. The draft Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2016 that aims to safeguard the rights of surrogate mothers, in the process, proposes a complete ban on surrogacy, a practice wherein a woman gives birth to a child for a couple with the intention of handing over the child to them after birth.

The bill bans “commercial” surrogacy wherein the surrogate mother is paid a lump sum amount to bear the child by the couple. It allows ‘altruistic’ surrogacy for Indian couples, which means no monetary benefits, will be provided to the surrogate mother, who, necessarily, has to be a close relative of the couple.

India signs $8.8bn deal to buy 36 French Rafale fighter jets

NEW DELHI: India signed a formal agreement Friday to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault for a reported $8.8 billion, one of its biggest defence deals in decades.

India's Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian signed the agreement at a ceremony in New Delhi after years of tortuous negotiations between the two countries.

Explore: India needs more than Rafale jets to match China: experts

Indian court clears pair over 15-year-old British girl's rape and murder

PANAJI: A court in India cleared two men Friday who had been on trial for raping and causing the death of 15-year-old British schoolgirl on a Goa beach in 2008.

"I find them not guilty of all charges," Judge Vandana Tendulkar said after the trial of Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho in the state capital Panaji.

Violence erupts in southern India after top court orders water sharing

NEW DELHI: India’s top court on Monday ordered the southern state of Karnataka to release water from a disputed river to neighbouring Tamil Nadu after violence erupted in both states over water sharing.

The Supreme Court ordered Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) per day to Tamil Nadu until Sept 20. Farmers in both states, who depend on river water to irrigate their crops, have complained of severe water shortages.

Curfew imposed in India-held Kashmir on Eid as drones keep vigil

SRINAGAR: Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) will impose a curfew during Eid starting from Tuesday and will use drones and choppers for air surveillance to limit any violence in the strife-torn state.

Security sources said that people will be allowed to offer Eid prayers in mosques, Indian Express reported, adding that this may be the first time a curfew is in place on Eid since 1990.

For the first time in 26 years, no Eid congregations will be held at the Eid gah and Hazratbal shrines, the report claimed.

Karnataka releases Cauvery water to TN amid protests

Bengaluru: Bowing to Supreme Court order, Karnataka on Wednesday began releasing Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu amid massive protests and demonstrations across the Mysuru region.

“We have started releasing water from early today to Tamil Nadu as directed by the Supreme Court despite facing hardship,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters here.

Although the apex court on Monday directed the state to release 15,000 cusecs of water daily for 10 days to Tamil Nadu, 10,000 cusecs was let out from the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS)

Sushma Swaraj: Social media savvy Indian foreign minister excels as 'Supermum of State'

NEW DELHI: So far this month, India’s foreign minister has saved thousands of stranded Indian workers in Saudi Arabia — and helped a woman replace her lost passport so she could go on her honeymoon.

Since she took on the job two years ago, Sushma Swaraj, 64, has carved out an unlikely role for herself as a crusading Supermum of State, solving the problems of distressed Indians around the world who send her their concerns via Twitter.
Working late into the night at home, Swaraj tweets back, calling them “my child” and assuring them that help is on the way — whether they are trapped in conflict zones, experiencing visa problems or need to replace lost passports.
Imagine US Secretary of State John F. Kerry personally helping Americans who tweet to him about their troubles abroad every day. For this, BuzzFeed praised Swaraj as “the most badass foreign minister on the internet.”
But those who know the long-time member of Parliament are not surprised by her new persona.