Asia

India sends medicines to Afghanistan, wheat to follow

Editorial Bureau January 8, 2022

NEW DELHI — India delivered two tons of medicines to Afghanistan on Friday, although it has not officially recognized its Taliban government. The medicine was given to Kabul’s Indira Gandhi Hospital, which was set up with Indian assistance in 2004, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson

Asia

Man arrested for faking online sale of Indian Muslim women

Editorial Bureau January 4, 2022

NEW DELHI — Police in India have arrested a man alleged to be behind the offering for sale of prominent Muslim women through a fake online auction, according to government officials, in a case that has sparked outrage across the country. Satej Patil, the technology minister for Maharashtra state, said late Monday that the cyber […]

Asia

India finds omicron cases in vaccinated people

Editorial Bureau December 25, 2021

NEW DELHI — India’s Health Ministry says an analysis of 183 omicron variant infections showed that 87 were in fully vaccinated people and three involved individuals who had booster doses. India has confirmed a total of 358 COVID-19 cases involving the omicron variant since Dec. 2, and 114 of the infected individuals already have recovered […]

Asia

A village in India’s northeast mourns after deadly attacks

Editorial Bureau December 23, 2021

OTING, India — It was 2004 when a bear mauled Nenwang Konyak in the forest in Mon district, high up in the hills along India’s border with Myanmar. The men in his village, Oting, rescued him and carried him home. He survived, thanks to them, but was left with a jagged scar running down his […]

Asia

In Kashmir, closed mosque belies India’s religious freedom

Editorial Bureau December 16, 2021

SRINAGAR, India — Jamia Masjid, the grand mosque of Srinagar, dominates its neighborhood with an imposing main gate and massive turrets. It can hold 33,000 worshippers, and on special occasions over the years hundreds of thousands of Muslims have filled nearby lanes and roads to offer prayers led from the mosque. But Indian authorities see […]

Asia

Heavy rains in southern Indian state kill 17, dozens missing

Editorial Bureau November 20, 2021

HYDERABAD, India — At least 17 people have died and dozens are reported missing in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh after days of heavy rains, authorities said Saturday. The state has been hit by intense torrents since Thursday, sparking massive floods in at least five districts. The death toll rose to 17 late […]

Asia

India to repeal controversial farm laws that led to protests

Editorial Bureau November 19, 2021

NEW DELHI — India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday his government will withdraw the controversial farm laws that prompted year-long protests from tens of thousands of farmers who said the laws will shatter their livelihoods. Modi made the surprise announcement during a televised speech that was broadcast live. He said the constitutional process to […]

Asia

India to investigate disputed raid that killed 4 in Kashmir

Editorial Bureau November 18, 2021

SRINAGAR, India — Authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Thursday ordered an investigation into a police raid that killed four people and led to protests from families of the three victims who say their relatives were gunned down in cold blood. Police had said earlier the two civilians among the victims died in the crossfire when […]

Asia

Why India has repeated air pollution problems

Editorial Bureau November 18, 2021

WASHINGTON — New Delhi struggles with pollution year-round, but the problem becomes acute during fall and winter months. On Wednesday, the concentration of tiny pollution particles was nearly 30 times above the level deemed safe over a 24-hour period by the World Health Organization. Around the world, researchers closely track levels of airborne particulate matter […]

Asia

Smog chokes Indian capital as air pollution levels soar

Editorial Bureau November 14, 2021

NEW DELHI — Sky obscured by thick, gray smog. Monuments and high-rise buildings swallowed by a blanket of haze. People struggling to breathe. In the Indian capital, it is that time of the year again. The city’s air quality index fell into the “very poor” category on Sunday, according to SAFAR, India’s main environmental monitoring […]